The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-11-03

tAA0oHh NAII INV AA0AA tkf@HNt~t 800 -
sfin opposed, % the manifestations
policy as regards the islands that Spain
surrendered under the Paris treaty. Sena-
tor Morgan, . very prince among the
jingoes, win vote for Bryan, and so VIII
Senator Tillman, who has openly boast
ed in the United States Senate, that he
approved the shooting Of "niggers to
prevent thsir exercising the right of
suffrage. On the other hand, Senator
Hoar, whose criticisms OF the Philippine
policy have been more weighty than any
mans In the country, will..vote for Mo
Kinley, and along with him Senator
Hale, Senator Mason and hundreds Of
other prominent Republicans and Inde-
psndentswhoss attitude toward the admin
iistration in thisimatter has been substan-
TALLY the same as senator Hoar's While
unquestionably the policy Of our govern
mens toward our new possessions was
uppermost IN the public nina when the
presidential campaign was pending IL
has come about that opinions upon this
subject are to have comparatively little
weight In deciding who shall be the next
President OF the United States.
1t is certainly extraordinary that the
question really foremost in the peoples
minds when the conventions were held
should not be the deciding ques-
ton Of presidential campaign. IL Is in
direct conflict with the general rule.
Instances where politicians have under
taken to dictate the issues on which the
campaign should be fought and have had
to give way to. the popular sentiment
which demanded others are many. The
last campaign furnished notable exam
pie. Undoubtedly before the National
Convention of 1876 many ana probably the
most OF the Republican leaders desired to
make the tariff the crucial question of the
campaign. But popular interest conferred
about the currency, and the politicians
had to give way.
This year popular interest conferred
about our policy in our new possessions,
and both conventions clearly recognized
the fact and made no attempt to shift the
issue which the people seemed 10 be de-
manding. Indeed, one convention de-
olsred 1t the paramount issue. Yet today
1t Ia easy to see that 1t is not the para
mount issue In thesense or being the de-
termining question In the voting, This
reversal of the general rule needs an ex-
PLANTATION; and 1t 10 to be found In the
character OF the Democratic candidate
With Democratic candidate OF the Cleve-
land type Imperialism SPECIALIZED, would
probably have been the deciding question
except In that part Of the country that is
so thoroughly bound to the Democratic
party that Ii never considers questions
at all-thst is to say in the South. But
the selection of Mr.. Bryan Immediately re-
vived q danger, which 1t was thought the
election of four years before had averted-
danger more threatening, more seri-
GUS and much nearer, in the estimation
OF the great mass of the Intelligent and
thrifty PEOPLE OF the country than any
connected with the socailed imperial
policy OF the administration, The dan
gers Of that policy, whatever they might
be, were at least far on and there would
be chance to avert them no matter how
the presidential election might result
But the dangers involved in the election
Of Bryan were Immediate and could be
averted in only one way, and that by the
defeat of Bryan. Bryan was committed
to certain theories that the people be-
lisved would be Immediately destructive
to the prosperity OF the country; too
thoroughly committed to them to desert
them after election. The sinoeri ty OF his
convictions only accumulated the danger
He was surrounded, too, by men who
would help him put In practice all his
bad theories, and would invent for him
many worse ones. When the Kansas
City convention adjourned Organism
doomed up before the people, and in It
was recognized far more immediate
and more serious danger than was in.
volved In so-eallsd imperilism. The peo-
pie were thinking of and discussing a
danger still far away and of uncertain
Size, when the Kansas City convention
flashed light In their faces which re-
vealed danger close at hand and Of no
uncertain size. From that moment
Organism and not Imperialism became
the paramount issue.