The Advocate and news., 1898-01-05
A Young Republicans Protest.

Editor Advocate and News:-NeVeT
within the recollection of the young Re-
publicans Of this country has there been
displayed so much disapproval for a
Presidents policy as there is for McKln-
ley's refusal to recognize the rights OF
Cuba We, the young Republicans Of the
West, representing that element Of the
party that earn our bread by labor and
not as the results OF labor, have waited
long and patiently for our President,
the man elected by our earnest efforts
and support, to act in behalf Of freedom
and humanity
Our forefathers spilled their life
blood for the freedom of our own be-
loved country. When they reared the
magnificent structure Of free republic
in this land they laid its foundation
broad and deep in the eternal principles
of right and justice. The eyes Of all
nations are upon us to-day. This free
government, this model OF republics,
fixes the gaze Of the whole world. There
Is no nation, no tribe, civilized or semi
civilized, on the whole earth that does
not look this way and feel as II humanity
has stake set" In this land. Imagine
the surprise and disappointment that
our present Cuban policy must be to all
young struggling republics and liberty
loving nations. This country has passed
through the trying ordeal Of Civil war,
with all its horrors and terrible suffer
ings. Thousands Of our best men and
brightest youths offered up their lives
and blood for the preservation Of this,
our own republic, and for the emancipa-
ton of the black slave. Then, after a
lapse Of over thirty years, to have a
President elected at the hands of q
party whose first inspirations and mo-
tives were freedom, ignore and utterly
fail to consider the appeal of an op-
pressed people, standing at our very
gates, makes the young, intelligent Re-
publican Of to-day stop and ask himself
the question: Are we really voting with
the Republican party, founded by the
blood Of our fathers, or Is 1t "a phantom,
some unreal thing?"
In looking more carefully into the
question we find reason for this disre-
gard Of Cuban rights and independence.
This talk about international law and
for new developments must be a cloak
for reasons more obvious to the Presi-
dent himself. His apolOgetic message
impresses upon our mind the idea that
he knows he is doing wrong, but there Is
some unseen power behind the executive
chair that demands this infamous neg
lect Of duty, and he must obey. 1t ap-
pears that the voices Of the common peo-
pie Of this nation must be hushed and
the loud cry for Cuban recognition for
ever stilled by the soft whispers and sill
very purr of few Eastern capitalists
A. continuance Of this kind of a policy
will drive every young Republican, that
has a liberty-loving spirit, from the
party. This meekly bowling TO the will
of capital and total disregard Of the de-
mands Of the masses will, in time, de-
strOy a great and grand political organi-
cation. The principles Of party, no
matter how true, cannot sustain life
when the actions Of its leaders makes 1t
appear living paradox.
IncOnversation with Republicans, both
young and old, in regard to this question
of Cuban recognition, have never found
any one that disapproved it.
There are many things to make man
think that the Republican party is fast
becoming the party Of the rich. In fact
1t seems to be enveloped in a vapor Of
arlstocracy. The younger Republicans
and the common people all over the
country have been ignored and their
wishes never taken into consideration
for years past. We not only object to the
present declaration Of President Nc
Kinley, but to the whole system Of poll
tics that compels men In his high posi-
ton and our legislators In general to
forfeit the rights OF the common voters
Of nation for the opinions Of few men
who have only self-intereSt in view.
1t is a question, IL this republic, the