New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-21

year rapidly Increasing which must be sold in the
share OF those in the Orient. stop producing
Win the Tsthmian Canal, the Atlantic seaboaTd
practically as near TO China and Japan as me
In thss Way our whole country will be placed
nearer TO these great markets OF the future imam
Win this advantage in our favor, and with an
open door. We have only TO maintain our preStge
and pursue the wise policies upon which We have
THE PHILIPPINE POLICY.
Much has been said in criticism of the acQuisi-
sessions because OF their cost and the expense and
trouble incident 10 their government
Those who thus cI4uclse 90 not take very
Great national and international transactions
not meas ureo by dollars ana cents We are not
Of collars 10 construct an isthmian canal with
the idea Of collecting tolls enough 10 make the
We did not acquire Hawaii. Porto Rico.
the Philippines because We needed or wanted more
territory; merely as such. nor because We wanted
no thought OF tribute, and would not exact q
our purposes were higher. broader and more
Ne are proposing to build the interoceanlc canal
not for revenue but because Of Its general supreme
Importance: and II we are to invest the vast sums
necessary to the completion Of that work We must
In that behalf Porto Rico and naval stations
calculabe value. Mere money does not suggest
They viii enable TO command and control the
Caribbean Sea, and IN that way protect and defend
side, and that is beyond computation
Those Islands are so situated that with them in
our possession We hold a strategic advantage that
At once protects and defends not only the APP
proaches 10 the canal. but our entire Pacific coast
In the great commercial rivaIries Of the Orient
the Philippines VIII play for Us a more important
possession we have base OF operations that viii
be OF iaesLinable benefit in both peace and war.
millions for whose favor in trade TO contend
Their acquisition and our successful government
Of them have greatly enhanced our prestige and
If We should abandon them we would discredit
achievements and cripple all our efforts to com
mand our just dues in that part OF the world.
iest,o b e 6t St ~ I ba1or
and good name OF The AneTican yeon1e hut the
prosperity and happiness OF every Individual IN the
manufacturers, but The farmers and wage workers
II we should surrender the Philippines and re-
tire therefrom could hope TO develop IN
that part OF the globe the markets 10 which we
would be unable TO sell our surplus. and. being
The Inevitable consequences would be a lessen
ing OF production. affecting not only the capacity
The demands Of our home markets
The history Of the last six years records unfore-
seen events and Unforeseen steps in expansion and
naturally and through all has run n controlling
vein OF statesmanIke wisdom and Americanlike
40 TURNING BACK
The question now is. Shall we go forward or turn
bsck7 Shall hold to these acquisitions. or
shall We surrender them?
If turn back. what shall we undo7 II sur
render what We have acquired, what shall be first
given up? Where is the man to haul down the
flag and sound the retreat2 When and where and
how is the operation to commence?
What a spectacle It would be to see the United
Hawaii and retreating from the Philippinesl
Who would dismiss the schools that have been
incapacity involved. whichever or whatever it may
such suggestions present the character OF the
issue we are to ty Tor me course 0r 9qr
they would be II restored to power in honor bound
co al these humiliating things.
The questions that come home TO us in connec-
whether generally speaking. we shall condemn or
uphold what the Republican party has done with
TeDubIic 81 Panama. the construction Of canal
and the insistence upon policy that for us
an open door through which we can enter the
the other commercial powers Of the earth.
These are not unimportant questions They are
far reaching IN their consequence affecting us not
only people. but individually, as citizens OF
this country without regard 10 section. or class or
THE DIVIDED DEMOCRACY.
1t has been said that the Democratic party has
questions. In the sense that they are unit as TO
Of them that is true for II you VIII consult me
themselves Even their leaders and their ablest
men nave t Pe Dnoposons BUT that of Itself is
enough to disquafy them for the power they are
ought not to expect anybody else 20 agree with it,
that the people will intrust IT with any important
But II the Democrats are not opposed our
BE Of executing them than are? II we are
without II IS only because their leaders have
tried hard enough. Their failures have been
great ote ' 56e e 70 1s Tey "a ed @ to reciprocity
with Cuba they failed the recognition OF Pan
construction OF the isthmian canal; they failed
in their attacks upon the appropriations for the
o~v~v nd 10 making
other effort and another failure by attacking the
President because Of the recent order OF the rom-
missioner OF Pensions providing that old soldiers
anplvfng Tor pensions under the Dependent Pen
Sion law shall be regarded in the absence OF proof
TO the contrary as so far disabled to do manual
labor when shown to be or the age or siXty-tWo
years as be entitled TO the minimum pension Of s.
a month allowed in such cases. They will come
nearer agreeing on this question than any other.
because their hearts In II.
n 50 we are quite ready and willing to have them
DO so for their position is devoid OF both merit and
me truth Is the Democratic party has nc legiti-
make MAKE one it has but oundeTe into its accustomed
attitude Of opposition WITHOUT regard to merit.
PYt bad as their situation is with respect TO is
sues they are even OF in the matter OF can
didates Candidates they have. to be sure; They
always have had and always win have plenty OF
candidates. But there are candidates and candi-
No man yet named excites any general response
MI Cleveland IS dstasteful TO Mr.. Bryan. and Mr..
Bryan Is S sxt he is not ace
ceptable 10 other States and sections.
" snccesefui in his quest delegates but all tho
conservative elements OF the party who are opposed
has distinguished himself by his advocacy of all the
Nobodv can foreteu who their candidate win be,
but no matter who may he chosen he cannot be
the representative Of united party or OF accepta-
80 one has yet been mentioned in whose admin:
have satisfactory confidence.
CONFIDENT OF VICTORY
congratulate all Republicans everywhere that