The Savannah morning news., 1901-04-11
REPUBLIC OR EMPIRE.
THE COUNTRY FACES A TURNING
POINT IN IT'S HISTORY,
SAYS CONGRESSMAN LESTER.
NATURAL CAUSES WILL REUNITE
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

Discussion of Past Differences Only
Postpones the UniOn-AH Have
Been Wrong, Says Col. Lester,
but It's No Use TO Irritate Old
Sores-Let Time Get in Its work.
Democratic Party of To-day Can't
Afford TO Waste Energy Discussing
Academic Questions of Right and
WronE-PeopIc Must Choose Be-
tween n Republic ana Empire and
Democracy Must Play Its Part In
the Fight.
"The troubles of the Democratic party
are not to be cured by discussion. The
old sores are still easily irritated and
the best thing to do is to let them heal
of themselves. In my opinion natural
causes will reunite the divided Democracy
and permit it to show solid front to the
enemies of American institutions
This was the keynote of an interview
accorded by Congressman Rufus E. Les
ter to a Morning News reporter yester-
day. Col Lester was asked about the
interview with Congressman William II.
Fleming, which was printed in the Morn
ing News of Tuesday.
Mr.. Fleming is strong man." he
said, land all that he says is entitled
10 respectful consideration. However,
1 don't think that talking about the trou-
bles that have divided Democracy in
the past is going to mend them, or that
any good wild spring from discussions of
the causes of disunion, which side was
right or what victories, moral or other
wise, have been won by either or both.
1.-THE truth of the matter is that we
were all just little bit wrong. We
thought that the salvation of the world
depended upon a single idea, upon the
contamination of a single purpose. We
have been forced to acknowledge our
selves mistaken, but we don't like to be
required to repeat the acknowledgment
Of error every five minutes. 1t grows
tiresome.
1T accomplishes no earthly good to
rake up these old causes of difference and
dissenson. The sores have begun to heal
over, but they are still sensitive to the
touch. Let them alone; let time play its
part, and let us play our part in the crisis
I'm my opinion Democracy will be
swung into solid front by the operation
of natural causes, already in motion and
destined to accomplish this result. The
country faces to-day a turning point in
its history; the people must say whether
or not we shall have a republic or an en-
pire. In such a fight who can doubt
where Democracy will stand or with what
| vigor it will wage battle for the rights of
mar re nYxyY1 orr1o OIL no on
People are accustomed to talk with a
sheer or an amused laugh of what they
| term the phantom of imperialism. 1t is
no phantom, but a real and living issue.
| In the new possessions of this country
| the executive has been vested with large
| powers, too large for the president of a
republic, and the governors of these pos
| sessions affect the trappings and make
the display of Oriental satraps. Each of
them is surrounded by his little court
and the satrap of Porto Rico has lately
| found 1t essential that he should be pro-
| vded with war ship for use as a royal
yacht.
I'VE have got to decide whether we are
going to keep the faith of our fathers or
reverse the Lords prayer and the Ten
Commandments of American political in
situations We have got to do either the
enc or the other; there is no middle
| course.
There is an issue for which the Demo-
| cratic party can fight, an issue builded
of the same materials that brought the
party into existence. Democratic princi-
pies, already tried and proven, indicate
| Upon which side members of the party
must array themselves. The issue is too
| clear-cut to admit of differences among
themselves. Democrats must get into
| line.
whats the use then" said Col. Les
ter, "of pecking at these old sores and
reviving differences that were enjoying a
sweet reDose? Who cares now and what
matters it which wing of the party was
| in the right and which in the wrong?
The old issues are dead let them rest in
| Ieace. There are live ones, of vital i'm
| portance, that the party must face"
| Col. Lester thinks there will be no trou-
| BILE in getting the party together on this
| issue. In his opinion it will get together
| of itself and without the Intermediary
| influences of discussion and mutual con-
cession. The only concession necessary to
| be made, in his opinion, is charity, for
| the old opinion of others. With that and
silence, natural causes will reunite the
| party.
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