The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-09-06

lty. The Chicago platform is still the
Democratic programme.
But conscious of the weakness or rely
Ing on the theories that have been eX-
plOded and of ignoring facts that are sell
evident the Democrats are undertaking TO
push into conspicuous position before the
people an issue which they describe and
stigmatizs by the WON imperialism" In
this course they are characteristically dis
honest-tirst, because there ~s no senti-
ment in the United States that deserves
to be called imperialism" and. second,
because the Democrats do not come from
clean hands into discussion of popular
sovereignty and the consent of the gov
erned.'
Neither i'm the Philippines nor elsewhere
will the cause of human liberty look for
its champion to party whose only hope
of obtaining power lies in the suppression
of human rights and in an organized con-
spiracy TO nullify the guarantees with
which the constitution endeavors to sur
round the citizen. From thousands OF
polling places In this election, in which
the Democratic party is SO much concern
ed about the consent of the governed"
the negro citizen will be excluded by laws
so contrived as to keep out the negro Re-
publican while admitting the white Dem
ocrat, though both present themselves
with similar qualifications except as to
color. The party which will not allow the
constitution to follow the flag through the
Carolinas through Mississippi and Texas
has no occasion to distress itself about the
constitutions journey 1000 miles across
the ocean.
There is no middle course between re-
sponsbility for the government of the
Philippines and abandoning them to be
seized by some other power. The Demo-
cratic plan of comforting sovereign rights
upon the Filipinos and at the same time
establishing a protectorate over them Is
lmpracticable; it is responsibility without
authority. The reasons which have en-
abled the United States. though with con-
stant difficulty, to exercise influence for
the protection of Central American coun-
tries against European aggression cannot
be made to apply to an Asiatic country.
AS matter of duty, because We are re-
sponsible, of right because our title is
perfect and Of interest, because they are
valuable to our commerce and necessary
to our just influence in the east we are
bound to regulate and provide for the
government of the Philippines, and the
policy of the Republican party comedies
to the native inhabitants of the islands
every measure of self government con-
sistent with the maintxnance of American
sovereignty. The situation in China,
where it is evident that our interests re-
quire that the integrity of the empire
should be maintained, completely justifies
the course of the administration with re-
gard to the Philippines and supplies a
new reason for their retention
We indorse the administration of Pres-
dent Mckinley and urge his reelection as
the sure pledge, of four more years of
development and prosperity at home and
of honorable influence and renown abroad.
We congratulate the people upon the NOM
| lnation for vice president of Governor
Roosevelt, whose high place in the admi-
ration and confidence of his countrymen,
achieved by long public service and es-
pecially by his valor and success on the
field of battle, has been distinctly ad-
vanced by his splendid record as the gov
| ernor of New York.
The Republican party has been in con-
! troll of the state for the last seven years
During that time the state has increased
greatly in population, thereby causing a
relative annual Increase in expenditure
for many public purposes. This is illus
trated in the increased appropriations fol
the common schools. which in ten years
have grown from 1000, 900 to s., ,O0O, 900.
/ Within the period of Republican control
moreover, the state has assumed the ex'
pense of caring for the INDECENT and in
sane. That item of expense seven years
ago, when the maintenance of charitable
institutions was principally charge upor
the counties amounted as against the
state to only about S2.50000O. The grea
reforms inaugurated by state control
which have done so much for the i'm
provemeEt of the condition of the help
! less and unfortunate, compelled an eX
penditure in 1899 of nearly s9,WOOO0. Not
withstanding these great and increasing
burdens, Republican legislation and ad
ministration have brought about grad
ual lowering of the tax rate until thi:
year it has reached the amazingly low
point of ! 96-lO0 mills on the dollar of tbs
| equalized valuation of real and persona
| property.
Every reform which has been accom-
| plished in the state of New York to Sc
cure to the lawful voter the right to cas-
his ballot freely, to have 1t counted al
cast and to keep out of the ballot boxe
illegal and fraudulent votes is of Repub
lican origin. We charge upon the Demo
cratic party, especially in the city of New
York. an organized conspiracy to defea
the purpose of the election laws and L
carry the elections by fraudulent prac
ticos.
The Republican party is not opposed Il
the natural and legitimate combination o
productive forces. whether of capital nee
essary for the conducting of large enter
B prises or of labor looking to the proftabl
development of resources and to securing
to industry its due share of the reward
earned by its own efforts, but II Is op
posed to all combinations seeking TO con
troll prices and TO prevent competition, AM
II specifically denounces criminal conspr
acies between public officials and corpora
tions by which such corporations desig
or are enabled through the favor and pro
lection of officials to exact unjust tribut
! from the people.
The proper policy to be pursued with re
spect to the canals of the state Is sIh
ject of grave concern to the people. Thir
ty years ago, when the capacity OF tn
canals was less than II is today, there wa
moved over them twice as great ton
mage. In proportion as their capacity ha
increased and as the amount of possibl
business has grown and developed thei
use has decreased. The last Republica
legislature appropriated the sum OF sloo
900 to be expended in thorough an
scientific investigation Of the cause OF thi
decline in canal traffic and of the charac
ter and expense of all the numerous pro,
ects that have been proposed for the BET
terment of the canals and to bring abou
their greater use. 1t Is the policy of tn
Republican party If any further expend
ture of public money is to be made upo
The canals except for maintenance,
! place before the people the assured fact
together with estimates the accuracy {
which can be relied upon.