Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-07-12

millions, has already cost more than
any possible profit that could accrue
from the entire Philippine trade for
years to come. Furthermore, when
trade is extended at the expense of
liberty the price is always too high.
We are not opposed to territorial
expansion when it t3kes in desirable
territory which can be erected into
states in the Union and whose peo-
pie are willing and fit to become
American citizens.
We favor expansion by every peace
full and Legitimate means. But we are
unalterably opposed to seizing or pur-
chasing distant islands to be governed
outside the constitution and whose
people can never become citizens.
We are in favor of extending the
republics influence among the ma
tions, but believe that influence should
be extended, not by force and vio-
lence, but through the persuasive
power of a high and honorable exam
pie.
The Importance of old questions
now pending before the American
people is no wise diminished and the
democratic party takes no backward
the burningi issue of imperialism grow
ing out of the Spanish war involves
thu very existence of the republic and
the destruction of our free institu-
tions. We regard it rs the paramount
issue of the campaign.
Tie declaration in the republican
platform adopted at the Philadelphia
convention held in June, 1900, that
the republican party "steadfastly ad-
heres to the policy announced in the
Monro doc trine," is manifestly insiu-
cere and deceptive. Tb:s profession
is contradicted by the avowed policy
of that party in opposition TO the
spirit of the Monroe doctrine to ac-
quire and hold sovereignty over large
areas of territory and large numbers
Of people in the western hemisphere.
We insist on the strict maintenance
OF the Monroe doctrine and in all its
integrity, both in letter and in spirit,
as necessary to prevent the extension
of European authority on this conti-
nent and as essential to our Suprcn-
acy in American affairs. At the same
time we declare that no American
people shall ever be held by force nv
unwilling subjection to European au-
thority.
We oppose militarism. It means
conquest abroad and intimidation and
oppression at home. 1t means The
strong arm which has ever been fatal
to free institutions. 1t is what mil
lions of our citizens have fled from in
Europe. 1t will impose upon orr
peace-loving people "a large standing
army and unnecessary burden of tax
alton and n constant menace to their
liberties. A small standing army and
well disciplined state militia are
amply sufficient in time of peace. This
republic has no place for a vast mill
tary service and conscription.
The volunteer soldier is his coun-
try's best defender. The national
guard Of the United States should
ever be cherished in the patriotic
hearts cf free people. Such organ
izations are ever an element of
strength and safety. For the firsc
the Philippine conquest has there
been a wholesale departure from our
time-honOred system of volunteer or
oanization. We denounce it as un-
American, un-dcmocratic and un-re-
publican and as a subyersion ot the
ancient and fixed principles of free
people.
Private monopolies are indefensiDle
and intolerable. They destroy com
petition, control the price of all ma
tcrial and of the finished products.
They lessen the employment of labor
and arbitrarily fix the terms and con-
ditions thereof, and deprive individual
energy and small capital of their OPP
portunity for betterment. They are
the most efficient means yet devised
for appropriating the fruits of indus
try to the benefit of the few at the
expense of the many, and unless
their insatiate greed is checked all
wealth will be aggregated in a few
hands and the republic destroyed. The
dishonest paltering with the trust
evil by the republican party in state
and national platforms is conclusive
proof of the truth of the charge that
trusts are the legitimate product of
republican policies, that they are fos-
tered by republican laws, and that
they are protected by the republican
administration in return for CAM
paign subscriptions and political sup
port.
We pledge the democratic party to
an unceasing warfare in nation, state
and city against private monopoly in
every form. Existing laws against
trusts must be enforced and more
stringent ones must be enacted pro-
viding for publicity as to the affairs
of corporations engaged in inter
state commerce and requiring all cor
porations to show, before doing bust
ness outside of the state of their or
igin, that they have no water III their
stock, and that they have not at
tempted and are not attempting to
monopolize any branch of business or
the destruc ton of any articles OF mer-
chandise, and the whole constitutions
al power of congress over Interstate
commerce, the mails and all modes of
interstate communications shall be
exercised by the enactment of COM
prehensive laws upon the subject OF
trusts. Tariff laws should be amend