The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-10

tended at the expense of liberty the
price is always too high
I'VE are not opposed to territorial
expansion when il takes in desirable
territory which gan be erected into
states in the union and whose people
are willing and fit to become American
citizens.
EXPANSION AND IMPERIALISM.
We favor expansion by every peace
full and legitimate means, but We are
unalterably opposed to the Selling or
purchasing Of distant islands TO be
governed outside the constitution n
whose people can never become Cit
zens.
w are in favor Of extending the
republics influence among the mil
lions, but believe hat influence should
be extended, not by force and violence,
but through the persuasive power of
a high and honorable example.
The Importance of old questions
now pending before the American peo-
pie is in no wise diminishing and the
democratic party takes no backward
step from it's position on them, but the
burning issue of imperialism growing
out of the Spanish war involves the
very existence of the republic n the
destruction of our free institutions.
We regard it as the paramount issue
of the campaign.
LIE l1O-NISoE DoS1INl~NE.
The declaration in the republican
platform adopted at the Philadelphia
convention held in June, 1900, that the
republican party steadfastly adheres
to the policy announced in the Monroe
doctrine is manifestly insecure n de-
ceptive. This profession is contradicted
by the avowed policy of that party in
opposition TO the spirit of the Monroe
doctrine to acquire n hold SOW
QrpIOntU wa largo arlaC IF rarritnry-
n large numbers of people in the
eastern hemisphere. We insist on the
strict maintenance of the Monroe doc
trine and in all it's integrity, both in
letter and in spirit, as necessary to
prevent the extension of European au-
thority on this continent and as essen
tial to u supremacy in American
affairs. At the same time we declare
that no American people shall ever be
held by force in unwilling subsection
to European authority.
IMPERIALISM OPPOSED.
w oppos imperialism. 1t 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 millions
of our citizens have fled from in Eu-
rope. 1t Will impose upon our peace
loving people a large standing army
n unnecessary burden of taxation
n a constant menace to our liberties.
A small standing army and a we'll
disciplined state militia are amply
sufficient in time of peace. This repub-
lie has no place for a vast military ser
vice and CONSUMPTION.
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 cherish
ed in the patriotic hearts of a free peo-
pie. Such organizations are ever an
element of strength and safety. For
the first time in our history and coeval
with the Philippine conquest has there
been a wholesale departure from our
tlme-hOnOred and approved system
of volunteer organization. We de-
nounce it as un-American, un-demo-
cratic and un-republican and as a sub
version of the ancient and fixed prin-
cipieS of a free people.
TRUSTS AND MONOPOLIES.
Private m~onopoIies are indefensible
and i~ntolerable. They destroy compe.
tftion, control the price of all material
and of the finished product, thus rob
bling both producer and consumer
They lessen The employment of labor
and arbitrarily fix the terms and con.
ditionS thereof and deprive individual
energy and small capital of their op'
pOrtun1ty for betterment. They arr
the most efficient means yet devised
for appropriatinS the fruits of industry
to the benefit of the few at the ex,
pense of the many and unless their in.
satiate greed is checked all wealth
will be aggregated in a few hands anG
the republic destroyed. The dishones
paltering with the trust evil by h re
publican party in state and nationa
platforms is conclusive proof of thu
truth of the charge that trusts are lie.
Ultimate product of republican politics
that they are fostered by republican
laws, and that they are protected by
the republican administration in re.
turn for campaign subscriptions ani
political support.
w pledge the democratic party tt
an unceaSing warfare in nation, state
and city against private monopoly IL
every form. Existing laws against
trusts must be enforced and nor
ones must be. enacted pro.
viding for publicity as to the affairs
OF corporations engaged in Interstate
and requiring all corpora
ton to show, before doing bushes.
outside of the state of their origin
that they have no water in their STOCK
and that they have not attempted tt
monopolize any branch of business OF
the production of any articles of mer
chandise- and the whole constitutional
power of congress over inter-Stat,
commerce, h mails and all modes o.
Interstate communication shall be eX'
'edcised by the enactment of compre
hensive laws upon the subject o.
trusts. Tariff laws should be amended
by putting the products of trusts upo1
h free list to prevent monopoly un
der the plea of protection
1.-THE failure of the present republi
can administration, with an absolut,
control over all ranches of the ma
government, to enact any 1egis
lation designed to prevent or yer cur
tail the absorbing power Of trusts am
Illegal combinations or to enforce tn
antitrust laws already on the Statut
books prove the i~nsincerity of the higl
sounding phrases of the republican
platform.
Corporations should be protected il
all thei rights and their legitimate in
tereStS should be respected, but any at
tempt by corporations to interior
with the public affairs of the people o
to control the sovereignty which ere
ates them, should be forbidden unde
such penalties as will make such at
tempts impossible.
| HIGH TARIFF.