The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-11-05
The Duty Of Democrats.

At no period since the great Civil War
have questions so grave and SO important
presented themselves TO the American people
rs those which confront us at this time, ana II
becomes the duty of every Democrat to stand
in his place and prevent, if possible, the con
summation of that which is the manifest design
of the Republican party. When the recent
war with Spain was inaugurated 1t was 1or
the ostensibe purpose of freeing Cuba from
SPANISH rule and allowing the people OF that
Island to work out their own independent
destiny. In other words, for humanity
sake the war was declared and the appeal
made to the country, and to this appeal the
American people responded without regard
IN marty. notwithstanding the fact that many
tbouoht the war ought and could have been
,rortad After a short and decisive struggle
AGAINST a power infinitely inferior in point o
stranoth to our own, we have banished the
Snanisb flag from Cuba, and, in the course OF
the war. have also taken Porto Rico, and have
nlaced the Philippines within our grasp.
Now tits. that the Mckinley administration,
with the Republican party at It's back Is
soupd;ng the note of Empire, and declaring
tie attention to take everything within reach;
ignoring lie Understanding principles tor
which It assured the country the war was be :
gun. and turning our easy victory over SPAN
into gigantic land grabbing scheme.
The most serious part of this whole busI-
rass however, so far as the American people
are concerned. is that such course would
entirely change the policy of the country
which has been adhered to from the begin
ming of its history, and is IN direct contra'eh-
ton of the pronounced sentiment OF all the
early statesmen Of our country, from WASH
;roton down. We have grown great by
,,topdino to our own business, and II
,bare * one note of warning, louder ana
clearer than another, that comes to us from
our Fathers, it is to avoid all foreign e"t'h,
clements. lust such entanglements as would
he sure at some time or other to follow the
nroposed territorial expansion policy OF the
Republican party. And what, pray, DO we
want with more territory? And what do we
want with more mixed population than we
have on our hands at the present time? we
find now the worst elements OF the Repupll-
can party in many parts OF our country, coal
escing with the negroes, and overriding all
law and order and decent government. AT
this very time, in North Carolina, the white
men have been compelled to rise ell masse IN
an endeavor to rid themselves of negro doml-
nation foisted upon them by the Republican
party. And it is proposed now by this same
party to bring into our body polite other
hordes of thoroughly irresponsible persons,
without the slightest idea of what government
means, and thus add to our present race com
plications.
If the Republican party controls all the
branches of the general government, this will
be done. The only barrier that can intervene
is a Democratic House of Representatives,
and hence the necessity for the most deter
mined and earnest effort upon the part OF the
Democratic party to secure the control of the
next House This will be decided at the
coming election on the 9Th instant. Let
every Democrat stand in his place and by the
power of his influence and his ballot thwart
the purposes of Republican Imperialism.