Rock Island Argus., 1900-07-06

| people that imperialism abroad Will
| quickly and inevitably To despotlsm
| At home"
| Therefore. the platform denounces
| Porto Rico tariff law, which Is de-
| clared to be Il Republican attempt TO
| commit this country to colonial prln-
| cipleS The prompt fulfillment Of our
| pledge to the Cubans is demanded
next, with a reference 10 Neely's Op-
| erations, and next the whole policy Of
| the administration in the Philippines
| is denounced, and the platform says:
The Fnipinos cannot be citizens with
| out endangering our civilization; they
| cannot be subjects without imperiling
our form of government. and as we
Ire not willing to surrender our civil
| iZatiOn or to convert the republic into
| an empire we favor an immediate dec
| laration of the nations purpose to give
to the FilipinoS-trSt. 4 stable form
of government: second. independence,
and third, protection from outside in
| reference such as has been given for
| nearly a century to the republics OF
Central ard South Africa.
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 tit to become Ameri-
can citizens We favor trade eX-
pansion by every peaceful and legiti-
mate means. But we are unalterably
opposed to the SeiZing or purchasing
of distant islands TO be governed out
side the constitution and whose peO-
pie can never become citizens. We
are in favor Of-eXtending the repuh-
lies influence among the nations, but
believe that influence should he eX-
tended, not by force and violence, but
through the persuasive power of a
high and honorable example.
The Importance of other questions
now pending before the American peo-
pie is in no wise diminished and the
Democratic party takes no backward
step from its position on them. but
the burning issue of Imperialism grow
ing out of the Spanish war involves
the very existence of the republic and
the destruction OF our free institutions
We regard it as the paramount issue
of the campaign.
The Monroe doctrine is then taken
up and the Republican national declar-
alton declared insincere. as shown 10y
the administrations acts in the Philip
pines. The platform says: We insist
on the strict maintenance of the Mon
roe doctrine and in all its integrity.
both in letter and in spirit. as neceS-
Sary to prevent the extension of Euro
pean authority on this continent and
as essential to our supremacy i'll Amer
lean affairs. At the same time we de-
clare that no American people shall
ever be held by force in unwilling sub
lection TO European authority.
We oppose militarism. 1t means
conquest abroad and intimidation and
oppression at home. \ small
standing army and we'll disciplined
state militia are amply sufficient i'll
time of peace. This republic has no
place for vast military service and
cOnscriptiOn. When the nation is in
danger the volunteer soldier is his
country's best defender. The national
guard of the United States should ever
be cherished in the patriotic hearts of
q free people. Such organizations are
ever an element of strength and safe
ty."
Upon the trust question this is said:
Private mOnOplies are indefensible
and intOlerable. The diShOn-
est palterng with the trust evil by the
Republican party i'll state and national
platforms is conclusive proof of the
truth of the charge that trusts are the
legitimate product of Republican pol
icieS. We pledge the Demo
cratic party to an unceasing warfare
in nation, state and city against private
monopoly in every form. Existing laws
more stringent ones must be enacted
providing for publicity as to the affairs
of corporations engaged Ill interstate
commerce. and requiring all corpora
tions TO show. before doing business
outside of the state of their origin,
that they have no water in their stock
and that they have not attempted. and
are not attempting, TO monopoliZe any
branch of business or the production
nj
the whole constitutional power of con-
greSS over interstate commerce, the
mails. and all modes of interstate com
munication. shall be exercised by the
enactment of comprehensive laws up
on the subject of trusts. Tariff laws
should be amended by yputting the prod
ucts of trusts upon the free list to
prevent monopoly under the plea of
protection
The Dingey tariff law is condemned.
and an enlargement of the scope of the
interstate commerce law advocated.
Then comes the plank over which the
fight was waged. that on finances. 1t
says:
We reaffirm and indorse the prin-
ciples of the national Democratic plat
form adopted at Chicago in 1896, and
we reiterate the demand of that plat
form for an American financial system
made by the American people for them
selves. which shall restore and main
tain bimetallic price-level and as part
of such system the immediate restora-
tion OF the free and unlimited coinage
of silver and gold at the present legal
ratio of 16 to l, without waiting for
the aid or consent of any other ma
ton
The Republican currency bill passed
by the last congress is denounced as
IA scheme for fastening upOn the tax
payers a perpetual and growing debt
for the benefit OF the bank" whose
notes the platform demands shall be
retired ''as fast as government paper
or silver certificates can be Substi-
tuted for them"
The platform then proceeds: We
favor an amendment to the federal
constitution providing for the election
of United States senator's by direct
vote of the nannle and We farnr di-