The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-09

for the future?
At this hour I can but allude in brief
words 10 other needed reforms, TO which
the attention of the country is called by
the Democratic plaeorm. Prominent
among these, is such enlargement OF the
scope of the interstate-commerce law as
will protect the public from unjust trans
portation rates and individuals from unfair
discrimination As is well known this law
has failed 10 effect the wise purpose for
which il was enacted. In fact, il is now
little more than a dead letter upon the
statute books. Under well-considered
amendments, the commission should be
justice both TO individuals and to the pub
lie.
Our platform favors the creation Of
department of labor, whose chief officers
shall take rank with other constitutional
advisers of the President. This is in the
interests of justice. and will prove an i'm
portant step looking to the proper recog-
milton and encouragement of the producers
of wealth.
In explicit terms IL favors liberal pen
sons to our soldiers and sailors and to
those dependent upon them.
With equal justice IL reiterateS the de-
mands of former Democratic platform for
himetallism; the restoration of silver to its
proper function in our monetary system
For the protection of the home laborer 1t
demands the enforcement of the Chinese
exclusion act.
And in the interest of an enlarged COM
merce IL faYorS the immediate construc-
ton of the Nicaraguan canal. This, how
ever, with the provision that 1t shall re-
main forever under the exclusive ownership
and control Of the United States. The pend
ing Hay-Pauncefote treaty is condemned
as surrender of American rights, not TO
be tolerated by the American people In
the construction and control of this great
work there can be no concession Of right
10 any European power Commercial in
terest and national safety in time of war
alike demand its permanent ownership by
our government.
A question is yet to be discussed to which
all of these are of secondary Importance
IL is solemnly declared by our platform to
De of paramount issue. Questions of do
nestle policy, however important, may be
put questions of the hour-that of imperial
Ism is for all time. In the presence of this
StupenGouS issue others seem but as the
dust in the balance. In no sense paltering
with words it is the supreme question of
republic or empire. The words of the emf
nent Republican senator, Mr.. Hoar chal-
lenge attention: 81 believe that persever-
ance in this policy will be the abandon
ment OF the principles upon which our gov
eminent is founded; that ii will change our
government into an empire; that our meth
DDS OF legislation, of diplomacy, of admin
tstration, must hereafter be those which
belong to empires. and not those which be-
long to republics
Upon every phase of our foreign policy
the language of the Democratic platform
Is too clear to admit of misconstruction.
Ii favors trade expansion by all peaceful
and lawful means. We believe that liberty
as well as the Constitution follows the flag
Democrats in common with many Republic
ans oppose the Porto Rican law as a vio-
lation~ of the Constitution and a fragrant
preach OF good faith toward a dependent
people. 1t imposes government without
consent of the governed. II is in conflict
which declares that duties, imports and
excuses shall be uniform throughout the
United States" Believing that this con-
OF the United States we condemn the tariff
taxation imposed by a Republican Congress
upon the helpless and distressed people of
PortO Rlco. Such legislation, inspired sole
~ by greed. is indeed the harbinger of evil
TO the Republic. The attempt to collect un-
just taxes with one hand and with the
other 10 return them i'm part to q plundered
people is utterly without constitutional war
rant or justification. We give our earnest
assent to the declaration: Our plain duty
Is 10 abolish all custom tariffs between the
United States and Porto Rico and give her
products access TO our markets" No party
exigency or pressure could justify a de-
partCre by the President from the pIain
pathway of duty he had here so clearly
indicated. The law imposing tariff duties
upon the people of Porto Rico is a palpable
violation of the Constitution and q fragrant
breach of the pledged faith of the Nation.
The Democratic platform condemns the
policy pursued by the present administra
ton toward the Philippine islands This
policy-inspired by the great spirit of COM
mercialism-has embroiled our government
In an unnecessary war, sacrificed valuable
lives. and placed the American Republic I'm
deadly antagoniSm to our former allies in
the first time in our history we are boldly
confronted with the question of Imperial
ism-the spirit of empire
SUPREME QUESTION.
This is indeed the supreme question, to
which ell others are of secondary impor-
lance. Before we break irrevocably with
the past and abandon the doctrines of our
fathers IL is we'll that we deliberate upon
the consequences of a permanent departure
| from the settled governmental policy tf
more than a century. The success of the
imperialistic policy foreshadows the empire
| Shall the closing hours of the century wit
ness the American people abandoning the
sure pathway in which past generations
nave formed prosperity and happiness, and
emDarking upon that of aggression and
conquest, against which we are warned by
| the wrecks that lie along the entire path
| way OF history? Standing out against the
| new policy of conquest, with all that ii in
| wolves of European complications, are the
warnings of the founders of the Republic
| Out of fashion as 1t may appear, / quote
| the last words of Washington to the on
| THE great rule of conduct for us in regard
| to foreign nations is, in extending our
| commercial relations, to have with them as
| little political connection as possible" II
was the author of the Declaration of indie.
pendence who said: "Our first and funda.
| mental maxim should be never to entangle
ourselves in the broils of Europe" Is il
| not well to ponder these warnings before
1 permanently embarking upon an untried
| pathway beset with foreign jealousies
complications and antagonisms?
The Democratic party has ever been the
| advocate of wise territorial expansion. Ii
| was in control of the government during
| forty years of the first half of the present
| century. During that period new States
were admitted into the Federal Union and
our western border extended beyond the
| Mississippi. Out of the Louisiana coun-
| try-acquired under the first Democratic
| administratiOn-have been carved fourteen
magnificent States. Under later Demo-
cratic administration-and as the result OF
| the treaty which terminated our war with
| Mexico-we acquired California and neigh
| boring States and Territories, thus bringing
| under our flag TO remain forever the vast
| expanse stretching to the Pacific coast
| The policy of aggressive expansion-of
| subjugation of distant isands-pursued by
| the present administration finds no prece-
| dent in the peaceable cession of the I,olIisj-
ana country by Napoleon, that of Florida
| by Spain, nor that yet later of the vas,
| western area by Mexico. The territory ac.
| quired under Democratic administration
| was, with favorable climatic conditions
| the fit abode for men of our own race Al
| the time of annexation ii passed under the
| lule of the Anglo-Saxon, who carried with
| him our language and our laws In was
| territory contiguous to our own and ac.