The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-03

reney bin by the house was a striking
example of the habits and methods of
the Republican party. 1t had boxed
the compass on the money question 1t
created the legal tender greenback and
provided for the resumption of specie
payments. For ten years it carried on
a desperate Irritation with silver, and
then, at the end, voted for the single
gold standard with enthusiastic unan-
unity, reinforced by eleven Democrats,
which required heroism. 1t may not be
so short and easy in the senate, where
the procedure is medieval, but the re-
suit viii be the same, and the people
will say Amen The man who aims at
nothing always hits it, and this ap
pears to be the predicament of the
Democrats They have no affirmative
policy.
Whatever the Republicans are for they
are against, ana for that reason they
ard without Offering an amendment for
Tree Tree silver; IN opposing expansion, the
either by purchase or conquest. they are
acting IN despite of the greatest names
on their illpstrious roster, and slurring
iods of history. While it is true that the
genius of our institutions does not con-
template the acquisition of territory
whose inhabitants may not become citf-
zens, and ultimately be Incorporated into
the constituency, there is no more prae-
Rico than with the District of Column
bla, which is neither state nor territory,
and is governed by commissioners ap-
pointed by the president and confirmed
by the senate.
The same. may be said of Hawaii and
the Philippines. Or, if this be undesir-
able, both could be attached for judicial
ana executive purposes to either of the
Pacific states with their consent. Dis
tance forms no obstacle. Electricity has
annlh1ated both space and time. With
Geographic connection, the Philippines
might as well belong to California and
tHaWWian to oregon, as the Isles of SHOALS
TO New Hampshire, Nantucket to Mas
sachusetts, or Long Island to New York.
Ihat the 1nsurrection of Aguinaldo will be
suppressed and some plan of government
devised by the Republicans in due sea-
son is established by the summary dis
position of Pettigrew's resolution to lay
on the table, the most insolent motion
known to parliamentary law. 1t is the
and resolute majority. 1t cuts off debate,
and is knockout if it prevails.
If the Republicans in congress have a
weak spot In their armor it is on the sub
1ect OF trusts and monopolies. The mes
sage of the president shows how SER
iously the question has engaged public
the encroa chments of the money power
are strenuous and subtle. The people de-
mand radical and aggressive but just leg
isiiH SI Eof Iallure the party in power
VIII be held responsible The present
Antitrust law is q curious illustration
of the inaccuracies of history. It is gen
IS popularity supposed to have been drawn
pX the venerable statesman from Ohio.
sherman from the committee on finance.
1t was debated for several days in the
senate, and found to be so defective that
II was rather unceremOniOuSly referred
to the committee on the judiciary, where
Mr. Edmunds, the chairman, took it in
hand and reported the measure exactly
as 1t now stands in the statute book 1t
was much sneered at for a while as a
tub to whale, but the recent decision
OF OF me ne supreme court shows that It IS one
enactmentS of modern times.