Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-07-05

struggle. That issue was familiarly
called .l6 TO l. 1t involved the
question of free coinage of gold and
silver at ratio of 16 parts of silver
to l of gold, with which all of US are
familiar. The momentous issue this
year is again ! 8 to /, but the 10 parts
TO the one part of this campaign are
wholly different from those of 1896. -
MIR. Richardson referred TO the growth
of trusts under the present admins
/ tration, the imperialistic tendencies
| broken pledges including the one to
promote bimetallism, attempts to
| nullify and abrogate the Monroe doc
trine, practical abolition of the
merit system, broken faith with
the Porto Ricans. scandslous deal
| ings of high cabinet official
with private banks of the country
scandals that surrounded the war de
partment in the feeding of EN- balmed
beef to the soldiers. scandals in con-
| nection with postoffice matters IN
Cuba, secret entangling alliances
with ''old mother monarchy" refusal
of expression of sympathy for the
struggling beers, oppressive and bur
densome taxes, and the cost of repu b.
canism and its twin monster i'm
perialism.
Fall to Tell Policy.
They wholly failed by their legis-
lation or by the cheaper method of
platform declaration to tell the coun-
try what their policy is in respect to
the Philippine islands, " said DIR. Rich
ardson. For two years, by their
equivocating policy and no policy al
all, they have continued in that archi-
pelago a war expensive in human
blood as well as in money. Incompe-
tent to deal with this question and 100
cOwardly to avow their real purpose
of militarism in dealing with these
and kindred colonial questions they
should be retired from power and the
control should be given to party
honest. bold and patriotic enough to
apply American theories and precepts
to existing conditions, and thereby
solve them in harmony with the un-
DERIVING princi pies of the declaration
of independence and the constitution
of our country.
Expenses of Government.
The average of appropriations per
year for all purposes of government
for the two years Immediately preced-
ing the Spanish-American war was
about $47j. 600 900. The average ex-
penditures per annum for each of the
three years since the war, including
] the fiscal year upon which we have
Just entered. shows an increase of
nearly $500, 10000 The total in
crease for the three years will be
nearly 5000. 900, 900. and in like pro-
portion it will 60 on.
This shows the difference in cost
of the empire as against the republic.
These figures refer alone to the money
cost of the change, and do not include
the expense of the blood of the Ameri-
can boys, the price Of which is far
beyond computation. In the re-
publican congress just closed, not
one dollar could be had for much
needed public buildings throughout
the country at home. but many mill
lions were promptly voted to prose-
cute a war in the far-away Philippine
islands. Not dollar for necessary
improvements of our rivers and har-
bors at home, but millions TO be
stolen and squaudered in cuba and our
new insular possessions. Nothing for
the Isthmian canal, and many other en-
terprises and objects, but more than
two hundred milliaus were freely
given for the army and navy. for i'm
perialism and military, for gold and
glory.
Plain Duty" Disregarded.
We have seen that platform
pledges are made and broken. That
good intentions of men are many
times set at naught. That plain duty
clearly set forth and understood. is
disregarded. That some men are
weak and vacillating and may change !
their solemn opinions in day 1t is
apparent therefore, 10 all that in this !
supreme exigency of the republic a
demand goes forth not for q faint |
hearted declaration of platform plati- |
iudes but for man. Yes, |
man who stands like a
mighty rock in the desert;
a man who, knowing the right, will
daIe do the right; q man who rather !
than follow multitude to do evil /!
will stand. like tPompei's pillar. !
conspicuous by himse and single in I
integrity" Such 8 man, as the one
part, this convention will tender to