Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-07-06

given tor nearly a century to the repub-
hes of Central n South America. The
greedy commercialism which dictates the
Philippine policy of the republican ad-
mi~nistration attempts to justify It with
the plea that 1t will paw. but even this
sordid and unworthy plea falls when
brought to the test of facts. h war
of aggression" against the Philippines,
entaMing annually an 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 10
extended at the expense of liberty,
the price is always too high.
We are not opposed to territorial ex-
pansion when it k in desirable ter
ritory which "a be erected into states
in the union, and whose people are will
ing and At to become American citizens.
We favor trade expansion by every
peaceful and legitimate means. But we
are unalterably opposed to the seizing
or purchasing Of distant islands to
governed outside the constitution and
whose people can never become citizens.
We are in favor of extending the re-
public's influence among the nations, but
believe that influence shoul be extend
ed. not by force and violence, but
through the persuasive power of a high
and honorable example.
h importance of other questions now
pending before the American people is in
no wise diminished and the democratic
party takes no step from it's
position On them, but the burning issue
of imperialism, growing out of the Span
ish war. involves the very existence of
the republic and the destruction # our
free institutions. We regard it as the
paramount issue of the campaign.
The declaration in the republican
convention, held in June, 1900. that the
republican party "steadfastly adheres to
the policy announced in the Monroe doc
trine" is manifestly "insincere and decep-
tive. This profession is c~ontradicted by
the avowed policy of the party in OPP
position to the spirit of the Monroe doc
trine to acquire and hold sovereignty
over large areas of territory and large
numbers of people in the eastern
hemisphere. We insist on the strict
maintenance of the Monroe doctrine,
and in all it's integrity, in letter and in
spirit, as necessary to prevent the ex-
tension of European authority on this
continent and as essential to our suprem-
acy 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.
We oppose militarlsm. 1t means n
quest abroad and intimidation and op-
preston at home. 1t means the strong
arm which has ever been fatal to free
institutions. It is What millions Of our
citizens have fled from in Europe. 1t will
AAAfOoS ARSA ooA N @oPAS -
large standing army, an unnecessary
burden Of taxation and a constant men
ace to their liberties. A small standing
army and a well disciplined state militia
are amply sufficient in times Of peace.
This republic has no place for a vast
military service and CONSUMPTION. When
the nation is in danger the volunteer SOL
der is his country's best defender. Tn
national guard of the United States
should be ever cherished in the patriotic
hearts of a free people. Such Organiza-
tions are ever ar element of strength and
safety. For the first time in our history
and co-evil with the Philippine contest.
has there been a wholesale departure
from our time-honored and approved
system of volunteer organization. We
denounce 1t as un-American, un-demo-
cratic and un-republican and as a sub
version of ancient and fixed principles Of
a free people. 81. s
Private monopolies are indefensible
and intolerable. They destroy competi-
ton, control the price of all material and
finished product, thus robbing both pro-
Queer and consumer. They lessen the
employment of labor and arbitrarily fix
the terms and conditions thereof and de-
prive individual energy and small cap
ital of their opportunity for betterment.
They are the most efficient means de-
vlsed for a~ppropriating the fruits of in
dustry to the enefit of the few at the
expense of the many, and unless their
insatiate greed is checked all wealth will
be aggregated in a few hands and the re-
public destroyed. The dishonest palter-
ing with the trust evil by the republican
party in state and national platforms is
conclusive proof of tha truth of the
charge that trusts are the legitimate pro-
duction of protection policies that they
are fostered by republican laws and that
they are protected by the republican adj
miniStratiOn In return for campaipn Suh-
scriptiOns and political support.
We pledge the democratic party to an
unceasing warfare in nation, state and
city against private monopolies in every
form. Existing laws against trusts must
be enforced and more stringent mes
must be enacted providing for publicity
as to the affairs of corporations engaged
in interstate and requiring
all corporations to show before doing
business outside of the state of their ORR
gin, that they have no water in their
stock and that they have not attempted
any business Or the production OF. any
article of merchandise Inc the
whole constitutional power of con-
gress over interstate and
the mails n all modes of interstate
communication shall be exercised by the
enactment of comprehensive laws upon
the subject of trusts. Tariff laws should
be amended by putting the products of
trusts upon the free list to prevent mo-
nopoly under the plea of protection.
The ailur of the present republican
administration. with an absolute control
over ali the branches of the national
government, to enact any legislation de-
signed to prevent or even curtail the alb
sOrbing power of trusts and illegal COM
binations, or to enforce h antitrust
laws already OF the statute books prove
the insicerity Of the high sounding
phrases of the republican platform. 4
Corporations should be protected in all
their rights and their legitimate inter-