The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-07-11

! crushing with military force the efforts of
our former allies to achieve liberty and self
government.
endangering our civilizations; they cannot
be subjects without imperlling our form of
government, and as we are not willing to
surrender our civilization or to convert the
republic into an empire we favor an i'm
mediate declaration Of the nations purpose
to give to the FilipinoS first stable form
of government; second, independence, and
such as has been given for nearly CEN
fury to the republics Of Central and South
America.
The greedy commercialsm which dictat
ed the Philippine policy of the Republican
administration attempts to justify it with
the plea that it will pay, but even this sor-
to the test of facts The war of criminal
aggression against the Filipinos entai!ing
an annual expense OF many millions, has al
that could accrue from the entire Philippine
trade for years to come.
Furthermore, when trade is extended at
too high. We are not opposed to territorial
expansion when it takes in desirable ter
rtory which can be erected into states in
the Union and whose people are willing and
fit to become American citizens. We favor
trade expansion by every peaceful and
legitimate means. But we are unalteraby
opposed to the Selling or purchasing of dis
tant islands to be governed outside the con-
stitution and whose people never be-
come citizens.
We are in favor of extending the re-
believe that that influence should be ex-
tended, not by force and violence, but
through the persuasive power of high
and honorable example. The Importance Of
American people is in no wise diminished
and the Democratic party takes no back
ward step from it's position. on them, but
the burning issue of Imperialism growing
out of the Spanish war involves the very
existence of the republic and the destruc-
tion of our free institutions. We regard it
as the paramount issue of the campaign.
Monroe Doctrine is Upheld.
The declaration in the Republican plat
form adopted at the Philadelphia conven-
ton held in June. 1900, that the Republican
party '.steadfastly adheres to the policy an
testify insincere and deceptive. This con-
fession is contradicted by the avowed pol
icy Of that party in opposition to the spirit
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 in all it's integrity
both in letter and in spirit, as necessary to
prevent the extension Of European author
ity on this continent and as essential to
our supremacy in American affairs. At the
same time we declare that no American
people shall ever be held by force in I'M
willing subsection to European authority.
We oppose militariSm. 1t means CONQUEST
abroad and intimidation and oppression at
home. 1t means the strong arm which has
ever been fatal to free institutions. 1t is
what millions of our citizens have fed from
in Europe. 1t will impose upon our peace
loving people a large standing army and
unnecessary burden of taxation and a con-
slant menace to their liberties. A small
standing army and well-disciplined state
militia are amply sufficient in time of peace
This republic has no place for a vast
military service and CONSUMPTION. When
is his country's best defender The Ma
tiona guard of the United States should
ever be cherished in the patriotic hearts OF
a free people. Such organizations are ever
an element of strength and safety
For the first time in our history and CO.
eval with the Philippine conquest has there
been 4 wholesale departure from our time
honored and approved system of volunteer
organization. We denounce it as un-Amer-
lean, undemocratic and unrepublican and
as a subversion of the ancient and fixed
principles of free people
Will War with Trusts.
Private monopolies are indefensible and
intolerable. They destroy competition, con
troll the price of all material and of the fin
ished product, thus robbing both producer
and consumer. They lessen the employment
of labor and arbitrarily fix the terms and
conditions thereof and deprive individual
energy and small capital Of their oppor-
CunlCy 1Of retirement.
They are the most efficient means yet de-
vised for appropriating the fruits of indus
try to the benefit Of the few at the eXpen @
Of the many, and unless their insatiate
greed is checked all wealth will be aggre-
gated in few hands and the republic de-
stroyed. The dishonest paltering with the
trust evil by the Republican party in state
and national platforms is conclusive proof
of the truth of the charge that trusts are
the Legitimate product of Republican poll
ces, that they are fustered by Republican
Ia CS
Republican administration in return for
campaign subscriptions and political sup
port.
ceaSing warfare in nation, state and city
against private monopoly in every form.
Existing laws against trusts must be en-
forced and more stringent ones must be EN-
acted providing for publicity as to the af-
fairs of corporations engaged in interstate
commerce and requiring all corporations TO
show before doing business outside of the
state of their origin that they have no
water in their stock, that they have not
attempted. are not attempting, to monop
olize any branch Of business or the produc
tion of any article of merchandise.
The whole constitutional power Of Con
gress over interstate commerce, the mails
and 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 Tree
list to prevent monopoly under the plea Of
protection.
The failure of the present Republican adj
ministration, with an absolute control over
all the branches of the national government,
to enact any legislation designed to prevent
or even curtail the absorbing power Of
trusts and illegal combinations or to en-
force the antitrust laws already ON the
statute books proves the insincerity of the
high-sounding phrases of the Republican
platform.
Corporations should be protected in all
their rights and their legitimate interests
should be respected, but any attempt by
corporations to interfere with the public
affairs of the people or to control the sover-
eighty which creates them should be for
hidden under such penalties as VIII make
such attempts impossible. We condemn
the Dingley tariff law as trust-breeding
measure, skillfully devised to give the few
fayOrs which they do not desire and to place
upon the many burdens which they should
not bear.
We favor such an enlargement of the scope
Of the interstate commerce law as will
enable the commission to protect individ
uals and communities from determinations
and the public from unjust and unfair
transportation rates.
Reaifirms 10 to / Plank.
We reaffirm and indorse the principles of
the national Democratic platform adopted