Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-09

sue, others seem but as the dust in the
balance. In no sense paltering with
words, 1t is the supreme question of
| Republic or Empire. The words of the
eminent Republican Senator, MIR. Hoar
challenge attention. Il believe that
! perseverance in this policy will be the
aoandonment OF the principles upon
| which our government is founded. that
! IL VIII change our government into
an empire. that our methods of legis-
iation. of diplomacy. of administration
/ must hereafter be those which belong
| 10 empires. and not those which belong
to republics"
OUR FOREIGN POLICY.
Upon every phase of our foreign
policy, the language of the Democratic
Platform is too clear to admit of mis-
construction 1t favors trade eXpan-
SION by all peaceful and lawful means.
we believe that liberty, as we'll as the
Constitution. follows the flag. Demo-
Gratis, i'll common With many Republi-
| cans. oppose the Porto Rican law as
| a violation of the Constitution. and Il
| iiagrant breach of good faith toward
! dependent people. 1t imposes govern
lnent without consent of the governed.
1t is in conflict with that provision of
the Constitution which declares that:
| Duties, imports. and excuses shall be
uniform throughout the United States"
Believing that this Constitutional pro-
vision applies 10 every part OF the
| United States. we condemn the tariH
| taxation imposed by n Republican Con-
| sresS upon the helpless and distressed
people OF Porto Rico. Such legislation
| inspired solely by Srced-is indeed
| the harbinger of evil to the Republic
| The attempt to collect unjust taxes
with one hand, and. with the other to
| return them In part to n plundered
| people, Is utterly without Constitution
| al warrant or justification. We give
| our earnest assent to the declaration:
! Our plain duty Is TO abolish all GUS
tn To- hnfNt I'D
and Porto Rico, and give her products
access to our markets" No rarty ext
| gency or pressure could justify n de-
parture by the President from the plain
pathway of duty he had here so clearly
indicated. The law imposing tariff
| duties upon the people of Porto Rico
is palpable violation of the Consti-
tuition, and n fagrant breach of the
| pledged faith OF the nation.
The Democratic platform condemns
| the policy pursued by the present Ad
minstration toward the Philippine
Islands. This policy-inspired by the
| great spirit of commercalism-has en-
broied our government in an unneccS-
sary war, sacrificed valuable lives, and
placed the American Republic in dead
| ly antaSonsm TO our former allies in
| their efforts to secure their liberties.
| For the first time in our history we
are boldly confronted with the question
| of 'lmperialism-the spirit of empire"
| II II ~ ~ ~ rs iNANs
This is indeed the supreme question
to which all others are of secondary
| Importance Before we break irrevo-
| cably with the past, and abandon the
| doctrine of the fathers, il is we'll that
| we deliberate upon the consequences
OF permanent departure from the set
tied governmental policy of more than
a century. The success of the impe-
| realistic policy foreshadows the EN-
| pire. Shall the closing hours OF the
lna ttstt l.
abandoning the sure pathway in which
past generations have found prosperi-
~ and happiness. and embarking upon
| that of aggression and conquest,
against which we are warned by the
| wrecks that lie along the entire path
way of history? Standing out against
the new policy of conquest. with all
| that II involves of European complica-
| tons. are the warnings of the Found
crs of the Republic. Out of fashion as
1T may appear, l quote the last words
or Washington to the oncoming gener-
atoms of his countrymen: THE great
| rule of conduct for us in regard to
foreign nations is. in extending our
| commercial relations, to have with
them as little political connection as
| possible 1t was the auther of the Dec
iaratlon OF Independence who said:
| our first and fundamental maxim
should be never to entangle ourselves
| in the broilS of Europe" Is il not we'll
10 ponder these warnings before per-
| manently embarking upon an untried
pathway beset with foreign jealouses,
complications, and antagonisms?
Inc Democratic party has ever been
the advocate of wise territorial eNpan-
sion. 1t was in control of the Govern
ment during forty years OF the first
half OF the present century. During
mat period new States were admitted
border extended beyond the Missis-
sippi. Out OF the Louisiana country
acquired under the first Democratic adj
ministration-have been carved four
teen magnificent States. Under later
| Democratic administration-and as the
| result OF the treaty which terminated
our war with Mexico--we acquired Cal
ifornia- aud neighboring States and ter
ritorics, thus bringing under our flag.
to remain forever, the vast cXpanse
stretching to the Pacific Ocean.
AGGRESSIVE EXPANSION.
The policy of aggressive expansion
OF subjuSation of distant islands-pur-
sued by the present Administration,
finds no precedent in the peaceable
cession of the Louisiana country by
Napoleon. that of Florida by Spain. nor
that yet later. of the vast western
quired under Democratic administra-
ton was. with favorable climatic con-
ditions, the fit abode for men of our
own race. At the time of annexation
it passed under the rule of the Anglo
Saxon, who carried with him our lam
euaSe and our laws. / was territory
contiguous 10 our own, and acquired
with the declared intcntion-when the
condition and population would iusti-
fy-of carving it into States. The re-
suit: millions OF American homes. our
National wealth increased beyond the
dream of averice, and the United
States chief among the nations of the
earth.
Can it he that the new policy of forci-
hle annexation of distant islands. finds