Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 84, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 June 1902 — PoLITICAL COMMEN. [ARTICLE]

POLITICAL COMMENT

Republican Army Mobilizing. Following Indiana, which led off with the first Republican State convention of the year, Ohio and Kansas have fallen into line under the same flag and to the same music. Thus begins the marshaling of the hosts which, as the Journal believes, will win the important preliminary skirmish of next fall and clear the way for the greater victory of 1904. Although Kansas, with her eight representatives and 355,000 votes, is an Important State she has never yet reached the dignity of recognition as a “keynote" State, though she made a bid for it this time by taking the lead in placing President Roosevelt In nomination for 1904. Ohio has often sounded the keynote of Republican campaigns and victories, but she did not have to do It this year. It was, really given by the Indiana Republicans, and those of the other two States had nothing to do but take up the strain. This they did In no uncertain tones. On all the main questions of the day—our relations with Cuba, our policy in the Philippines, trusts and combinations, protection and tariff revision, the isthmian canal, Chinese exclusion and liberal pension legislation—both conventions followed exactly in the line of this State with variations of phraseology but none of substance. The Republicans of all three States are a unit on each and every one of these questions, and it is safe to predict that those of all the other States will be equally so. On the Philippine question, which the Democrats have been trying to make the paramount issue, Indiana Republicans say: “We approve the course of the administration in establishing peace and civil government in the Philippines. We hold to the doctrine that American sovereignty must be respected within the United States and all territory under its Jurisdiction.” The Ohio Republicans say: “We congratulate the President and the qrmy on the satisfactory progress made In the Philippines in suppressing insurection and establishing order, and we unqualifiedly indorse the policy of our government In those islands. Our flag is in the Philippines, and there it will remain.” The Republicans of Kansas say: “The Republican party, of Kansas unqualifiedly indorses the administration of our President, Theodore Roosevelt. By the terms of the treaty with Spain the Philippines Islands became the territory of the United States, and this Nation is bound by every consideration of honor and good faith, as well as selfinterest, to assume the responsibility which such' ownership entails.” With the certain prospect that every Republican State convention held during the present year will make similar declarations there need not be any doubt as to where the party stands on this question. If the Democratic party wants to make the fight on that line It will not have to reconnoiter any to discover the Republican position. Outside of the platforms and the spirit of harmony that characterised both conventions the notable feature of the Ohio convention was the ovation to Senator Hanna, and that of the Kansas convention was the Indorsement of President Roosevelt for 1904. Senator Hanna’s victory was complete, both from a political and a personal point of view. There have been times when he had to fight for party leadership, but that seems to be past. In the convention Just held nearly every one of the twenty-one district delegations was enthusiastic in his support, and It is said there is only one anti-Hanna man on the State committee. The convention would hardly wait to hear the chairman, Gen. Grosvenor, speak, so anxious were the delegates to hear Senator Hanna, and when the latter was escorted to the platform, “the greatest demonstration of the convention occurred,” says the press dispatch. Special dispatches describe it as a scene of wild enthusiasm, and say bis easy mastery of his audience inspired every one with confidence. In the nominations for State officers the candidates favored by the Hanna leaders had swept all before them, and the Senator’s inspiring speech established his leadership beyond any doubt. The best feature of his personal triumph is that it seems to haVe ended the long factional fight in Ohio and to have ushered in an era of good feeling among the party leaders. In making hia personal triumph coincident with party harmony Senator Hanna has shown himself a past master of the art of conciliation. His continued leadership In Ohio is new assured, and his re-election for the senatorial term beginning March 4, 1905, is beyond doubt. The action of the Kansas convention b trying to start a "boom” for the rcnomlnation of President Roosevelt may have been due as much to the enthusiasm of the hour as to any predetermination, but It emphasizes the universal satisfaction of Republicans with the administration and furnishes a marked contrast to the general state of disruption and eruption that prevails among the Democracy.—lndianapolis Journal. President Rooeevelt'e Address. The soldiers whose memory Is honored by the ceremonies of Decoration Day have no assailants now. They had while they were In the service. Northern copperheads traduced them. Confederate congresses and papers called them brutes and barbarians. Doubtless whan the soldiers now fighting a cruel. 4

treacherous foe in the Philippines have ceased from their labors and their deeds are no longer modern history they win have no assailants. It will be admitted then that a hard task was Imposed on them which they performed bravely and well. The soldiers in the Philippines have their traducers now. They are assailed on the floor of Congress and by cranks and malignants out of Congress. As they have assailants, so should they have defenders. They have found somq eloquent spokesmen in the Senates They found an eloquent champion In President Roosevelt. He must have chafed under the flood of abuse which has been poured out upon the soldiers of the republic. Decoration Day gave him an opportunity to express himself, and he used it to good purpose. In the presence of the veterans of the Civil War, who were the theme of so much vituperation in their day, the President stated the case of the soldiers in the Philippines, who are fighting for “peace and freedom,” and are accused of every crime in the catalogue.His address was more than a plea for the much-abused American soldiers of to-day. It was a vindication of the general policy of the Government in the Philippines. It was an answer not" merely to the brutalities of Senator Carmack, but to the feverish sentimentalities of Senator Hoar. It was an exposition of the good which has been accomplished in the Philippines and of the greater good to be accomplished in the future. The President’s Decoration Day address closes the debate on the Philippine question.—Chicago Tribune.

Senator Hoar’s Vicious Treason. Age and previous good record have secured too much Indulgence for Senator Hoar in the National Senate, for certain It Is that his treasonable utter ances have done more to continue ths war In the Philippines than all that Aguinaldo and all the other leaders "of the Filipino Insurrection have been able to accomplish, simply because tbs lgronant inhabitants of those islands have been made to believe that Senator Hoar represents tbe real sentiment of the American people. Senator Hoar knows that the same conditions would have produced tbs same results in Cuba. The Filipinos attacked the United States army, notwithstanding that army was there to prevent other nations from seizing the Philippine Islands, and to prevent the different tribes from destroying each other. The Filipinos have continued their warfare against the American troops, despite the fact that those troops have everywhere given the proof that they are there to preserve peace. For a year past the United States officers and soldiers have endeavored to remain In tbelr camps and induce the Filipinos to see that their mission was wholly peaceful, but traitors, like Senator Hoar and others, have spouted their treason in the United States and induced the Filipinos to continue their warfare. In Cuba, the United States soldiers and people have everywhere been greeted with gratitude for freeing that Island from tbe dominion of Spain. The United States expended $300,000,000 and sacrificed hundreds of lives to free Cuba; the Cubans have proved that they are worthy of the sacrifice, but the Filipinos have placed themselves under the charge ot Senator Hoar and the other American traitors who have misled them! The result Is plainly apparent to all Intelligent persons whose eyes are not blinded by their own treasonable efforts. It Is possible that these traitors may be able to continue the war In the Philippines for another two years, but certain It Is that them can be no peace on those islands until the duty and power of the United States have been fully recognized. The traitors will howl In vain; they are only repeating the noise mad? by the three wolves heard by General Grant; the Filipinos will be conquered or annihilated, but their survivor* will be given the same liberties enjoyed by the people of thfe States constituting the American Union.—Des Moines Register. Oregon Ha* Spoken. The Republicans have swept Oregon as they have never done before, raking tbs Congressional majorities from 12,000 In 1900 to 15,000aiow. This result disappoints no one who has kept close track of affairs. The Philippine policy means much to Oregon, for, being on the Pacific coast, she expects to derive evex-lnrreasing benefits from tho trade of China and Japan, for the exploitation of which the Republican party la committed. . Will Not P*r. Fooling with a flrst-clasa tariff law for the sake of Cuban concession!, or for any other reason, will not pay. The Dlngley law Is successful and satisfactory.—St Louis Globe-Democrat Too Prosperous. The Democrats will have to draft men to run for office on tbelr State ticket this fall. Times are too prosperous for Democratic success.—Findlay, Ohio, Jeffersonian. Aa Old Pioneer. The moss on tbe back of free silver will soon be as long as It Is on tbe back of the old pioneer of all tbe heresies free trade.—Benton, 111., Republican.