The record-union., 1899-04-14

republic left their European homes pc
cause of the burdens imposed by the
enormous military establishments. A
great army may be a good thing for the
railroad companies which will carry
them from plaue, to place, and for the
large contractors who will furnish food
and raiments for the soldiers, but it is a
distressing burden upon the plain peo-
pie of the country. especially upon
laboring men and the farmers, upon
whom an unfair share of the load has
fallen.
Upon the subject of imperialism l
need only add a word. The idea OF
forcible conquest and of colonization
after the plan adopted by European
countries cannot receive the support of
the people of this country when the
principles are clearly understood. In
1859 Abraham Eincoln was invited to
attend the Jefferson banquet given by
the Republicans of Boston. Those whose
me mories run back to ante-bellum days
remember that the Declaration of Inde-
pendence forms large part of Repub-
lican speeches in the early days. 1t was
made o part of the first platform on
which Abraham Lincoln ran. That
doctrines set forth in that declaration
nc one will dispute. In expressing re-
gret that he could not attend the Bon
ton banquet, Mr.. Lincoln used these
words in regard to Jefferson: All honor
to Jefferson; to a man who in the con-
crete pressure of struggle for ma
tional independence by a single people
had the GOODNESS, forecast and capacity
to introduce into a merely revolutionary
document an abstract truth applicable
tC all men and all times, and SO to en-
balm it there, that to-day and in all
coming days it shall be a rebuke and a
stumbling block to the harbingers of
tyrany and oppression
And yet the leaders of the Republic
can party are attempting to deny these
truths written for all men and for all
time. They are attempting to repudi-
ate the doctrine of equal rights and
self-government given to us by the
forefathers. Not only are they imitat-
ing the monarchies of the Old World in
their policies, but they are copying the
language Of a monarch in carrying out
their policy. In the proclamation re-
Gently issued to the Fflipinos we found
these words: The commission desires
to assure the people of the Philippines
of the cordial good will and fraternal
feeling which is entertained for them
by the President of the United States
and by the American people The aim
and object Of the American Government.
apart from the fulfillment of the SOL
emn obligation it has assumed toward
the family of nations by this accept
ance of sovereignty over the Philippine
Islands, is The Well-being, prosperity and
protection of the Philippine people and
their elevation and advancement to
position among the civilized people of
the world.
Compare this language with the Ian
guage used by the Queen in her procla-
nation to the people of India in 1886,
when she said: We hold ourselves
bound to the natives of our Indian ter
ritory by the same obligations of duty
which bind us to our other subjects
and in their prosperity will be our
strength, in their contentment our Sc
curity, and in their gratitude, our best
reward
1T will be noticed that benevolence
breathes through both declarations. And
then as to their participation in govern
ment, proclamation to the F'ilipinos
says: There shall be guaranteed to
the Filipino people an honest and eff
fective civil service in which, to the
fullest extent to which it is practical
BILE, natives shall be employed
The Queens proclamation reads:
And 1t is our further viii that SO far
as may be our subjects, of whatever
race or creed, be freely and impartially
admitted to offices in our service and
duties Of which they may be qualified
by their education, ability and integ-
rity, duly to discharge
And yet in spite of those promises
made to the people of India forty years
ago, the people of India to-day COM
plain that the offices are filed by the
younger sons of English aristocracy
while the taxes are paid by the people
of India.
THE policy Of Imperialism is always
defended on the ground that it is for
the good of the people governed, but
we have never recognized the right of
any nation to benevolently assimilate
another nation
Ex-senator John l. Mitchell of Wis
consin, whose theme was Thomas
Jefferson" devoted his entire address TO
an eulogy of the founder of Democracy
John F. Doherty answered ssThe
Young Democracy" and Thomas L.
Cleary on Party Honesty is Party
Duty"
Carter II. Harrison of Chicago re-
sponded to Corruption in Politics"
Mayor Harrison said in part:
1T is in the power of the young
Democracy of the nation, if it will but
set to work in. the first trenches. to car
ry forward the crusade of purity in
politics until corruption shall have been
driven from high places, until honesty
shall control in every department of the
municipal, the State and the national
Government. Stalwart young Democ-
racy need not look far for an incentive.
The example is set for it in the person
of our national leader. Two years ago
the party made its fight under a leader
from private life so stainless, with per-
sonal character so blameless that the
people followed him still with such zeal
as the crusaders displayed in the pala-
dins of old
Ours is the party of the people I'm
less We serve the people honestly and
fairly we are faithleEs to our trust.
Duty requires to strike the first blow
at corruption within our own party
ranks. Let the word go forth that
Democracy will not tolerate man, no
matter how profuse his professed de-
votion to the party creed, who does
not place his Obligations to the public
above any ana very personal consid-
Grafton. If Democracy means anything
it means the honest service of the peo-
pie. No man can be a Democrat whose
to-