The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-10-09
A FOE TO IMPERIALISM
He Will Devote Time and Labor to
Fight It
THE PEOPLE SHOULD CRUSH MILITARIsM
With Great Army Withdrawn From the Philip
pines, We Could No Longer Govern
an Alien People Against
Their Will.

Baltimore, Md. Oct. Several thous-
and persons. among them were many la
dies, braved the elements tonight and at
tended the Democratic mass meeting. at
Music Hail. Rain fell in torrents during
the early part of the evening. The at
fractions, as announced included Cover
nor William j. Stone, of Missouri; former
Senator A. r. German, of this State, and
a number of we'll known local spell bind
ers. When Chairman James H. Smith
called the meeting to order he introduced
James D. Richardson, of Tennessee, chair
man of the Democratic Congressional
Committee. Mr.. Richardson explained
to the audience that he had visited Balti-
more unexpectedly and was not prepared
TO make a speech but stated that &c had
been requested to read to the assemblage
a letter which had been received from
"Maryland's favorite son." the Hon. Ar
thur p. German, who, he said. was de-
tanned ct home on a sick bed and was
chafing under the restraint which pre-
vented his attendance at 'this grand and
glorious gathering of the Democracy OF
Maryland" Mr. Germans letter was
written to Murray Vandiver chairman OF
the Democratic State Central Committee
of Maryland, from Laurel the ex-Senator's
home under date of October 8th, and
reads IS follows:
81 have postponed this message of re-
greet to the very last moment-in fact
until I received this morning my physi-
clans positive prohibition. l am told
that cannot put the slightest strain
upon my strength at this time without
mourning the danger of permanent dis
ability. You may believe me when l say
that my failure to meet our friends to-
night is among the most grievous of the
renunciations imposed upon me by my un-
fortunate state OF health.
81 think | can promise. however, that
although am denied this opportunity, my
time and labor will to the utmost possible
extent be devoted to assisting the State
and the National Committees in perfect
ing the organization of the forces of hos
tility to the new and dangerous doctrines
exploited by President Mckinley In the
acquisition and forcible occupation of the
Philippine Islands and their government
as a colon-.
"My opposition to this sinister and alb
hcrrent policy began with its inception.
Representing in part the State of Mary
land in the United States Senate and rec
ognizing the disasters that must neces-
sarily constitute the retinue of those twin
evils, imperialism and militarism, | OPP
posed them with all the power at my COM
mand. We succeeded only in preventing
a permanent increase Of the regular army
establishment up to 100000. The amend
ment to the army bill offered and resolu-
tely insisted upon by the Democrats IN
the Senate resulted in limiting the dura-
tion Of this increased establishment and
fixing its period at July LIST, 1901. 1t viii
be seen, therefore, that the maintenance
of this enormous and unnecessary military
machinery is one of the Guestions-and
not the least important of thcm-to be
decided by the American people next No
vember If that machinery be withdrawn,
we can no longer occupy territory thous-
ands of miles distant and govern against
their will millions of people as to whose
character, customs and national aspira
tions we are profoundly ignorant We
should then return to the time honored
practices of the founders of the Republic,
and to the safe and honorable policy OF
annexing such territory as can eventually
be admitted to Statehood in the Union, or
held as Federal reservations Tor purposes
of commerce and defence exclusively.
''The Democratic platform aptly and
truly says the paramount issue of the
campaign is the burning issue of i'm
peralism. When that shall have been
disposed of we can devise and formulate
legislation for just taxation, the regula-
ton OF combinations of capital which in
juriously affect the individual, the manner
of choosing United States Senators, upon
the details of all of which questions men
that are of the same political faith now