The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-03-04

ecutive cannot screen himself behind the
gold lace of the hero of Manila No one
can honor more profoundly than | do the
officers of our regular army and navy, but
their predictions are naturally for arms
They have imbibed of course the preju-
dices and the preferences of their calling.
We cannot blame them for desiring to
magnify the size and Importance of the
army and navy, for advocating expansion
and taking on of colonial policy.
Again, we have been assured that the
demand of our peace commissioners at
Paris to hold the Philippines is what in
duced the President to yield So far as
one Of the commissioners is concerned, we
know that this is false. But even if this
statement We're true, the constitutional
power to negotiate treaty was his, not
the commissioners They were simply his
instruments appointed to carry out his will,
No, Mr.. Chairman, this plea, like all the
others, will not avail The truth is that
these commissioners cot their inspiration
| and instructions from the White House.
Those instructions once changed, the ac-
ton of the commissioners would have been
different. The wrong was with the chief
executive. He, and he alone, is respon-
sible
SURRENDERED TO CAPITALISTS.
Mr. Chairman, in my humble opinion,
the reason for the change in the presiden-
tial policy was his concession to the selfish
capitalists of the country, his surrender to
their demands. These are the gentlemen
who furnished the money for his nomina-
ton and election and who, doubt not,
have pledged him denomination and a
reelection These are the gentlemen who
are already seizing upon valuable franchises
in China, in connection with the English
syndicate, with member of Parliament
from Wales at its head These are the
| gentlemen whom Lord Beresford has in
mind in his cordial, but not wholly disin-
terested invitation to an alliance in China
with Britain, Germany and Japan against
Russia and France, the old-time enemies
of his country and the old-time friends Of
ours
These are the gentlemen who are al
ready grasping after special privileges in
the Philippines, in Cuba and in Porto
Rico. Ii was, imagine, for their espec
| ial benefit that the President created his
| advisory board to the War Department,
! composed of three American citizens, their
| object being to farm out valuable privi
| leges and immunities which should belong
to the people of those islands themselves
and in whose disposition they should have
a voice if their government is to be free
/ and their rights maintained | have no
fault to find with the spirit of legitimate
/ American commerce My contention is
| against the spirit of American greed, which
cares nothing for the spirit of American
( liberty
TO AMAss COLOSSAL FORTUNES.
And what do these gentlemen propose?
/ To amass colossal fortunes in the islands
by virtue of their franchises and upon the
cheap labor of the native population, not
one dollar of which will ever find its lodg
iug place in the pockets of the American
people. To enable them to do this, our
whole population is to purchase their field
of operations for them in the Philippines
for the round sum of $50, 600, 600, and
is to be taxed interminably and excessive
ly in the creation and maintenance of a
great army and navy, which is to conquer
and hold the Fihppinos in subjeetion and
defend the islands after they have been
extensively fortified against the assault of
the great European nations, with which
our new foreign policy will be certain to
bring US into frequent contention.
What else is upon the programme of
these gentlemen The open door in the
Philippines, making it totally impossible
forever to discriminate in tariff duties there
in favor of the products of the American
farm and the American shop.
s.What is the other sacrifice that is re-
quired? -? That the annexation of Cuba,
| Porto Rico and the Philippines, absolutely
sure to come at an early day, for they have
registered it in their VOWS, shall preeipitate
the sugar, tobacco, hemp and other cheap
products of these islands and Hawaii upon
the American market in free and unre-
strieted competition with the agricultural
aud laboring elements of our own country.
This policy, sir, would have been free
trade in William Jennings Bryan, What
is it in Mr.. Mckinley ?