Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-15
Republicans Will Be Essentially
Practical.
THEORIES TO Be ANSWERED BY FACTS
No FIamboyant Oratory, but APP
peaIs to Common Sense.



this year are essentially practical. Their
idea is to hammer Bryans theories with
such hard facts as they find readily at hand.
They propose to treat the issue of impe-
rialism advanced by the democrats as i'm
aginative, declamatory, fanciful, poetic. and
to themselves play the part of the plain.
blunt man who says, Let us have facts.
sir: facts"
They do not propose to rely upon their
ability to arouse enthusiasm and appeal to
the emotions of the people. but, on the con-
trary, to conduct plain buSineSs-like cam
paign, as far such thing is possible
and to appeal to the better judgment of
the voters, leading them to consider calmly
where their material interests lie. The
theory of this is that every man who votes
in this country is to some degree business
man; that he has some material interest
that is worth considering, and that the de-
termination of the policy of government de-
tons of material welfare. Understanding
oratory and noble sentiments in specula-
tive philosophy do not produce loaves of
bread. They would turn the hose on the
boy who stood the burning deck. instead
of writing poetry about him. Instead of
weeping over the Song of the Shirt they
would promise more shirts to make and a
better price for making them.
"hat
1t is said that what they want on the
stump is not great emotional orators, but
men who can plainly state plain PROPOSE
ton. In answering the general democratic
defamation against militarism the question
is asked, What proportion of soldiers to the
population would constitute militarism? and
it is pointed out that We might multiply
our army many times before it could
threaten the safety of the civilian or be as
large as the army of Germany. 1t is sug
geSted that German voter must be amused
at the description of a mlitarism supported
by 100000 men. In answer to the charge
of Imperialism and foreign entanglements
it is suggested that our policy in China dis
closes no purpose to acquire territory where
an imperialist policy would find its great
est opportunity, nor does 1t involve entan-
Cling alliances.
As to the Trusts.
AS to the charge of fostering trusts, it
is suggested that while the trusts may
have benefited from the general improve
ment of business conditions, the country
enjoys a general prosperity which the ex-
is;ence of trusts has not checked, and that
if trusts are an evil attendant upon pros
perity this is not an argument in favor of
counting adversely in order to starve out
the trusts. The increase in the commerce
and trade of the country. a full treasury
ACTIVITY IN business, an increase IN wages
and very general employment of labor;
reduction in the number OF business fail
ureS and the absence of any tangible sub
ject of complaint in the domestic policy of
the administration, counted on to make
the best answer to all theoretic talk of the
rights of the FilpinoS. the Declaration
of Independence, militarism and other things
remote from the material things the people
see about them.
Not 30 much upon the success of the
Spanish war, nor the Skillful diplomacy
which has made this government a power
among the nations of the world all of
which might be made the subject of fam
boyant oratory, will the republicans it is
Upon material things rather than those
which might appear vaingiorious will they
rest their case
Gov. RoOseveIt's Tour.
In reference to the campaigning tour of
Governor Roosevelt it is said that the ap-
peal to the sentiment aroused by military
glory which this campaigning tour seems
to imply is only incident of the cam
pagn, and does not indicate the sentiment
upon which the party relies for success. 1t
is believed that many persons may be in
fuenced to support the party through pride
in the military achievements of the Spanish
war: but the greater claim upon the sup
port of the American people is based upon
considerations of the country'S material
welfare. 1t is said by republicans that had
there been no Spanish war and no expan-
sion, and no foreign policy, the success of
the administration in domestic affairs alone
would afford claim the confidence of
the people.
Republican managers say that all their
investigations into assertions that there is a
great disaffection among the Germans or
any other class of voters show that there
is no greater disaffection than is found in
every campaign.