The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-07-04
SOME LEADING EDITORIALS.
THE DEMOCRATIC TREND.
From the Sprinr6eld Renubliean.l

So far general issues concerned the democratic
conventions thus far held in East West and South display
the tendencies The democrats Of Illinois and Maine
this week strike the leading That the high tariff
again coming into prominence appears from the declara-
tons Of these bodies and may also be observed that this
issue has an intimate connection with the trust issue me
Maine democrats have challenged their opponents with s
ing force and pertinency asking the blunt question: Why
that they permit the steel trust charge the ship build
Of Maine sos per hundred for the material which
they sell to the English builder for IS cents thereby Grip
ping of our States leading industiesi'
When it happen that the English ship builder may
buy steel of American trust for much lower price than
the Maine ship builder can then the Maine democrats have
the right to ask questions without limit There is nothing
dead in such questions They form living issues and it
from them that politics derives vgor and capacity for
vice to the people 1t would be we'll every political
bage republican well as democrat would make inquiries
much alive this Maine convention has made concerning
the tariff and trusts.
Nor is there any vagueness about the democratic
ances in Maine and Illinois concerning the issue which
president Schuman has lately pronounced the greatest
before the people Nothing could be the point than
the declarations of both these bodies in favor of the indie
pendence for the Philippine islands There is lodging
behind such expressions Self government the democrats
say independence and they congress tell the Fill
pnos that independence the goal Here is clean cut
issue with the republicans for republican convention has
out squarey in favor of policy that frankly accepts
independence the eonsummaton OF efforts in the arch
ipelago.
Judging by the platform utterances too there now
deep division in the party regarding the specific issue which
rett the democracy in 1896 No convention procaims it.
while all at least ignore IT, H. in Southern far Western
State the Kansas City platform be rearmed the fact does
not signify that the party will again be seriously di-
vided the silver question Nor does the failure ndorsc
laud particular democratic leader that
factor is trampng upon another If Mr. Bryans is
mentioned in the proceedings the platforms neither
is Mr. Cevelands The tendency is evidently toward har-
nony rather than discordoward the future rather than
the past
Facing issues OF today with clear and frankly stated
views having policy integhly framed and honestly
pressed there why the democrats may
peal to the country in the elections with the
that they fulfilling faithfully the duty of oppo-
ston party and offering the people reasonable alternative
the program OF the party power In politics the right
is seldom for long exclusively side The power
fu and best led organization will make serious mistakes
In their treatment of Cuban reciprocity the republicans
already invited the dapprova the American people The
democratic record that above reproach and
The times unavorahle such revival of democratic
fortunes will at least make the parties nearly
matched in popular strength and thus rebound
| interests OF the nation.