Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-24
RETAIN THE PHILIPPINES.
Croakings of the Democracy Will Be of
No Avail.

II am glad to see that The Star has so
steadfastly supported the government as to
the retention Of the Philippines, and VEN
ture to say that before the next presiden-
tiaI campaign Is here the ammunition of
the democracy on this issue will be hand
somely drawn from their oratorical shotguns
by the complete pacifcation and the CRATE
full acceptance of American protection and
rule in the islands," said statesman thor
oughly familiar with the situation in the far
east to Star man this morning.
1.-The democrats" continued the gentle
man, "are now, and will for some time to
come, continue their Industrious lombard
men, especially in the Senate, of the gov
eminent this question, intending to use
their explosives in the ensuing presidential
campaign They are firing their guns into
the empty air, and, while the democrats
may scott at such a declaration, l will
wager any number of silk hats that the
question of the retention or the abandon
ment of the Philippines, or this question
in any of the important phases in which it
is now discussed, will not be a great po-
litical issue in the campaign of 1904, though
it is the present intention of the democrats
to force it to the front 1t will meet with
the same old, clammy, corpse-like reception
that their imperialistic issue met and which
died an unmourned and peaceful death al
most before it was born The whole people
OF the United States have no intention of
ever giving up the Philippines, and the
democrats are firing off their cannon at
chippy birds. AS singular as it is true no
one section desires that ma rket of the
world retained for its products more than the
cotton producers and the cotton manufac-
turerS of the south, who will vote to a man
against their own interests, as they have in
the past and will for indefinite time con-
tinue to do. The democrats in the present
cannonading are bringing down no game in
the shape of the Independent voter or de-
serters from the regular republican ranks
The democratic voters will vote the demo-
cratic ticket in any event as great body
OF regulars. If their leaders do not win
votes from our ranks, their oratoricaI eff
forts are, alas. for them. lost upon the end
less sea of public Indifference.
Let the democrats. and the public, too
remember that history repeats itself. The
acquisition of Alaska, apparently and liter
ally in some respects a barren waste of ice
snow and mountains, uninhabited except by
handful of natives of a low order of in
telligence. was as bitterly opposed in Con-
gresS by the then opposition as is the re-
tention of the Philippines today opposed by
| the democracy. Yet we would not part with
Alaska under any circumstances. The wis
dom of its purchase has been demonstrated
beyond argument. The wisdom of the gov
ernments course in the Philippines will in
time be likewise demonstrated, and the peo-
pie will look back In wonder and In disgust
upon the retrogressive attitude of the de-
mocracy of today in the same manner as we
now regard the opposition of the purchase
of Alaska, or the governments acquisition
OF the Morse telegraph when 1t was offered
to the government by the inventor.
THE batteries of the democracy will con-
tinue to thunder without effect. 1t is absurd
Oh the part of the republicans to become
scared over the mournful lugubrious wall
ing of the democratic donkey incased with
in its Hons hide. The republicans expert
enced the same Quivers of fear ii will be
remembered. at the approach of the last
congressional elections, and it was subse-
quently shown to be utterly groundless
Why quake now? Matters and things DO
litical and commercial are hundred per
cent better off now than then. 1t may be
considered good policy to scare the people
out to vote, now that they are, thanks to
the republican party and to republican rule.
making so much money that they have not
time to go to the polls. and it may not;
that Is a matter Of policy for the party
managers to decide
Zone thing, however is certain. and the
fact should not be beclouded. and that is
that it is an error to suppose that the people
at large are not aware how order and peace
are being brought out of chaos and strife
in the Philippines: that things will soon be
satisfactorily settled throughout the islands,
and that they Will be opened up to trade
and their resources developed The people
will soon laugh at the croakings of the
democrats. Let them croak. The more
they croak the better and the more clearly
will the absurdity of their position be re-
yea1ed the VOTERS mind