Little Falls herald., 1900-09-28

citizen. His presence as temporary
laborer, preserving his national identi-
ty, and maintaining a foreign scale Of
wages and living, must ever prove an
injustice to American producers, as
well as a perpetual source OF irrita-
ton.
The party expresses its pride In the
soldiers and sailors OF all our wars,
and declares its purpose to deal gen.
erously with them and their depend
ents. A liberal policy is natural and
necessary in a government which de-
pends upon a citizen sold1ery, instead
of large standing army. Self-inter-
est, as we'll as gratitude, compels the
government to make bountifu1 pro-
vision for those who, in the hour Of
danger, and at great sacrifice of busi-
ness. health and life, tender their
services to their country.
The pension laws should be con-
strued according to the generous spirit
which prompted their passage. The
platform very properly reiterates the
position taken in 1896, that the fact Of
enlistment shall be deemed conclusive
evidence that the soldier was sound
when the government accepted him.
A certificate given now to the health Of
person 40 years ago, even If easily
obtainable. should not have as much
weight as the certificate Of the medical
officer who examined the volunteer
with a view Of ascertaining his fitness
for army service.
Nicaragua.
The Democratic party is In favor Of
the immediate construction, ownership
and control Of the Nicaragua canal by
the United States. The failure of the
Republican party to make any prog
ress in carrying out pledge contained
in its platform four years ago, together
with the substitution in its latest plat
form of plank favoring an isthmian
canal for a specific declaration in IA
dicate that the Republican leaders
either do not appreciate the Importance
of this great waterway to the mari
time strength and commercial inter-
ests OF the country, or that they give
too much consideration to the interest,"
ed opposition OF transcontinental lines.
The Hays-Pauncefote treaty, now be-
fore the senate, would, If ratified,
greatly lessen the value of the canal,
if it would not indeed convert it into
a positive menace in time of war. The
paramount interests of the United
States in the western hemisphere, to-
gether with the obligations to defend
the republics to the south Of US, makes
it necessary that our government shall
be able to close the canal against any
hostile power.
Arizona, New Mexico aud Oklahoma.
Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma
have long been ready to assume the
responsibilities and enjoy the privi-
leges Of statehood, and it will be a
pleasure, as well as a duty, to carry
cut the platform pledge concerning
them.
Alaska and Porto Rico.
There will be popular acquiescence
in the demand for home rule. and a
territorial form of government in
Alaska and Porto Rico. Both are en-
titled to local self-government and
representation in Congress.
The recognition contained in both
tho Democratic and Republican plat
forms of the right of the Cubans to in
dependence, removes the general prin-
ciple involved from the domain Of par
tisan politics. It is proper, however,
to consider whether the accomplish
ment Of this purpose can be safely en-
trusted to the Republican party. after
it has yielded to the allurements Of the
Colonial idea, and abandoned its ear
lier faith in the natural and inaliea-
able rights of man.
Reclamation Of Arid Lands.
The time is ripe for systematic and
extended effort to reclaim the arid
lands and fit them for actual settlers.
The last agricultural report estimates
that homes can thus be provided for
many millions of people. The i'm
pounding and use Of the waters which
are wasted in the spring would people
the western states with thrifty, intelli-
gent, and Industrious citizens, and
these would furnish a valuable market
for all the products of the factories. A
small percentage of the money spent
in a war of conquest would provide oc-
cupation and habitation for more peo-
pie than would ever seek residence
in colonies within the tropics.
Foreign Alliances.
The reasons given by Washington,
Jefferson. and the other statesmen of
the early days in support Of the doc
trine that we should maintain friendly
relations with all nations. but enter
into entanPlinR alliances with none