The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-07-11

contrad!cted by the avowed policy
the party, in opposition to the spirit
. Monroe doctrine, tC acquire and ho
sovereignty over large areas of teri
tory and large numbers Of people
the Eastern hemisphere. We insi
on the strict mantainance OF the Mo
roe doctrine and In ali it's integrit
both In letter and in spirit, rs necel
sary TO prevent the extension Of Eur,
pean authority on this continent, an
as essential to our supremacy In Amer
lean affairs. AT the same time we de
clare that no American people sha
ever oe held by force in unwilling sui
Jection to European authority.
We oppose militarism. 1t mean
conquesG abroad and intimidation an
oppression at home. 1t means tn
strong arm which has ever been fata
to free institutions. 1t Is what mil
lions Of our citizens have hed from Ii
Europe. 1t will impose upon ou
peace-loving people large standin.
army and unnecessary burden OF taxa
tlon ard constant menace TO theil
liberties. A small standing army snt
u we'll disciplined State militia are
amply suitici mt Ia time of peace. Thi.
Republic has no place for vast mill
tary service aud conscription.
When the nation is In danger the
volunteer soldier is his country's best
defender. The national guard OF the
United States should ever be cherished
In the patriotic hearts of u free peo-
pie. Such organizations are ever an
element OF strength and safety For
the first time In our history and coeval
with the Philippine conquest has there
been wholesale departure from the
time. honored and approved system OF
it is un- L e orican, un-Democratic and
un.Repubicsn. and ss 9 subverslon Of
the ancient and fixed principles Ct &.
free people.
TRUSTS DENOUNCED.
icivate monUpolies are indefeusible
and intolerable. They destroy compe-
tition, control the price OF all material
and OF the finished product, thus rob.
Ding both producer and consumer.
They lessen the employment of labor
and arbitrarily Tx the terms and con.
ditions thereof, and deprive individual
energy and small capital OF tLeir OPP
portunity for betterment.
They are the most efficient means vet
devised for appropriating the fruits of
industry to the benefit of the few at
the expense of the many, and unless
their insatiate greed is checked all
wealth will be aggregated in few
hands and the Republic destroyed.
The dishonest paltering with the trust
evil by the Republican party in State
and national platforms is conclusive
proof OF the truth Of the charge that
trusts are the legitimate product OF
Republican policies that they are fos-
tered by Republican laws, and that
they are protected by the Republican
in return for Campaign
subscriptions and political support.
We pledge the Democratic party to
an unceasing warfare in nation, State
and city against p tvate monopoly in
svery form. Exie ing laws against
trusts must be enforced and more
stringent ones must be enacted, prov!d.
ing for publicity as to Interstate COM
nerce, and requiring all corporations
TO show, before doing business outside
Of the State OF their origin, that they
have no water In their stock, and that
they have not attempted and are not
attempting to monopolize any branch
Of business or the production OF any
articles OF merchandise, and the whole
power Of Congress over
Interstate commerce, the mails and
all modes Of Interstate communication
shall be exercised by the enactment of
laws upon the subject
Of trusts. Tariff laws should be amend.
ed by putting the products of trusts
upon TIE free list to prevent monopoly
under the plea Of protection.
The failure OF the present Republi-
can administration with an absolute
control of the branches Of the national
government to enact any legislation
designed to prevent or even curtail the
absorbing power OF trusts and illegal
combinations or to enforce the anti
trust laws already on the statute books,
proves the insinceIity OF the high.
sounding phrases of the Republican
p' p'atform.
Corporations should be protected in
all their rights and their Legitimate in
terests should be respected, but any at
tempt by corporations to interfere with
the public affairs of the people, or to
control the sovereignty which creates
them should be forbidden under such
penalties as will make such attempt
impossible.
EVILS OF PROTECTION.
We condemn the Dingley tariff as
trust breeding measure, skilfully de-
yised to give the few favors which
they do not deserve, and to place upon
the many burdens which they should
not bear.
We favor such an enlargement Of the
scope of the inter. State commerce law
as will enable the commission to pro.
tect individuals and communities from
determinations and the public from
unjust and unfair transportation rates.
SIXTEEN TO ONE.
We reafflrm and endorse the princi-
Piles of the national Democratic plat
form adopted st Chicago in 1896, and
we reiterate the demand OF that plat
form for an American financial system
by the American people for themselves,
which shall restore and maintain a bi-
metallic price level, and as part of such
system the immediate restoration of
the free and unlimited coinage OF silver
and gold at the present legal ratio of 16
to /, without waiting for the aid or con.
sent OF any other nation.
We denounce the currency bill en-
acted at the last session of Congress as
a step forward In the Republican pol
icy, which aims TO discredit the cover.
eign right OF the national government
to issue all money, whether coin or
paper, and to bestow upon national
banks the power to issue and control
| the volume of paper money for thei,