Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1900-07-14

n1mity. In THIS, the nrst act o. Its mpcr1al1S
tic programme. the Republican party seeks to |
commit the United Ststes to colonial policy /
inconsistent with republican institutions and /
condemned by the supreme court in numerous /
decisions.
We demand the prompt and honest fuIfIlment |
Of our pledges to the Cuban people and the |
world, that the United States has no DISPOSE |
ton nor intention to exercise sovereignty, juriS
6iction or control over the Island OF Cuba. e1- |
cept for its paci6cadon- The war ended nearly |
two years ago, profound peace reigns over al |
the island. and still the administration keeps
the government Of the island from its people |
revenues and exploit the colonial theory to the
disgrace OF the American people
philippine Policy.
We condemn and denounce the Philippine
policy Of the present administration 1t has
embroiled the republic in an unnecessary war
sacrificed the lives Of many Of its noblest sons,
and placed the United States, previously known
and applauded throughout the world as the
champion Of freedom, in the false and un-Amer-
lean position Of crushing with military force
the efforts Of our former allies to achieve nber-
" and self governmenk The Filipinos cannot
be citizens without endangering civiliza-
ton; they cannot be subjects without imperii-
ing our form Of government and as We are not
willing to surrender our civilization, or to con-
vert the republic into empire, we favor an
immediate declaration of the nations purpose
to give the FilipinoS. first, q stable form OF gov
eminent: second independence, and third, pro-
been given for nearly century to the republics
Of Central and South America
The greedy coInmercialism which dictated
che Philippine policy OF the Republican admin
istration attempts to justify it with the plea
that it viii pay, but even this Sordid and un-
worthy plea fails when brought to the test Of
facts The war OF criminal aggression against
thee Filipinos, entailing annual expense Of
many millions, has already cost more than any
possible profit that could accrue from the en-
tire Philippine trade for years to come. Fur
thermore, when trade is extended at the ex-
pense OF liberty the price is always too high.
We are not opposed to territorial expansion,
when 1t takes in desirable territory which can
be erected into states in the Union, and whose
people are willing and lit to become American
citizens. We favor trade expansion by every
peaceful and legitimate means. But we are
unalterably opposed to the seizinE or purchas-
| ing OF 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 nations, but believe that
! Influence should be extended not by force and
| violence, but through the persuasive power Of a
| high and honorable example.
| The importance Of other questions now pend
| ing before the American people is in nowise oil
! minished and the Democratic party takes no
| backward step from its position on them, but
the burning issue of Imperialism growing out Of
! the Spanish war involves the very existence Of
| the republic and the destruction Of our free in
situations. We regard it as the paramount is
sue Of the campaign.
| Monroe Doctrine and MIIitarism.
The declaration in the republican platform at
| the philadelphia convention held in June, 1900,
| that the republican party ''steadf2stly adheres
to the policy announced in the Monroe doctrine, >"
| is manifestly ins1ncere and deceptive. This
| profession is contradicted by the avowed policy
| OF that party in opposition to the spirit OF the
| Monroe doctrine, to acquire and hold sovereign
| ty over large areas OF territory and large num-
bers OF people in the eastern hemisphere
We insist on the strict maintenance OF the
Monroe doctrine and in all its integrity, both in
| letter and in spirit necessary to prevent the
| extension of the European authority on this
| continent and as essential to our 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 au-
thority.
We oppose mflitarisn. 1t means conquest
| abroad and intimidation and oppression al
home. It means the strong arm which has ever
| been fatal to free institutions. It is what
millions Of our citizens have fed from in
Europe. It will impose upon our peaceloving
people large standing army. an unnecessary
burden Of taxation and constant menace &c
their liberties. A small standing army and {
well disciplined state militia are amply sui
| hcient in time OF peace This republic has nc
place for vast military service and eonscrip
ton. When the nation is in danger the volun
teer soldier is his country's best defender The
| national guard OF the United States should
ever be cherished in the patriotic hearts OF {
/
element OF strength and safety. For the frs
time in our history and ooeval with the Philip
| pine conquest has there been q wholesale de
parture from our time honored and approved
system Of volunteer organization We de
nounce 1t as un-American, un-democratic AMI
un-republican, and a subversion Of the an
cient and fixed principles Of a free people
MOnopoIies and Trusts
Private monopolies are indefensible and in
tolerable. They destroy competition. contro
aFz rfa1 n oT he 6T7iEh 10
product, thus robbing both producer and con
sumner. They limit the employment Of labo
and arbitrarily fix the terms and condition
thereof, deprive individual energy and SINAI
capital Of their opportunity for betterment
They are the most ef1cient means yet devise
for appropriating the fruits of industry to IN
| benefit Of the few at the expense OF the many
and unless their insstiatc greed is checked a
wealth will be aggregated in few hands an
| the republic destroyed. The dishonest palteI
| ing with the trust evil by the Republican part
In state and national platforms is conclus1v
> proof of the truth of the charge that trusts ar
! ! the legitimate product Of Republican policies
, | that they are foStered by Republican laws an
] | that they are protected-by the Republican &C
| ministration in return for campaign sUDscr1I
tons and political support
We pledge the Democratic party TO an VI
| eeasing warfare in nation state and city
against private monopoly in every form IL
| listing laws against trusts must be enforced an
| more stringent ones must be enacted proV1oln
c | engaged IN interstate commerce and reQu1r1n
all corporations to show, before doing bushes
| outside the state Of their origin, that they hav
. | no water in their stock, and that they have nc
attempted. and not attempting, TO monoI
. | Ollie any branch of business or the productio
= | of any articles of merchandise. and the Who'll
= constitutional power Of Congress over int
state commerce, the mails and all modes OF II
terstate communication shall be exercised o
the enactment Of comprehensive laws upon n
subject of trusts. Tariff laws should be a:nent
II ed by putting products of trusts upon the FIRE
9 list to prevent monopoly under the plea Of pr
u lection.
It Corporations and the Tarfh.
The failure OF the present Republican admit
:, istration, with absolute control over ali th
a branches Of the national government TO enai
q any legislation designed TO prevent or even Gu
q tail the absorbing power OF trusts and 1leg
e combinations or to enforce the antitrust Law
o already on the statute books, prove the lnsl
@ cerity of the high sounding phrases OF the x
publican platform Corporations should be pr
e tected in all their rights and all Of their legit
q mate interests should be respected but any 4
g tempt by corporations to interfere WITH the pu
Is lie affairs OF the people or to control the so
= erignty which creates them, should be forbidde
q under such penalties as viii make such attemp
= iInoossibe.
After Many Years.