Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-07-07

First-We have the issue fraught with
lndescrbable Importance to our people
native born, and those who have for
patriotic reasons cast their fortunes s
with us mainly, that Of the republic
| against the empire. On this part alone
Of the 16, If there were no other, we con-
fidently expect to win sweeping VIC
tory In November. The Republican
party stands for empire. The Demo-
cratic party stands for the republic, for
disposed of. But even in this there was
the declaration Of independence, and the
constitution Of our country.
Second-The raternal and fostering
care given by those with whom We con-
tend to the combinations Of corpor ratiOns
and companies into powerful organiza-
tions Familiarity known as trusts.
Under three years of Republican rule
trusts have been propagated and fos
tered by legislation until they not only
| dominate all markets, both the buying
and selling, but defy the very power Of
the government itself.
The farcical efforts put forth by the
Republican party In an alleged attempt
to restrain them in the dying hours of
the late session of congress only excited
ridicule and contempt.
Third-Called to power March 4, 1897,
under pledge to reform the currency,
they seized the first opportunity to fasten
upon the land the highest protective
tariff law ever put upon the statute books
Of any country. This law was enacted
not to raise revenue, but to give prOtec-
tion to favored manufacturers 1t failed
to raise sufficient revenue for the gov
ernment. but answered the purpose of
enrichng the favored few while it robbed
the many, and at the same time, brought
forth trusts to plague US. Their high
! protective tariff Is the mother of trusts.
Fourth-This administration came
into power with solemn declaration in
favor Of blmetallism and a pledge TO
promote 1t. 1t has failed to keep that
pledge. 1t has erected in its stead the
deavored to destroy all hope Of bimetal-
lism. In doing this it has built up a
powerful national bank trust, and has
given US currency based upon the
debts and liabilities Of the government.
We stand for bimetallism and not for
q mOnometallic standard Of either one
or the other metal.
Fifth-The dominant party has re-
Gently made the fraudulent declaration
that it favored the Monroe doctrine; and
yet their president and secretary of
state have done all in their power to
nullify and abrogate that famous and
much revered Democratic doctrine. We
stand for this doctrine in its essence and
form, and demand its rigid enforcement
Sixth-In order to obtain place and
power they pledged themselves, in the
interest Of an expanding commerce, to
construct waterway to connect the two
great oceans. They have repudiated
this commerce. They have negotiated
the Hay Pauncefote treaty which, while
1t virtually abrogates the Monroe doc
trine, renders it impossible to build an
American canal. Under the terms and
provisions of this treaty, which Is Eng
lish and not American, the canal can
never be constructed. We stand for an
American canal. owned. constructed.
operated and fortified by America.
Seventh-They declared in their plat
form that their party was responsible
for the merit system; that 1t was their
creature and that the civil service law
should be protected and Its operations
extended. They did not dare openly re-
peal the law or to modify 1t by an act Of
congress, but by the presidents order
many thousands Of lucrative offices regu-
larly covered by the civil service law
were taken from under the protection
and these places turned over to his
partisan followers in vain effort to
satisfy their political greed.
Eighth-They declared in their plat
form in favor OF the admission Of the
territories of Arizona, New Mexico and
Oklahoma as states of the Union, yet,
after nearly four years Of full power
they are still territories.
Ninth-When congress last assembled
the president in his first utterance ad-
dressed to the representatives fresh from
the people solemnly urged upon them
that it was their plain duty to give free
trade to Porto Rico. His party leaders,
quick to obey his injunction made ready
to comply with his recommendations
But In a night the mighty magnates Of
the trusts swept down upon Washing
ton and interposed their strong arm, and
plain duty vanished like mist before the
rising run.
The president wheeled into line the
Republican party reversed it's policy and
set up q tariff wall between the island
of Porto Rico and remainder of the
United States.
Tenth-They wholly failed to tell the
country what their policy is In respect
to the Philippine Islands. For two years
by their equivocating policy, and no
policy at all, they have continued In that
archipelago a war. expensive in human
blood, as well as In money. Incompe.
tent to deal with this question. and too
cowardly to avow their real purpose OF
Imperialism and militarism in dealing
with these and kindred colonial ques-
tons they should be retired from power
and the control should be given to