The age-herald., 1900-07-17
HEARST ISSUES X ArI
 LONG ADDRESS
To the Democratic Clubs of the
 United States. =
TIME HAS COME FOR ACTION
The Reelection ot Mckinley Will be Taken by the Republican Leaders as Proof That the People App
 prove of Imperialism

New York, July 16.-W. R. Hearst, presi- dent of the National Association of Demo- cratic Clubs, has issued the following ad- dress:
 To the Democratic Clubs and Societies of
 the United States:
 The time has come when all the Demo- cratic organizations in this country, and all patriotic bodies associated with them, should publicly ratify the nomination of William J. Bryan for President and Adai E. Stevenson for Vice President, and pre- pare to defend the Republic against the corrupt and corrupting spirit of imperial ism. This is no ordinary year in American politics. Colonies have been established under the American flag without the con- sent of the American people and in defiance of the Constitution. The unlawful and brutal policy of President Mckinley and his advisers, involving the abandonment of the principle of political equality on Ameri- soil, has been condoned by the Repub- can party in it's national convention.
 The Republican party, under its present leadership, is attempting to commit a hitherto peaceful and Just nation to a career of imperial adventure and conquest. It has trampled the Declaration of Inde- pendence under foot The Republican party is the promoter and agent of the new and terrible trust system, which seeks to de- stroy industrial and commercial competi- ton in America-another revolutionary movement hostile to free institutions.
 The spirit of militarism marks every act of the national government. These radical experimental changes in the order of our national progress threaten the existence Of republican government on the American continent. Subjects and citizens cannot long endure under the same flag
 Condemned by Just'ce
 Against these new and dangerous poli- cies-condemned alike by experience and by justice-the Democratic party is exert ing it's whole strength. Its candidates and its platform represent the conservative spirit of the American people and their faith in American institutions. They rep resent opportunity at home as against ad- venture in Asia; peace rather than war 1n- spired by the lust of money; citizenship, not subjecthood a homogeneous republic, not a heterogeneous empire; natlon or prosperous, equal, liberty-loying citizens, unburdened by war taxes or great stand ing army, leading ultimately to military conscription. f5 The reelection of President Mckinley will be taken by the Republican leaders as proof that the American people approve an imperial, military and trust-breeding policy Can any thoughtful citizen doubt what the consequences of Republican vic- tory this year will be? The swift and un- suspected developments of the past four years point significantly to the purposes of the President and his advisers in the near future.
 In the presence of these impending na- tional perils the National Association of Democratic Clubs calls upon all Democratic clubs, societies and associations in the United States to organize their forces for the defense of republican institions. Patri- otic citizens, regardless of past political ties or prejudices, are earnestly invited to assist in this work of preservation. This year the nation must choose between the European and the American theory of gov ernment.