Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-07-06

iaiis WHEN brOuBnt 10 tne TEST OF faCtB. Inc wal
Of criminal aggression against the Filipinos, m.
failing annual expense Of many millions, has
already cost more than any possible profit that
could accrue from the entire Philippine trade fof
years to come. Furthermore, when trade is cx.
tended at the expense Of liberty ths price Is al.
ways too high.
Expansion Versus imperialism.
We are not opposed to territorial expansion
when It takes in desirable territory which can be
erected into states in the Union and whose people
are willing and ht to become American citizens.
We favor expansion by every peaceful and leglti.
mate means. But we unalterably opposed to
the selling or purchasing Of distant islands to Be
governed outside the constitution and whose peo
pie can never become citizens
We are in favor Of extending the republics In
fuence among the nations, but believe that inhu
ence should be extended not by force and violence
but through the persuasive power of 4 high and
honorable example
The importance Of other questions pending
before the American people is in nowise diminish
ed. and the Democratic party takes no backward
step from its position on chem, but the burning
issue Of imperialism growing out Of the Spanish
war involves the very existence Of the republic
and the destruction Of our free institutions We
regard 1t as the paramount issue Of the campaign.
Private monopoes indefensible and intoler
able They destroy competition, control the price
OF all material and Of the finished product, thu,
robbing both producer and consumer. They lesser
the employment Of labor and arbitrarily fx tht
terms and conditions thereof and deprive individ
ual energy and small capital Of their opportunity
for betterment.
They the most efficient means yet devised
for appropriating the fruits OF industry the ben
eft of the few at the expense OF the many, ana
unless their insatinte greed Is checked all wealth
will be aggregated In few hands and the repub
lie destroyed. The dishonest paltering with thu
trust evil by the Republican party in state ana
national platforms is conclusive prod Of the truth
Of the charge that trusts are the legitimate prod
uct Of Republican policies, that they are fostereo
by Republican laws and that they protecteo
by the Republican administration In return foi
campaign subscriptions and political support.
We pledge the Democratic party to an unceasine
warfare in nation, state and city against private
monopoly in every form. Existing laws against
trusts must be enforced and more stringent
must be enacted providing for publicity to the
affairs Of corporations engaged in interstate com
merce and requiring all corporations to show be
fore doing business outside Of the staiA of THEN
origin that they have water in their stock ano
that they have not attempted and are not at
tempting to monopolize any branch OF business OF
the production Of any articles OF merchandise
the whole constitutional power Of congress
interstate commerce, the mails and all modes Of
interstate communication shall be exercised BY
the enactment Of comprehensive laws upon thu
subject OF trusts. Tariff laws should be amended
by putting the products OF trusts upon the free
list to prevent monopoly under the plea OF protec
tion.
We condemn the Dingley tariff law as trust
breeding measure skillfully devised to give the
few favors which they do not deserve and to place
upon the many burdens which they should not
bear.
Sixteen to One.
We reafHrm and indorse the principles OF III.
Democratic national platform adopted at Chicago
In 1895, and we reterate the demand OF that plat
form for "A American financial fuade by
the American people for themselves which shall
restore and maintain bimetaie price level and
as part OF such system the immediate restoration
of the free and unlimited coinage Of silver and
gold at the present legal ratio Of Is to l without
waiting for the consent OF any other nation.
We denounce the currency bill enacted at tn.
last session OF congress as a step forward In the
Republican policy which aims to discredit tn.
sovereign right OF the national government to is
sue all money, whether coin paper, and to be
stow upon national banks the power to Issue end
control the volume OF paper money for their own
heneft, A permanent national bank currency Sc
cured by government bonds must have a perma
nent debt to rest upon, and II the bank currency
Is to increase with population and business the
debt must also increase. The Republican currency
scheme is therefore scheme for fastening upon
the taxpayers a perpetual and growing debt.
We favor the continuance and strict enforce
ment Of the Chinese exclusion law and its appli
cation to the same classes Of all Asatic races.
Jefferson said, "Peace, commerce and honest
friendship with all nations, entangling alliance,
with none"
We approve this wholesome doctrine and ear
nestly protest against the Republican departur.
which has involved us in so called policies, in
Guiding the diplomacy Of Europe and the intrigu.
and land grabbing of Asia. and we espS tally
dcmn the III concealed Republican alliance with
England which must mean discrimination against
other friendly nations and which has already stl
fed the nations voice while liberty Is being stran
ged In Africa.
Believing In the principles OF self government
and rejecting, as did our foreiathcrs the claim OF
monarchy, We view with indignation the purpos,
nj England to nverwhcm with force the South AZ
Fican Fenlblics. Speaking as ~ do, for the en-
tire American natinn except it's Republican office
holders and for all free men everywhere, we ey
tend our sympathies 10 the heroic burghcrs in
their unequal struggle to maintain their liberty
and independence
Republican congresses which have kept taxes high
and which threaten trade with ,perpetuation Of the
oppressive war 1cvies, We nose the accumula.
tion Of q surplus to he squandered In such bare
faced frauds upon the taxpayers rs the shipping
subsidy bill, which under the false pretense Of
pTospering American shipbuilding would put un.
earned millions Into the pockets Of fsvorite con,
tributnrs to the Republican campaign fund. We
favor the reduction and speedy repeal OF the wal
taxes and a return to the time hnnored Democrat
ic pohcy OF strict economy OF government eHpen
ditures.
We favor the immediate construction, owner
ship and control Of the Nicaragua canal by the
United States. and denounce the insincerity Of
the plank in the Republican platform for an 18th.
mian canal in the face Of the failure Of the Repub.
lican majority to pass the bill pending in con-
gress.
We condemn the Hay -Pauncefote tscaty as Q sur,
render ni American rights and interests not to be
tolerated by the American people,
The platform was read to the convcn.
ton by Senator Tillman. The reading
was interspersed by cheers from start to
finish, and when he declared that no ma
tion could long last as republic and
have empire. the cheering continued for
several minutes. The same was, true when
he denounced the keeping Of ain army in
Cuba and wbcR be DECLARED that Democ-
racy stood for RrotectiOn and indepen-
dence for the Filipino. Then he read this
sentence: "The importance of other aues.