Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-07-10

| the FORM. ana letter.
we declare again that all governments
instituted among men derive their jus,
powers from the consent of the governed
'hat any government not based upon the
consent of the governed is a tyranny,
ana 'hat to impose upon any people a
government OF force is to substitute the
| methods OF Imperialism for those of a
republic. We hold that the constitution
follows the flag and denounce the doe
| srlae That an executive or congress- de-
irving their existence and their powers
| from the constitution, can exercise law
full authority beyond it, or in violation of
1t. We assert that no nation can long
endure half republic and half empire, and
we warn the American people that inn
| per!alism abroad will lead quickly and
inevitably to despotism at home.
Believing in these fundamental prin-
| ciples, we denounce the Porto Rico law,
| enacted by republican congress against
the protest and opposition of the demo-
cratic minority, as a bold and open vio-
lation of the nations organic law and a
| fragrant breach of the national good
faith. 1t imposes upon the people of
| Porto Rico government without their
| consent and taxation without represent
alton. 1t dishonors the American people
by repudiatng solemn pledge made in
| their behalf by the commanding general
of ou- army, which the Porto Ricans
welcomed to peaceful and unresisted
occupation of their land. 1t doomed to
| poverty and distress a people whose help
lessness appeals with peculiar force to
our justice and magnanimity. In this,
the first act of it's imperialistic pro-
| gramme, the republican party seeks to
commit the United States to a colonial
policy, inconsistent with republican in
stitutions and condemned by the supreme
| court in numerous decisions.
Pledge to Cuba Must BE Kept.
| We demand the prompt and honest full
| fillment of our pledge to the Cuban people
and the world that the United States has
| no disposition nor intention to exercise
| sovereignty, jurisdiction or control over
the island of Cuba, except for its pacifica-
| ton. The war ended nearly two years ago.
| profound peace relgns over all the island
and still the administration keeps the gov
eminent of the island from its people.
| while republican carpet bag officials plum
der its revenues and exploit the colonial
| theory, to the disgrace of the American
| people.
The Philippines.
| We condemn and denounce the Philippine
| policy of the present administration. 1t
| has involved the republic in unnecessary
war; sacrificed the lives of many of our
| noblest sons and placed the United States
previously known and applauded through
out the world as the champion of freedom
in the false and un-American position of
our former allies to achieve liberty and
self-government. The Filipinos cannot be
citizens without endangering our civiliza-
ton; they cannot be subjects without i'm
periling our form OF government, and as
we are not willing to surrender our civil
ization or to convert the republic into an
empire we favor an immediate declaration
of the nations purpose to give to the Fill
pinos first stable form of government,
second. independence and. third, protec-
4 fvN, ,fSti do irtn
been given for nearly century to the re-
publics of Central and South America.
The greedy commerctalism which die
tated the Philippine policy of the repub-
lican administration attempts to justify
1t with the plea that it will pay, but even
this sordid and unworthy plea fails when
brought to the test of facts. The war of
criminal aggression against the Fill
pnos, entailing an annual expense of many
millions. has already cost more than any
possible profit that could accrue from the
entire Philippine trade for years to come.
Furthermore, when trade is extended at
the expense of liberty the price is always
too high
We are not opposed to territorial expan-
sion when it takes in desirable territory
which can be erected into states in the
union and whose people are willing and fit
to become American citizens. We favor
trade expansion by every peaceful and
legitimate means. But we are unalterehl,,
opposed to the Selling or purchasing of dis
tant islands to be governed outside the con-
stitution and whose people can never be-
come citizens.
We are in favor of extending the repub-
Hes influence among the nations, but be-
lieve that influence should be extended
not by force and violence, but through the
pursualve power of high and honora BILE
example
The Paramount Issue,
me Importance of other questions now
pending before the American people is in
no wise diminished and the democratic
party takes no backward step from its po-
sition on them, but the burning issue of i'm
perlallsm 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.
Republican Platform Deceptive.
The declaration in the republican plat
form. adopted at the Philadelphia conyen-
ton. held in June. 1860, that the republican
party "steadfastly adhcres to the policy
announced in the Monroe doctrine" is man
ifestly insincere and deceptive. This pro-
fession is oontradicted by the avowed pol
icy of that party in opposition to the shirt
OF the Monroe doctrine to acquire and hold
sovereignty over large areas of territory
and large numbers of people in the eastern
hemisphere. We insist on the strict MAIN
tenance of the Monroe doctrine and in all
as necessary to prevent the extension of
European authority on this continent and
as essential to our supremacy in American
affairs. AT the same time we declare that
no American people shall ever be held by
force in unwilling subsection to European
authority.
Militarism Opposed.
We oppose militarism. 1t means con-
quest abroad and intimidation and oppres-
sion at home. 1t means the strong arm
which has ever been fatal to free institu-
tons 1t is wha. millions of our citizens
have fled from iii Europe. 1t will impose
upon our pesse-loving people a large
standing army and unnecessary burden of
taxation and constant menace to their
liberties. small standing army and a
Weil-disciplined state militia are amply
sufficient in time of peace. This republic
mas no place for vast military service and
CONSUMPTION. Wnen the nation is in danger
the volunteer soldier is his countrys best
defender The national guard of the Unit
ed States should ever be cherished in the
patriotic hearts of free people. Such or
CARNATIONS are ever an element of
strength and safety. For the first time in
our history and coevil with the Philippine
conquest has there been wholesale de.
paftnre from our time honored and ap,
proved system of volunteer organization
we denounce 1t as un-American, un-demo-
cratic and un-repubican, and as a SUBJ
of free people,
War ON MonopoIies and Trusts.
Private monopolies are indefensible and
lntolerable. They destroy competition,
control the price of all material and of the
hnlshed product, thus robbng both pro-
Queer and consumer. They lessen the en-
ployment of labor. and arbitrarily fix the
terms and conditions thereof. and deprive
Individual energy and small capital of
lheir opportunity for betterment They