Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-26

which they may desire. But how halt
Ing has been the progress. Holland
has said:
Heaven is not gained by a single
bound:
We build the ladder by which we rise,
FROM the lowly earth to the vaulted
And we mount to it's summit round
by round
political movements. Great problems
are solved slowly. but struggling hui
mainly marches on. step by step, con-
tented that at each nightfall IL can
pitch its tent on a little higher ground.
OUR FINANCIAL SYSTEM.
II have called attention to the issues
which brought the Democrats and
Populists together. and which justifies
the cooperation during the last four
years. Let me now invite your atten-
ton to question which would justify
cooperation at this time even though
we differed upon economic questions.
1t is not our fault that these new
questions have been thrust into the
arena of politics. 1t is not our fault
that the people have been called upon
to consider questions of ever ncreas-
ing magnitude. In 1890 the tariff
question was the principal subject OF
discussion, and the Democratic party
contended that the masses were car
rying burden of unjust and unneces-
sary taxes. In 1892 the tariff question
was still the principal issue between
the Democratic and Republican par
ties, although in the West and South
the money question was assuming
greater and greater proportions, and
the PopuliStS We're contending that
our monetary system was more re-
sponsible than the tariff laws for the
depression. in agriculture and the dis
tress existing among the wage earners
In 1896 the whole question of taxa
ton became of secondary Importance
because of the increased holiness of
those who opposed the gold and silver
coinage of the Constitution. When the
Republicans declared at ST. Louis that
the restoration of bimetallism in this
country, although desirable. was i'm
possible without the aid of the leading
commercial nations of the world. the
Populist and Silver Republicans Joined
with the Democrats in asserting the
rights and duty of the American peo-
pie to shape their financial system for
themselves. regardless OF the action of
other nations. The failure of the Re-
publican party to secure international
bimetallism and its open espousal of
the gold standard. still keep the money
question in politics.; but no economic
question can compare in Importance
with question which concerns the
principle and structure OF government.
Systems of taxation can be changed
with less difficulty than financial sys-
TENS, and financial systems can be
altered with less danger and less dis
turbance to the country than vital doc
trines upon which free government
rests.
I'm the early sixties. when we were
engaged in contest which was to de-
termine whether we should have one
republic or two, questions of finance
were lost sight of. Silver was at n
premium over gold, and both gold and
silver were at q premium over green
backs and bank notes, but the people
could not afford to divide over the
money question in the presence of n
greater issue. And to to-day we are
engaged in n controversy which will
determine whether we are to have u
republic in which the government de-
rives it's just powers from the con-
sent of the governed, or an empire
in which brute force is the only recog-
nized source OF power
In government where the people
rule, every wrong can be righted and
every evil remedied; but when only the
doctrine of self-government is inpair-
ed and might is substituted for right,
there is no certainty that any ques-
ton will be settled correctly.
IA colonial policy would so occupy
the people with the consideration of
the nations foreign policy that domes-
tic questions would be neglected.
"'Who will haul down the flag or
stand by the President, would be the
prompt response to every criticism of
the Administration, and corruption and
special privileges would thrive under
the cover of patriotism.
MILITARISM.
at is not strange that the Populists
should oppose Militarism and Imperial
ism, for both are antagonistic to the
principles upon which Populists apply
to other questions. Looking at ques-
tions from the standpoint of the pro-
ducts of wealth rather than from the
standpoint of the Speculator. the Popu-
list recognizes in militarism a constant
and increasing burden. The army
worm, which occasionally destroys a
field of wheat. is not nearly so dam
t,ecf-otts The fttfia4et-ftes
large standing army which invades
every field of industry and eXacts toll
from every crop.
"If 100000 men are Withdrawn from
the ranks of the producers and placed
as burden on the backs of those who
remain, it must mean longer hours,
harder work and greater sacrifices for
those who toll; and the farmer, while
he pays more than his share of the
expense of the army, has no part IN
army contracts or in developing COM
panies, and his sons are less likely to
III the life positions in the army than
the sons of those who. by reason of
wealth or political prominence, exert
influence at Washington.
"Soon after the Republican leaders
began to suggest the propriety of a
colonial policy, the papers published an
interview given out from San Fran
cisco by a foreign consul residing at
Manila He declared that the people
of the United States owed it to them
selves, to other nations. and to the Fill
pinos to hold the Philippine Islands
permanently. At the conclusion of the
interview there appeared the very sig
nificant statement that the gentleman