The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-14
The GREAT ISSUES OF 1904
Representative Richardson on the
Next Presidential Campaign.

Preservation of Democratic Faith,
the TariT Question, and the InteE-
rity of the Monroe Doctrine Put
to the Fore by the Tennessecnn-
In an interview in the Baltimore Sun"
today. Representative Richardson Of Ten
nessee. Chairman of the Democratic
Congressional Committee discusses
| some Of the important questions of party
alignment in the next Presidential cam
paisu. He puts the preservation of Dem
ocratic faith, the tariff question. and the
integrity Of the Monroe Doctrine to the
fore
The development of issues" he says.
| is much more rapid than that of
candidates for either party in the 1891
contest In the discussion of candi-
dates it must be borne in mind that we
/ have the Congressional campaign Of 1892
/ TO reckon with before we enter upon the
business Of President making in 1891
out Of the earlier contest may grow
conditions which viii indicate more clear
" candidates available for the Presidency
The only excuse for the discussion at this
time of candidates for 1894 seems to he
found in the eagerness Of some men Of
greater or less prominence to begin a can
vass in their own interests.
The national issues of the near future
seem to me to be more clearly indicated
than at the close of our latest contest it
seemed possible they could be so soon
( True Democratic principles have great Vi
tally Whenever the country feels that
false theories and dangerous policies are
leading the Government from the ObServ-
ance OF right principles Old-fashioued
Democratic doctrines are appealed to for
rescue and safety.
The tariff question, which the l.epub-
lican party declared a few years ago to
have been settled finally and forever in
favor of high protection, will be found to
be very pressing in the next Presidential
campaign. Trusts, the offspring of the
Republican policy, have grown so great
that they overtop the parent. and Dame
Protection can no longer conceal them at
her back by spreading her skirts or en-
veIOping them in the black smoke Of the
factories Even the trusts themselves de
mand something more than simple home
products to feed on, and the most robust
OF them are looking for an open way TO
foreign markets. Within the very ranks
OF the Republican party there is discon-
tent at the continuance Of the system
which shuts US out of cur proper place in
the worlds commerce. There IS re
luctant acknowledgment that the old
Democratic tariff doctrines furnish
means TO open markets to our products
1t may be clearly seen by one who looks
ahead that the tariff question viii enter
into the campaign of 1904 as an important
issue and that the Democrats will be
found standing where they have always
stood
All the old articles of faith which have
given the Democratic party enduring
life viii be found boldly emblazoned in
the next national campaign. The preser-
walton Of the faith of our fathers VIII
make the great comprehensive issue Of
the campaign
The jeopardy in which the Monroe
Doctrine has been placed through the
short-sighted policy of the Mckinley Ad-
m.nistration is likely to attract very wide
public attention and may even become an
overshadowinS issue. l do not know
whether it is fully realized by our people
that the agitation over the Monroe Doc
trlne at this time IS due 10 the fact that
the Administration is seriously embar-
raised by the anticipated purpose Of for /
eign Governments to acquire coaIing sta
lions in the proximity of South and Cen /
tTaI American ports.
Prior TO our adventure in the Philip
pines and before we had become a world /
power TO use that term as the adyo- /
Gates Of empire use it, the desire OF for
eign Governments to establish bases of
supplies within the sphere of American /
republics would have Occasioned no seri-
Gus embarrassment There were no doubts
excited by foreign eHtaEglcmeuts ana
complications Of conflicting policy. There
was no question of our right to object
and il was silently acknowledged by all
the world But the new policy Of the Ad-
ministratiOn has placed this Government
n such a position that to maintain SOW
ereigrty over remote islands the United
States must acquire the right to establish
coaling stations within the sphere where
nized. How can this Government deny to
other Powers privilege within the sphere
covered by the Monroe Doctrine while it
seeks Similar rivilege within their do
niuiOn2 This is the question which en-
harnesses
The administration does not know how
TO refuse privileges similar to those il
must ask, yet to grant them would De-. AT
least a modification Of the Monroe Doc
tTIue and would threaten our stability rs
d nation through permitting the 4stab-
Hshmcnt of bases Of supplies at our very
ports, from which foreign powers could
operate against US in time Of war. Worse
than an abandonment Of the Monroe Doc
tTiUe, this would place US in the u0sirfrv
OF not being strong enough 10 defend il
or 10 defend ourselves with certainty
from attack
This IS one of the penalties we are
called upon to pay for the privilege of 'cx-
/ paIdlnS- This Is becoming q world DOW
er- Whether We are willing to pay the
penalty must be one Of the things tested
IL 1901