The Atlanta constitution., 1900-07-16

believes that the government which wat
established to proclaim to the world ths
principle Of government by the people
has not completely fulfilled its mission,
even If Il IS temporarily In the hands Of
Mark Hanna and the trusts. and that a
helping hand should be held out to those
struggling republics in South Africa. The
people of the west believe with him. so
do the people Of the south and so. indeed,
do the majority Of the people of the
country.
Webster Davis felt and believed # so
strongly that he resigned one of the
best offices in the federal government be
cause he knew that the administration
he had helped put In power was tied up
hand and foot with the politicians in con-
troll of the country with which the South
African republics were at war. There
is absolutely no truth IN the charges OF
the republican newspapers that Davis
was kicked out of the interior depart
ment. On the contrary. the administra-
ton politicians used every argument TO
induce him to stick TO the administration.
Those who were close to him acting for
Mr.. Hanna and the powers, made II plain.
however. that he must stop his id fool
Boer talk He prOmpetly met the Issue
and resigned his place as assistant sec
retary OF the interior. However much the
republican newspapers may attempt to
belittle Davis. these are tie facts in mis-
career that stand out most prominently
The mudslinging which has already be-
gun Will not be allowed to cover up these
salient facts. nor will 1t In any way af-
feet his potency as an anti-McKinley fac
tor in this campaign.
In many respects this announcement OF
Webster Davis that he proposes to sup
port Mr.. Bryan on what he considers "the
most American platform ever written
was the most important single develop
ment Of the Kansas City convention. IN
some parts of the country this Boer busi-
ness-the unfriendliness OF the administra-
tion toward the struggling burghers
strengthening the belief IN. If not
absolutely proving the existence
of. the much-denied Anglo-Ameri-
can understanding-wil be the par
amount issue in the campaign. Para
mount issues are made by the people.
One issue is paramount in one section and
with one set Of people. while another
issue IS paramount IN another section and
with another SCI Of people Whenever in
this country Hollanders are to be found.
and TO almost some extent wherever there
are Germans. this Boer question IS bound
TO be one Of the most important issues.
II not the one paramount beyond all
others. That thu war in South Africa IS
TO all intents and purposes over and that
the attention of the great mass OF the
people has been diverted by the grave
troubles In China has no effect upon those
tied to the burghers by the close bond OF
blood. 1t was Georgian who said upon
famous occasion that blood IS thicker
than water" and it IS.
There are from 10000 to 5000 Dutch
aE.H -
those voters have in the past voted the
democratic ticket. Probably not l per
cent voted for Bryan IN 1896. There ara
many other up through those western
states and no incOnsiderable number IN
New York. How many hundreds of thou
sands OF Germans there are In those
same states It Is almost impossible 10
compute. They have been the backbone
of the republican party in a number OF
states.
Webster Davis can reach those people
as no other man in America can. He
can get an audience among them where
the ordinary political spellbinder couldn't
get a corporal's guard. He has been in
South Africa: he has been in Pretoria:
he has talked with Kruger and Joubert
and to other Boer leaders. He has DEM
onstrated his earnest support OF their
cause by reSigning office in order that
he might carry their appeal to the hearts
of the American people. He can argue
their cause and no man whom Hanna can
command can answer him.
Already the Dutch and the German,
are inclined against the administration
Davis can turn this inclination into GER
tainty. He can get those votes or a
great majority or them, for the candidate
who represents the American sentiment.
The republicans know this and fear Da-
yis. hence the order has gone forth to
fling mud at him.