Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-09

platform is too clear to admit miscon-
struction. 1t favors trade expansion
by all peaceful and lawful means. We
believe that liberty, as well as the
constitution follows the flag. Demo-
Gratis, in common with many republi-
cans. oppose the Porto Rican law as
violation of the constitution, and
fragrant breach of good faith toward
eminent without consent of the
government. 1t is in conflict
with that provision of the constitution
which declares that: Duties, imports,
and excuses shall be uniform turnout
this constitutional provision applies
to every part of the United States, we
condemn the tariff taxation imposed
by republican congress upon the
helpless and distressed people of Porto
Rico. Such egislation-inspired sole
ly by greed-is indeed the harbinger
of evil to the republic. The attempt
to collect unjust taxes with one hand,
and, with the other to return then in
part to plundered people, is utterly
without constitutional warrant or
justification. We give our earnest
assent to the declaration: Our plain
duty is to abolish all custom tariffs
between the United States and Porto
Rico, and give her products access to
our markets" No party ea<gency or
pressure could justify a departure by
the president from the plain pathway
of duty he had here so clearly indicat-
ed. The law imposing tariff duties
upon the people of Porto Rico is pal
pable violation of the constitution,
and fragrant breach of the pledged
a.th of the nation.
The democratic platform condemns
the policy pursued by the present ad-
ministration toward the Philippine
Islands. This policy-inspired by the
great spirit of commercialism-has
embroiled our government in an I'M
necessary war, sacrificed valuable
lives, and placed the American repub-
lie in deadly antagonism to our for
mer allies in their efforts to secure
their liberties. For the first time in
our history we are boldly confronted
with the question of Imperialism
the spirit of empire
This is indeed the supreme question
to which all others are of secondary
Importance. Before we break irrevo-
caDly with the past, and abandon the
doctrines of the fathers, it is well tina,
we deliberate upon the conse-
quences of a permanent de-
parture from the settled governmental
pollcy OF more than century. The
success of the imperialistic policy fore
shadows the empire. Shall the clos
ing hours of the century witness the
American people abandoning the sure
pathway in which past generations
have formed prosperity and happiness,
and embarking upon that of agrees
sion and conquest, against which we
are warned by the wrecks that lie
along the entire pathway of history?
Standing out against the new policy
or conquest, with all that it involves
OF European complication, are the
warnings of the founders of the re-
public. Out of fashion as it may ap-
Tear, quote the last words of Wash
lngton to the oncoming generations
OF his countrymen. "The great rule
OF conduct for us in regard TO foreign
nations is, in extending our CONNER
clal relations, to have with them as
little political connections as possible"
1t was the author of the Declaration
OF independence who said: Our first
and fundamental maxim should be
never to entangle ourselver in the
broils of Europe" 1t is not we'll to
ponder these warnings before
permanently embarking upon an I'M
tried pathway beset with foreign ieal-
| ousies, complications and antason-
| ism?
The democratic party has never
been the advocate of wise territorial
expansion. 1t was in control of the
government during forty years of the
| first half of the present century. Dur.
ing that period new states were ad-
| mitted into the federal Union, and our
western border extended beyond the
| Mississippi. Out of the Louisiana coun.
try-acquired under the first demo-
| cratic dministration-haye been cary-
ed fourteen magnificent states. Under a
later democratic administration
as the result of the treaty which ter
minated our war with MeXico-we ac-
CURED California and neighboring
states and territories, thus bringing
under one flag to remain forever the
vast expanse stretching to the Pacific
ocean.
The policy of aggressive expansion
of subjugation of distant islands
pursued by the present administra-
| ton, finds no precedent in the peace
able cession of the Louisiana country
| by Napoleon, that of Florida by Spain,
nor that yet later, of the vast western
area, by Mexico The territory
acquired under democratic admins
tration was, with favorable climatic
conditions, the fit abode for men Of
our own race. At the time of annexa-
ton it passed under the rule of the
Anglo-Saxon, who carried with him
our language and our laws. 1t was ter
rltory contiguous to our own, and ac-
CURED with the declared intention
when the conditions and population
would justify-of carving it into
states. The result: Millions of
American homes, our national wealth
| increased beyond the dream of aver
ice, and the United States chief among
the nations of the earth.
Can 1T be that the new policy of
forcible annexation of distant ISL
ands, finds precedent in the historic
events l have mentioned? The an
| 10 found in tba bor etoto,,o,4