OUR AMERICAN LETTER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11808, 10 August 1900, Page 6

OUR AMERICAN LETTER.

CHICAGO, 111., U.S.A., July 7.

The Republicans of the United States in convention assembled have nominated, without a dissenting vota, the following ticket: — For President, William M'Kinley; for Vicepresident, Theodore Roosevelt. For ' harmony, the work of this convention is unparalleled in the history of political conventions. The roll of States and Territories showed that there were 926 delegates, and for William M'Kinley, of. Ohio, there were 926 votes cast. Of course, .this unanimous vote for M'Kinley was considered in the light of a foregone conclusion, and there was no particular surprise when tho result was known. Howeyer, when tho rol-1 was called for the nomination of a candidate for Vice-president, the interest increased visibly. There were a number of candidates in the field, and although it was well-known to all delegations that Theodore Roosevelt, of New York, was the favourite candidate, it was thought that the convention might accede to his wishes and nominate some other candidate for the office. When the voting began, however, it was seen that the convention was bound to -nominate their favourite, and take the chance of his accepting the honour. One after another, the other candidates withdrew from the contest, and delegation after delegation went solid for the New Yorker. Out of 926 delegates 925 cast their votes for Roosevelt. He himself was a delegate at large' and was the only one who failed to vote. This ticket is regarded by men prominent in politics as the very strongest the Republicans could, have settled upon. It is believed that M'Kinley's hold on the people is as strong as ever; and Theodore Roosevelt is the popular hero. Governor Roosevelt's trip into the West, directly following his nomination, proved that his admirers are not confined to the Republican party. Men of all parties united in giving him rousing ovations in every town through which he passed.- In speaking- of the nomination of' Governor Roosevelt, to the office of Vice-president, Richard Yates, Republican nominee for Governor of Illinois, expresses the hope and belief of many prominent Republicans when he says : " Roosevelt will dignify the oflice, and, I hope, will destroy the precedent that it is a pocket in which are buried the political ambitions and future of a man prominent in public life. I believe it is simply a stepping-stone in his career —a career which has .taken him from the Legislature to the Governor's chair of the great State of New York, and promises to place him in the second highest office in the gift of his countrymen." Very .briefly the records of the two candidates are as follows: —

William M'Jiinley.—Born Kilos, Trumbull County, Ohio, January 29, 1843. Educated in Allegheny College. Enlisled as private, 23rd Ohio Volunteers, June 11, 18(51. Lieutenant September 23, 1862; captain July 25, 1864; brevet major March IJ, 1665. 'btudied law. Settled at Canton,' Ohio, 1567. Prosecuting attorney Stark County 186 a. Member of Congress 1576-1890. Prepared Al'liinley tariff law 18aO. Defeated for Congress in a, gerrymandered district 1890. ' Governor of Onio, with plurality, of 21,511, 1891. lie-elected Governor, with plurality of 60,995, 1893. Delegate at large to Republican National Conventions, 1684, 1883, and 1892. Chairman of Convention1 of 1892. Nominated ior President, June 18, 1896, receiving 661' out of 905 votes. .Elected President, November, 1896, with popular plurality of ISUO,OOO votes,, and with 271 electoral votes, against 176 for Bryan. Kenominated for President, June 21, 1900. . Theodore ■ Roosevelt.—Born New York, October 27, 1858. Educated at Harvard University. Member of the -New York Legislature, 18b2-4. Leader of the minority 1883, leader of the House 1884. United States Civil Service Commissioner ISB9-95. .President .New York Police Board 1895-97. Assistant Secretary to the Navy 1897. Organised Roosevelt's Rough Kiders 1898. . Lieutenant-colonel and colonel, in command' in Cliba. Elected Governor of New York November, 1898, with a plurality of 17,979. Nominated for Vice-President June 21, 1900. Residence, Oyster Bay, Long Island. Publications: " War of 1812, 1832; -Hunting Trips 'of a Kancliman,"-1885; " Life of Thomas Hart Benton," 1886; " Life of Gouverneur Morris " 1887; ''Ranch Life and the Hunting Trail/ 1888; " The-Winning of the West," 1889-95 ;■ "The Wilderness Hunter," 1893; '• American Ideals," 1898; "The Rough Riders," 1899. Immediately after the adjournment of the convention Senator Marcus A. Hanna was re-elected chairman of the new National Committee, and was given full power to name the executive "or Campaign Committee and take all other steps necessary; to opening the campaign. Chairman Hanna's headquarters, as in 1896, will be in Chicago, with a branch in New York.

Following quickly upon the Republican Convention, at Philadelphia, were the Democratic Convention at Kansas City and Jhe Prohibition Convention at Chicago. In the Democratic as in the Republican Convention, the main contest was over the nomination for vice-president. William Jennings Bryan was nominated for President by unanimous vote; and after a hearty fight Adlai E. Stevenson, of Illinois, was nominated as his running mate. The three important candidates for Vice-president were Adlai E. Stevenson, David B. Hill, and Charles A. Towne. On the formal ballot it was found that these candidates received the following votes : —Stevenson, 559 1-2; Hill, 200; Towne, 89 1-2. Charles A. Towne is the candidate who was nominated as Bryan's running mate by the Populist Convention a month ago. It is not known what course he will take in the matter since he did not win out at. the Democratic Convention; but it is thought he will witlwlraw. This will enable the Populists to nominate the entire ticket accepted by the Democratic party. It is believed that David B. Hill could have had the nomination at any lime had he desired it. He fought, however, resolutely against it. Mr Croker, the Democratic boss, worked persistently to bury him in the vice-presidency, for the very good reason that he wished to get him out of New York. The chief bone of contention in the Democratic parly has been the 16 to 1 plank. In 1896 the Democratic war cry was: The free coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1! That party went down in defeat before the

" (iokl Standard " platform of the Republican party, and the vital question since that time lias been: Is free silver a dead issue? William J. Bryan has never ceased to contend that it is a live issue, and he even intimated previous to the opening of the convention that unless this plank was inserted in the platform, the Democratic party might count him out of the race entirely. ■ The opposition to free silver was strong, but Col. Bryan was stronger. A compromise was effected, and the plank was inserted. However, it is not to bo pushed as the main issue. The important cry of the Democratic parly will be: Down with imperialism and the trusts. In speaking of the platform as accepted by his party, William J. Bryan said :

'" I am very much gratified to learn of the adoption of a platform which is clear and explicit on every question. The controversy over the silver plank was not a controversy between inon who differed in principle, but rather a difference of opinion as to the best method of stating the question. If wo only had Democrats'to deal with, a simple rcafFirmation would have been sufficient, but wn have to deal with the Republicans as well as Democrats, .and some of the Republicans would misconstrue a reaffirmation and en deavour to twist it into an evasion or abandonment of the silver question. The appeal is to the patriotism and conscience of the people, and wo must take them into our confidence if we expect them to have confidence in us. Our platform donls honestly and fearlessly with every question before the public, and, since we have nothing to explain, we

can spend all of our time in assaults upon Republican politics. The industrial trusts have alarmed many who were not with us in our fight against the money trust in '96. We shall not disappoint them. We shall not cease our efforts until every available monopoly is destroyed. Imperialism appeals to many as the most dangerous of the evils now menacing the country. It involves not only a change in our ideas of government, but a return to the militarism of the old world. No matter how men may differ as to the relative importance of the questions now before the country, every one must recognise that an economic evil can bo corrected more easily than one which attacks the foundations of government. If we adhere to the principle that government is a thing made by tho people for themselves, tho people can in time remedy every wrong, hut it that doctrine is once surrendered, the pacple arc helpless to redress any grievances. The six and a-'nalf millions who supported the Chicago platform in '96 stand like a solid vail against the trusts and against imperialism. If 10 per cent, of those who, by voting tho Republican ticket, brought the present dauger upon the countrjr, vjill join with us, this nation will once more become the champion of liberty and an inspiration to the oppressed everywhere."

It is a significant face that the 16 to 1 compromise would have been lost had it not been for the vote of John H. Wise, an Hawaiian. The vote was 26 to 24- in favour of the compromise. Had the delegate from recently annexed Hawaii voted tho other way it would have been reversed.

As to the manner in "which the convention was conducted, a correspondent who saw both great conventions says: —"The Republicans at Philadelphia talked business. The Democrats at Kansas City talked sentiment. Tho Republicans flaunted prosperity. The Democrats directed their attack on the Philippine policy. Each party has claimed the sole ownership of the American Hag. Each denounces tho other for trailing it in the dust. It is going to be a flag compaign. The Democrats had an unconventional convention. At Philadelphia if any delegates had taken off their coats and collars the company would have been shocked. The Republicans cheered. The Democrats shouted. The Republicans wore tailor-made clothes. The Democrats wore store clothes. At Kansas City the average age must have been several years younger, in spite of the large showing of wheel horses. At Philadelphia the women waved their handkerchiefs. In Kansas City they cheered vociferously. At Philadelphia the seat-holders were protected and the .crowd was held in partial subjection. At Kansas City the populace overran the hall and could not be ejected or controlled. As a deliberative body tlie Philadelphia convention could claim certain points of superiority. As a spectacular show of party enthusiasm the convention at Kansas City beat the other far and away." The Prohibitionists in convention in Chicago have nominated for President J. (>-. Woollay, and for Vice-president- Henry B. Metcalf. The Prohibition party stand firmly this ycur where they have always stood—opposed to the saloon. The platform this year is as strong a presentation of thoir attitude as could bo desired. One of tho strong features of the platform is a severe censuring of President M'KinIcy for allowing' the army canteen end for his general attitude toward the liquor question. TJie attitude of the party with regard to campaign problems of a more general character is clearly defined, although it may seem a bit-nar-row to the average political rasoner. It is the belief of the Prohibition party that if .men ara elected who aro able to cope with tiie liquor problem, and who are themselves freed from the powerful element of .saloon politics, they will be ablo successfully to handle other questions which may arise; ana that "it is useless for any party to make declarations as to any question concerning which there may be serious differences of. opinion in its own membership." In placing John G. Wo#lley in nomination, Oliver W. Stewart said in part:-—"The Republicans have nominated the one man who is responsible for tho army saloon and the expansion of the liquor traffic in the Philippine and who has made more votes for the Prohibition party this fall than any other man. The Democrats will nominate a man who claims to be opposed to the evil combinations of capital, but who does not dare oppose the only thing which makes their existence possible. The Prohibition party is the most remarkable minority party the country has ever seen. It is the only minority party that has- kept off the rock of fusion. Four years ago the vVeat accepted the candidate and platform in good faith, and now it feels that it needs the candidate. We need the greatest campaigner in the party to go before the people on the pla-tform adopted. This will be a- campaign year of great speakers, and our party should nominate a man who can hold his own with any of the speakers of the other parties. Such a man is John G. Woolley." , . With regard to his attitude toward the platform as adopted by the Prohibition Convention, Mr Woolloy is quoted as follows:—" My proposition has been for 13 3>-ears that the hope of the country lies not necessarily in the destruction of the saloon, but in the enthronement of the Christian man's conscience as a working factor in politics. I do not think it extravagant to predict that the party will cast 500,000 votes this fall. The nullification of the Anti-canteen Act by the opinion of the Attorney-general and the approval of that opinion by the President is the leading reason for the unquestionably heavy Prohibition vote which wil be cast this fall.

On account of the present alarming condition of affairs in China, the United States are doing all in their power to mobilise an American army in China. Troops are being hurried from the Plrilippines, and many more are to start immediately from Fort Sheridan, near Chicago. As there are many Americans in China, the greatest excitement prevails here. The only news which reaches here is of the most appalling nature, recounting the slaying of thousands of foreigners. Crowds congregate efore the news offices and await each budget of fresh news from the scene of carnage. The news that the United States battleship Oregon, which was ordered to proceed from the Philippines to the scene of trouble, had run aground, was not calculated to relieve the tension in this part of the country. The part which the Oregon took in the recent war, and her marvellous trip around Cape Horn, have.endeared her to the hearts of all Americans. Their pride in her ability has amounted almost to idolism. Therefore, it is little wonder that news that she was aground in Oriental waters and seriously daaiagwl should have cast a shade of anxiety over her admirers. It is- gathered, however, from latei- reports that itho Oregon is not so seriously injured as it was at first supposed. The Secretary of State has thus far received no news from United States Minister Conger and family. It is reported that they have taken refuge in the British Legation, but the gravest fears are entertained for them and for the other inmates of the Legation.

The recent census enumeration shows that Chicago . has reached the 2,000,000 mark. Every possible effort has been made by the census officials to have the count correct. The following table may be of interest, as showing the marvellous growth of Chicago since the year 1831: —1900, directory census, 2,010,000; 1899, directory census, 1,942,000; 1898, directory census, 1,883,000; 1897, directory census, 1,823,000 : 1895, directory census, 1.750,000 ; 1890, Government census, 1,099,000; 1880, Government census, 503,000: 1370,. Government census, 298,000; 1850, Government census, 28,000; 1831, city census, 60 ; names contained in the directory this year, 584,000.; names contained in last year's directory, 563,400 ; gain this year, 20,600 : gain in population over last year, 68,000; number of Johnsons. 5750 ; number of Smiths, 4400 ; number of Millers, Muellers, etc., 3550. President M'Kinley has made an offer of amnesty to the Filipinos, and as a result 200 of the latter met in Manila to determine honourable and decorous methods for securing peacs. The order was printed simultaneously ih Manila and Washington, and was signed by General Arthur M'Aithur. The text of the notice was as follows: —

Notice of Amnesty. Manila, June 21, 1900.—8y direction of the President of the United States the undersigned announces amnesty with complete immunity for the past and absolute liberty of action for the future to all persons who are now, or at any time since February 4, 1809, have been in insurrection against the United States in either a military or a civil capacity, and who sha,ll within a period of 90 days from the da.te hereof formally renounce all connection with such insurrection and subscribe to a declaration acknowledging and accepting the sovereignty and authority of the United States in and over the Philippine Islands.

The privilege herewith published is extended to all concerned without any reservation whatever, excepting that persons vho have violated the rules of war during the period of active hostilities are not embraced within, the scope of this amnesty.

All who desire to take advantage of the terms herewith set forth are requested to present themselves to the commanding officers of the American troops at the most convenient stat-iou, who will receive them with due consideration according to rank; make provision for their immediate wants; prepare the necessary records, and thereafter permit each individual to proceed to any part of the archipelago according to his own wishes, for which purpose the United States will furnish such transportation as may.be available either by railway, steamboat, or waggon. Prominent persons who miiy desire to confer with the military governor or with the Board of American Commissioners will be permitted to visit Manila, and will, as far as possible, bo provided with transportation for that purpose.

In order to mitigate as much as possible consequences resulting from the various disturbances which since 1896 have succeeded each other so rapidly, and to provide in some measure (or destitute soldiers during the transitory period which must inevitably succeed v general peace, the military authorities of the United States will pay ;)0 pesos to r">fh man who presents a rifle iv good cor.ditiou.

Arthur MacArthxtr, Major-general "United States Volunteers, Military Governor. The meeting of the .Filipinos which followed the posting of this notice was the first ot" the kind since the days of Lho Filipino Congress. It was composed of the distinctly revolutionary element, the. " --nnericanLsts" being locking. Thirty political prisoners were re-, leased from the gaol in order to attend. Sonor Paterno 'presided, and Senor Buencamino, the originator of the movement, Senor yioros, General Pio del Pilar, CJeneral Garcia, General Macabuloa, and other prominent Revolutionists are reported to have boen present. It was pointed out that the questions to be considered were military and civil, the mCiiaxy being concerned with a. cessation of hostilities, and the civil with the determination of the political status of the Filipinos. The immediate object of the meeting was to effect peace, and subsequently the leaders could consult with the Civil Commission as to political matters. It was evident that Sonor Piiterno was convinced that he could obtain Aguinaldo's sanction to a peace based upon the following seven clauses, which, after four hours, were unanimously accepted as compatible with an honouralo peaca : — Fivs I —Amnesty. Second—The return by the Americans to the Filipinos of confiscated property. • Thud —Employment for the revolutionary generals in the navy and militia when established. Fourth—The application of tho Filipino revenues to succour needy Filipino soldiers. Fifth —A guaranty to the Filipinos of the exorcise of personal rights accorded to Americans by their Constitution. Sixth—Establishment of civil governments at Manila and in the provinces. Seventh—Expulsion of the friars. The statement of the seventh condition was vociferously acclaimed, the entire assembly shouting, ' Expel, expel! " Milton B. Mabks.