The Saint Paul globe., 1898-08-13
Strong Democratic Ground.

The Missouri Democrats. at their
Springfield convention, may be said to
have fairly reflected the sentiments OF
conservative citizens of the United
States, in these declarations:
I'VE insist on the strict maintenance Of
the Monroe doctrine and declare that any
abrogation of it would be both unwse and
hazardous
1--WE declare no American should be held by
force in unwilling subjection to any Euro
pean power, and oppose any alliance
with European nation.
1--WE are opposed to annexation of the Phil
ippine islands
1--WE declare that important incident
to the war our government should acquire
harbors and coaling stations in the Philip
pines and other Pacific islands, and that the
treaty of peace should be made to include
the granting to US Of commercial privileges
equal or superior to any other nation.
1--WE are opposed to waging war of con-
quest but this war was forced upon us
by the Spanish government and people, we
declare that it should be prosecuted until
Spain is driven from the Western hemi
sphere
''Since the prosecution of the war has cost
us great deal, in life and treasure, we
demand that Porto Rico and other islands OF
Spain in the West Indies be taken and held
under the sovereignty of this country, with
the exception of Cuba.
I'VE favor carrying out in good faith the
| resolution of congress regarding Cuba, and
enable the Cubans to establish and maintain
an independent government of their own, If
they desire this. and we will favor it's peace
full annexation whenever it can be done with
the consent Of the people of the island.''
A thoughtful public will find no fault
with a party whose convictions are so
clearly, logically and .courageously de-
fined, for it cannot have failed to note
the prevailing tendency among politi-
clans and so-called leaders to duck
when this question Of colonial expan-
sion is discharged at them. Business
men, especially, will agree that these
views are sound for long experience
with unsettled conditions resulting
from frequent tariff changes have dem
oristrated to their complete satisfaction
that stability of commercial relations
and conditions is the life of successful
trade and prosperity. There can be
no such stability when this government
steps off this continent and plunges
into the mad race for colonial posses
sions. Witness the complications which
have arisen in the partition of Africa
and are gradually focusing upon the
far East, and reflect upon the results
to our peace and welfare of mingling
with foreign grabbers Of territory
This, we insist, is the American view.
Any other view may properly be
stamped as Imperial. Sentiment will
cost us half billion dollars
and many American lives in the
Of C11IN
tates the demand for colonial possess
sions Sound sense is better associate
in these business matters
Let us compare the platform utter
ances at Springfield with those an
nounced at Douglass, where the Repub-
licans of Wyoming met in convention
two days ago. Here they are in their
entirety:
we congratulate the country that Presi-
dent Mckinley is fully able to pursue
policy, upon the declaration of peace with
Spain, which will at once maintain the dig
nifty and honor of the nation and bring pros
perity to the islands which will come under
our control or protection"
Is there anything here to suggest
concern for American welfare? Does
it not suggest rather the meek obedi-
OiiSC ouC IllC hluS - LOHS i've the
King. In its very negativeness it sa-
vors of Imperialism. 1t suggests the
idea, moreover, that the Republicans
are unwilling to take the people into
their confidence. But we may be GER
tain that they are secretly in sympa-
thy with Imperialism, and that they
will lose no opportunity to push it's
sacred cause. The duty of Democrats.
everywhere, therefore. is plain enough.
They should boldly proclaim the policy
embodied in the Springfield platform
and in the oft-repeated warnings of
The G l o b e:
No imperial colonial policy
No territorial expansion to beget if.
No entangling alliances with any ma
ton under the sum-