The sun., 1900-08-09

law has failed to effect the wise purpose fol
| which IL was enacted. In fact. II Il now little
Under well-considered amendments the com.
| mission should be vested with ample power
70 prevent injustice to individuals and to the
Our platform favors the creation Of depart.
ment OF labor. whose chief officer shall take
the rank with other Constitutional advisers
Justice and will prove an Important step look,
ing TO the proper recognition and encourage
ment OF the producers of wealth.
In specific terms IL favors liberal pensions
TO our soldiers and sailors and to those depend.
| ent upon them.
| With equal justice II reteratss the demands
OF former Democratic platform for bimetal-
| ism, the restoration Of silver to its proper
JUNCTION in our monetary system
| For the protection OF the home lsborer II
| demands the enforcement OF the Chinese E1-
| And in the interest Of an enlarged commeroe
! i favQrs the immediate construction Of the
Nicaraguan Canal. This, however, with the
| the exclusive ownership and control Of the
| United States. The pending Hay-Pauncefote
| treaty Is condemned IA a surrender Of American
| rights not 10 be tolerated by the American
people. In the construction and control Of
this great work there can be no concession OF
right to any European Power Commercial
interest and national safety In time Of war
alike demand its permanent ownership by our
Government
THE PARAMOUNT ISSUE"
A question is yet to be discussed to which
all Of these are OF secondary importance. IL
is solemnly declared by our platform to be
the paramount issue. Questions OF domestic
questions OF the hour-that Of Imperialism
is for time In the presence OF this stupen-
dous issue others seem but as the dust In the
IL is the supreme question Of republic OF, em'
pire. The words Of the eminent Republican
Senator. Mr.. Hoar challenge. attention: :!
belieys that Perseyerance III. IN this policy will
which our Government Is founded: that II will
change our Government into an empire. that
our methods of legislation. OF diplomacy, OF
administration, must hereafter be those which
belong TO empires. and not those which belong
TO republics"
Upon every phase Of our foreign policy tho
clear to admit Of misconstriction. It favor.
trade expansion by all peaceful and lawful
means
CONSTITUTION FOLLOWS THE FIAo.
tive. We beheye that liberty; as well as the Con.
w 0Hs many hs sS SSposs thu
Porto Rican law as a violation Of the Consti-
tuition. and facrant breach of good faith
toward dependent / people, II ts imposing
II Is In conflict with that provision OF the Con-
stitution which declares that duties, imports
and e1cises shall be uniform throughout the
tutional provision applies TO every part OF the
United States. We condemn the tariff taxation
Imposed by. a. Republican Congress upon the
Such egislation-inspired solely by greed
Is indeed the harbinger OF evil TO the republic.
The attempt 10 collect unjust taxes with one
part to a .plundered people, is utterly with
out Constitutional warrant or Justification.
We give our earnest assent TO the declara-
toms tarifis between the United States and
Porto Rico, and give her products access to
our markets" No party exigepcy or pres
sen G%a U the as & psRS"sy Of 0 duty S' he Ts had
here SO clearly Indicated. fhe law Imposing
tariff duties upon the people Of Porto Rico. is
IN palpable violation OF the CONSTITUTION. and
nation.
SPIRIT OF EMPIRE pEPIoRED.
Tho Democratic platform condemns the
policy pursued by the present Administra.
tion toward the Philippns Islands, This
mercialsm~has embroiled our Government
IN an unnecessary war;. sacrificed valuable
lives. and placed the American Republic in
sT their Efforts Ve' To- secure W their liberties. For
the first time in, our history we are boldly, con-
fironted with the question OF imperialism
This Is, indeed. the supreme question. to
which all others are Of secondary importance.
Before we break irrevocably with the past and
abandon the doctrines Of the fathers. 1t Is well
that We deliberate upon the CONSEQUENCES
OF q permanent departure from the settled
governmental policy OF more than century.
The success OF the imperialisic policy fore
shadows the empire. shall the closing hours
OF the century witness the American people
abandoning the sure pathway in which past
generations have found prosperity and happines
conquest, against which We are warned by the
wrecks that lie along the entire pathway OF
history Standing out against the new policy
tsA all hat tny nlaa nf
pean complication. are the warnings OF the
founders OF the republic. Out OF fashion as
It may appear 1 quote the last words OF WASH
inHton to the oncomng generations OF his
countrymen: The great rule OF conduct
for us IN regard TO foreign nations is. In extsnd-
ing our commercial relations, to have with
them as little political connection as possible.
II was the author Of the Declaration OF lnde-
pendence who said: Our first and fundamental
maxim should be never to entansle ourselves
In the brols OF Europe is II not wen 70 ponder
upon an untried pathway beset with foreign
jealousies. complications and antagonismt
JEFrERsoNIAS EXPANSION.
The Democratic party has ever been the ad-
vocste of wise territorial expansion. IL was
In control Of the Government during forty years
that period new States were admitted into the
Federal Union and our Western border 81 tended
beyond the Mississippi. Out Of the Louisiana
country ACQUIRED under & ue vs ,ars. IeSvIsaO nr,ao
magnificent states Under later Democratic
Administration and as the result OF the treaty
which terminated our war with Mexico we
ACQUIRED California and neighboring States
and Territories, thus bringing under our nag
TO remain forever the vast expanse stretching
to the Pacific.
The policy OF aggressive expansion OF sub
jugation Of distant islands pursued BY the
present Administration. finds no precedent In
the peaceable cession OF the Louisiana country
by Napoleon that of Florida By Spain nor that
vet later Of the vast Western area by Mexico.
The territory acquired under Democratic Ad-
ininistrations was, with favorable climatic
Cond tions, the fit abode for men OF our own
race At the time Of annex alton IL passed under
the rule Of the Anglo-Saxon, who carried with
him our language and our laws. 1t was terri
tory contiguous 10 our own and acquired with
the declared intention when conditions and
population would justify. OF carving II into
States Thsrcsult: Millions Of American homes.
of ayarice. and the United States chief among
the nations Of the earth. Can II be that tho
new policy Of forcible annexation Of distant
islands finds precedent In the historic events |
! have mentioned2 The answer Is found in the |
bare statement OF facts. The territory acquired |
under Democratic Administrator Is contiguous |
the Philippine Islands. 5000 miles distant.
The ACQUISITION of territory upon our own con-
tinent added little to the national expense--to |
maintain permanent sovereignty over the dis |
tant islands necessltates immense expenditures
upon our army and navy. More than that, II |
methods OF administration that |
pertain not to the republic hut to the empire. |
Can it be doubted that the attempt to stife the |
spirit OF liberty abroad will imperil popular |
government at home?
What il proposed by the party in power for |
the government of these islands? II IL be In |
tended to establish there our political institu-
tions, what then becomes OF the Monroe Doc |
trine? This vital linterpationalpo policy, announced |