Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-07-20

pttloS cannot DC citizens without endan
gering our civilization: they cannot D,
subjects without imperiling our form o
government. and as we are not willing I,
surrender our civilization or 20 conver
the republic into an empire we favor aI
immediate declaration or the nation.
purpose TO give to the Filipinos first
stable form of government, second. inde
perdence. and third. protection from out
side interference. such as has been giver
for nearly n century to the republics o.
Central and South America
The greedy commercialisnn which die.
tated the Philippine policy OF the Repub-
lican administration attempts to sustify
II with the plea that II win pay. but ever
this sordid and unworthy plea fails wher
brought to the test OF facts. The war OF
criminal aggression against the FilipinoS
entailing an annual expense of many mill
lions. has already cost more than any
possible profit that could occrue from the
entire Philippine trade for years 20 come
Furthermore, when trade Is extended al
the expense Of liberty the price is always
too high.
We are not opposed TO territorial ex-
pansion when II takes in desirable terri
tory which can be erected into states I'm
the Union and whose people are vvillin.
and tit to become American citizens We
favor expansion by every peaceful and
legitimate means. But we arc unalterab bly,
opposed 70 seizinG or purchasing dis
tant islands to be governed outside the
constitution and whose people can never
become citizens.
We are in favor Of extending the re-
public's influence among the nations. but
believe that influence should be extended
not by force and violence, but through
the pursuasive power of a high and hon
orable example.
The Importance OF other questions now
pending before the American people Is in
nowise diminished. and the Democratic
party takes no backward step from fits
position on them. but the burning issue
OF imperialism growing out OF the Span
fish war involves the very existence of
the republic and the destruction OF our
free institutions. We regard IL as the
paramount issue OF the campaign.
Republican Insinccrity.
The declaration in the RepubIican Mat
form adopted at the PHILADELPHIA con-
vention. held I'm June, 1900. that the Re-
publican party "steadfastly adheres to
the policy announced i'm the Monroe doc
trine' is manifestly insincere and de-
ccptive. This profession is contra dicted
by the avowcd policy OF that party In op-
position to the spirit OF the Monroe doc
wine to acquire and hold Sovereignty
over large areas OF territory and large
numbers OF people i'm the eastern hemis-
phere. We insist on the strict maintcn-
ance OF the Monroe doctrine and i'm All its
necessary to prevent the extension OF
European authority on this continent and
as essential TO our suprcmacyfn American
affairs At the same time we declare
that no American people shall ever be
held by force I'm Unwilling subjcction to
European authority
We oppose militarism. 1t means con-
quest abroad and intimidation and op-
preston at home IL means the strong
arm which has ever been fatal 20 free
institutions. IL IS. what millions OF our
citizens have fled from in Europe. It
Will impose upon our peace loving pco-
pie large standing army and unneccs-
sary burden OF taxation and n constant
menace TO their liberties. a small stand
ing army and well disciplined state
militia are amply sufficient I'm time 0f
peace: This republic has no place for a
vast military service and conservation
When the nation Is in danger the VOL
untecr soldier is his country's best de-
fender. Tho national guard or the Uni
ted States should ever be chcriscd in tbe
patriotic hearts or n free people. Such
organizations are ever an element OF
I'm our history and co-evil with the Phil
ipripe conquest has there been a whole
sale departure from our time honored
ganization We dcnounce it as unamerl-
can, undcmocTatic and unrcqublican and
as n subvcrsion OF the ancient and fxed
principles or a free people.
Private MonopoIies Intolern
Private monopolies are indefensible ana
They destroy competition
control the price or all material. and OF
'es Anished products. thus robbing both
producer ana consumer. They lessen tho
employment OF labor. and arbitrarily fix
tho terms and conditions thereof and de-
prive individual energy and small capi-
tai or their opportunity for bottcrment
They are tho most efficient means vet
devised Tor appropriaung the fruits OF
INDUSTRY to the benefit OF the fow at tho
expense OF the many and unless their In
satiate greed is checked all wealth will
be aggregated In n few hands and the re-
public destroyed. The dishonest palter-
Ing with the trust evil by the Reptihlican
party in state and national platforms IS
conclusive proof OF the truth OF the
duct OF Republican policies that they are
fostcred by Republican laws and that
they are protected by the Republican ad.,
IN return for campaign sub
scriptions and political support.
we pledge the Democratic party to an
unceasing warfare in naticn, state and
city against private monopoly In every
form. Existing laws against trusts must
De enforced and more stringent ones must
De, pe en2eted aS1i p ProNlding for publicity as TO
terstate commerce and requiring all cor
porations TO show, before doing business
OUTSIDE or the state of their origin. that
they have no water in their stock and
that they have not attempted and are
not attempting 10 monopolize any branch
OF business or the production of any ar
ucle or merchandise. and the whole con-
sututionl power OF congress over in
serstate commerce. the mails and all
modes or Interstate communication shall
be exercised by the enactment of compre-
hensive laws upon the subject OF trusts.
Tariff laws should be amended by putting
the products or trusts upon the free list
protection.
administration with an absolute control
over all tho branches OF the national gov
ernment 10 enact any legislation designed
TO prevent or even curtail the absorbing
power of trusts and illegal combinationS
or to enforce the antitrust laws already
on the statute books prove the insincerity
Oh ,i, tne high sounding phrases OF the Re-
Corporations should be protected in all
their rights and their legitimate interests
corporations to interfere with the public
aitairs OF the people or to control the
sovereignty which creates them. should
make such attempts impossible.
we condemn the Dingley tariff law as
O. trust breeding measure, slkilfully de-
vlsed 10 give the few favors which they
DO not deserve and 10 place upon the
many burdens which they should not
bear,
We favor such an enlargement of tho
scope or the Interstate commerce law as
VIII enable the commission to protect in~
aividuals and communities from discrim-
nations and the public from unjust and
unfair transportation rates.
Chicago Platform Reahirmed.
We reaffim and endorse the principles
OF the national Democratic platform
adopted at Chicago in 1896 and we re-
iterate the demand of that platform for
an American financial system made by
the American people for themselves,
which shall restore and maintain a biz
metallic price level. and as part OF such
system the immediate restoration of the
free and unlimited coinage of silver and
gold at the present legal ratio of 10 to
without waiting for the aid or consent OF
any other nation.
We denounce the currency bill enacted
at the last session of congress ea a step
forward in the Republican policy which
aims to discredit the sovereign right of
the national government to issue all
money, whether coin or paper, and to be-
stow upon national banks the power 10
issue and control the volume OF paper
money for their own benefit. A perma-
nent national bank currency, secured by
the government bonds, must have a per-
mapent debt to rest upon and IL the
bank currency is to increase with the
population and business the dehk must
also Increase. The Republican currency
scheme is therefore u scheme for fasten-
ing upon the taNpaYerS a perpetual and
growing debt for the benefit of the banks
We are opposed to this private corpoFation
paper circulated as money, hut without
legal tender qualities. aud demand the
retirement of the national bank notes as
fast as this government paper and silver
eertiteates can be substituted for thom.