The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-07-12

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EXPANSION NOT BY FORCE BUT
BY PEACE.
We favor expansion by every peace
full and legitimate means. But We are
unal,erably opposed to seizing or pur-
chasing distant islands to be governed
outside the conf tuition and whose
| people can never become citizens. We
are in favor of extending the republics
influence among the nations. but be-
! lieye that influence should be extended
not by force and violence but through
| the persuasive power Of a high and
! honorable example.
IMPERIALISM THE PARAMOUNT
ISSUE.
The Importance of old questions now
pending before the American people Is
in no wise diminishing and the Demo-
cratic party takes no backward step
from its position on them, but the
burning issue Of imperialism growing
out Of the Spanish war, involves the
very existence Of the republic and the
destruction Of our free institutions. We
regard 1t as the paramount issue Of the
campaign. The declaration In the Re-
publican platform adopted at the Phil
| adelphia convention held in June 1900
that the Republican party "steadfastly
| adheres to the policy announced in the
Monroe doctrine" Is manHestly insin-
cere and deceptive. This profession is
coatradicted by the avowed policy Of
that party in opposition to the spirit
of the Monroe doctrine to acquire and
mold sovereignty over large areas Of
territory and large numbers OF people
in the Eastern Hemisphere We insist
en- the strict maintenance Of the Mon
roe doctrine in all its integrity, both
in letter and in spirit. as necessary
to prevent the extension Of European
authority on this continent and as es-.
genital to our supremacy in Americanl
affairs. At the same time. We declare
that no American people shall ever be
! held by force in unwilling subjection
to European authority.
We oppose militarism. 1t means
conquest abroad and intimidation and
oppression at home. 1t means the
means the strong arm which has ever
been fatal to fire institutions. 1t is
what millions Of ~ citizens have fed
from n Europe. It will impose upon
Our peace-loving people large stand
ing army and unnecessary burden Of
taxation and constant menace to their
liberties. A small standing army and
a well-disciplAed State militia are am
ply sufficient in time of peace. THIS
Republic has no place for vast mill
tary service and conscription.
When the naticn is in danger the
volunteer soldier is his country's best
defender. The National Guard OF the
United States sho1ld ever be cherished
in the patriotic hearts Of a free people.
Such organizations are ever an element
CT strength and safIey. For the first
time in our history and coeval with
the Philippine conquest, there has been
an unwholesome departure from the
time-hCnored and approved systems OF
volunteer organization. We denounce
it as un-American, undenccratic and
unrepublican and as subversion OF
the ancient and fixed principles OF
! free people.
REPUBLICANS RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE TRUSTS.
Private monorolieS are indefensiDle
aud intolerable They destroy competl-
ton. control the price Of raw materi-
ais and finished product. thus robDlng
| both producer and consumer. Iney
lessen the employment OF labor and ar
bitrarily fix the terms and conditions
! thereof. and deprive individual energy
and small capital Of their opportunity
| for betterment They are the most ell
fcient means yet devised for appropri-
ating the fruits OF industry to the BEN
eft OF the few at the expense OF the
! MANY and unless their insatiate greed
IS checked all wealth will be aggregat-
ed in a few hands and the republic de-
stroyed. The dishonest palterlng with
the trust evils by the Republican party
in State and National platforms is coll
elusive proof of the truth Of the charge
that trusts are legitimate product OF
Republican policies, that they are fos-
tered by Republican laws and that tney
are protected by the Republican admin
lstration in return for campaign sub.
scriptions and political support.
WAR DECLARED ON MONOPOLlES
We pledge the Democratic party te
an unceasing warfare in nation. Stan
and city against private monopoly Ii
every form. Existing laws against
trusts must be enforced and more
stringent ones must be enacted pro-
viding publicity Of affairs OF corpora
tions engaged in interstate commerce
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 al
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