Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-09-15

stife the spirit of liberty abroad will
imperil popular government at home?
What is proposed By the party in
power for the government of these
islands? IT it be intended to estab-
lish there our political institutions,
what, then, becomes of the Monroe
| doctrire2
| Recognition of Labor.
Mr.. Stevenson, continuing. said
the Kansas City platform favors the
creation of a department of labor,
whose chief officer shall rank with
other constitutional advisers of the
president. This is in the interest of
Justice, and will prove an important
step looking to the proper recogni-
ton and encouragement OF the pro-
ducers of wealth. The platform fav-
ors liberal pensions to our soldiers
and sailors and to those dependent
upon them; reiterates the demands of
former platform for bimetalIism de
mands for the protection of the home
| la borer enforcement of the Chinese
exclusion act, and in the interest of
an enlarged commerce il favors the
| immediate construction of the Mica
raguan canal, but with the provision
that it shall remain forever Under the
exclusive ownership of the United
States.
Mr.. Stevenson said the Monroe doc
trine is wholesome and enduring. 1t
is the faith of Americans of every
creed and party. 1t is the very warp
and wool of our political being. l.
was promulgated at the critical mo-
ment when the holy alliance" was
attempting to stide the repu blican
spirit and reestablish the despotism
of Spain upon her revolted colonies
in South America and Mexico I'm
der the Monroe doctrine Louis Napol-
con, third of a century ago, was
compelled to withdraw the French
army from Mexico and leave the ILL
starred Macmillan to mis- fate. Un-
der it the empire established by for
eign bayonets disappeared and the re-
pubic was restored. Are we now to
say we still recognize the binding
force Of this doctrine upon 9TH
own? Ii ultimate statehood
for the remote islands--and others
yet to be conquered-be disclai med,
how then, are they to be held and
governed? The only alternative is by
force-by the power of army and
navy, and this for all time. What
then becomes of the bedrock princi-
pie that governments derive their
Just pc Sers from the consent of the
governed" If they are to be held
permanently as conquered provinces,
it will be not only outside of the con-
stitution. but in direct antagonism to
the letter and spirit of the declaration
of independence. Under existing
conditions there should be no hesita-
ton on our part in giving them pro-
lection against the cupidity or aggres-
sive spirit of other nations. All this,
not to the end of subJugation or Of
conquest, upon our part, but 10 that
of the full enjoyment by them of lib
erty and of the ultimate establish
ment of stable government furnished
by their own hands. But against
this policy stands Imperialism, and as
n necessary corollary to imperialism
will come the immense standing army.
The dread hand of militarism will be
felt in the new world as it is in the
old. The strong army of power will
be substituted for the peaceful
agencies which for more than a CEN
tury have made our people contented
and happy.
We are told that our republic is to
become "a world power" In the
highest sense-with the declaration of
independence as its corner stone-it
has been in all it's past a world power.
1t has been the lofty ideal to all liber-
ty-loviug people. the model for all
builders of republics for more than
century. In the sense used by the
imperialist, the expression is one of
terrible significance. 1t necessitates
the methods and equipments of mon
arches. Study existing conditions in
Europe and know what this means to
US. In the great struggle now upon
us we invoke the cooperation of all
who revere the memory of our faith
ers. and to whom the decla1 alton of
independence is not unmeaning parch-
ment, but the enduring chart of our
liberties.
Other speakers to be heard during
the afternoon and evening are j. F.
O'Donnell. candidate for secretary Of
state; Elmer f. Perry, oauCi late fer
lieutenant governor, and NJ. V. Gar
non, of Chicago.
RECFETInS TnNIGHT