Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-09-17
WAR IS FOR TRADE.
Democratic Orators Show the
Purpose Lying Behind Con-
quest of Philippines.
COMPETITION FOR HOME LABOR
Sound Doctrine Expounded at
Saturdays Picnic-cold Wave
CuIIom Heard.

In spite OF the unfavorable weather
turnout at the democratic picnic to
hear the speeches by Hon. NJ. V. Gan
non and Hon. E. E. Perry. Mr.. Gan
non was the first speaker. He began
with the quotation from the declara-
ton of independence. that govern
ments derive their just powers from
the consent of the governed, and APP
plying it TO the present administra-
ton, declared that the consent of the
governed is not considered in the car
rying on of the present war in the
Philippines. 1t is not with the con-
sent of the governed that the party
now in power obtained control of the
reins of government, the coercion
practiced everywhere throughout the
eastern and middle states being but
little less marked than that now being
carried on to induce the Filipinos to
submit to an unconditional surrender
Turning to the question of the full
dinner pail, the speaker showed the
similarity which this repu blican slogan
implies between the laboring man and
the domestic animal, which requires
only a full stomach in order to faith
fully perform the work of its master.
The benevolent assimilation which
we, according to the republicans, are
about to give the Philippines the ben
eft of. is nothing more nor less than
the benevolent assimilation the wolf
accOrds to the lamb. In order to as
simulate the lamb the wolf must first
tear it to pieces and digest it. Before
we can assimilate the Filipinos we will
be compelled to rend them in pieces
and digest them, process as expen-
sive to US as disastrous to them. Mr..
Cannon closed with fine tribute to
the men the democratic party has
chosen for its standard bearers.
Constitution Party's Text.
Mr.. Berry said, in opening his
speech, that the democratic party had
ever taken for it's text the constitution
of the United States. In this cam
paign all that is asked of the people is
an honest study of the provisions of
that instrument and their application
TO the question of Imperialism.
Whatever of prosperity we have en-
joyed during the past four years has
in no sense been due to the wisdom of |
the party in power. In the last pres |
idential campaign the democrats de- |
clared that an Increase in the volume
of the circulating medium of the |
country would Immediately restore |
the financial condition to its normal |
state. This end they sought to Sc
cure by the free coinage of silver. |
During the last four years the gold |
output of the world has been phenom-
enally large, and with the hundreds
of millions of dollars thus added to |
the currency of the country the pre-
dictions of the democratic party have |
been fulfilled.
Referring to the expansion of trade,
which is said to follow the flag, the
speaker asked, who is getting the
benefit of that trade? Do the per-
sons benefited by the commerce we
have gained pay for the war? This
war is costing $3.50, 900 900
year and the people are foot
ing the bill. The total trade
with the islands, which is but little
greater than it would have been if
hey were governing themselves, does
not amount to one-tenth of that sum,
md rich men and spectators are get
ing all the profit there is in it.
The promises of the opening of
arge and profitable trade with the
EAST are a snare and delusion. We
we'll know the effect of the
of Chinese labor with
American labor here in our own
and it is not difficult to see
What the effect will be when the Chi
laman is given the tools in his own
and with which he can compete with
American manufactures. Men of
wealth are keeping alive the aggres-
i've policy OF the administration, not
or the glory of America, but for a
eld in which capital may be invest
d and where labor may be obtained at s
ne lowest possible cost.
trong Argument Against Imperialism. I
The speech of James F. O'Donnell, t
andidate for secretary of state. !
which followed that of Mr.. Steven 8
on in the afternoon. was one Of the G
trongest expositions of democratic /
principles ever heard In this county.
He treated the main issue CT i'm
erialism at great length. first show
lg many striking points of similari- l
Y between our treatment of the Fill
mos and that which we received at L
he hands of England when we began
be apparently hopeless struggle !
gainst the mother country. 1t was !.
aid of Us that we were not capable of 7
elf government and. indeed, affairs L
fere in a far more chaotic state in =
.merica at that time than they were :
! the Philippine islands when we be-
an their conquest. We were faced
18th the demand for unconditional
and we resorted to guerilla +
Tarfare as the only practical way in .
hitch to continue the unequal con- :
est. Only those who are willing to 3
lie for liberty. said the speaker, are +
I to live in freedom.