The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1900-05-25
THREE GREAT ISSUES
Republicans Will Win Upon
Them Next November.
Republicans Passed the Antitrust
Law, But Democrats ALWAYS
Avoided Such Legislation.

Il
Gazette: La compliance with your re-
quest ior an expression through your
columns OF my views Of the prospect for
success to the republican party in the
coming election, | here submit the fol
lowing:
,Antl-expansi0n, antitrust and free
silver will doubtless be the cry OF the
dem 0cratic party.
Antl-eXpansion is particularly un-
popular on this coast, and probably
will cause California, Oregon and Wash
ington to go republican.
FREE silver is particularly unpopular
IN New York, and probably that state
will go republican.
50 it would appear that the republi-
can party will carry the election.
Undoubtedly anti expansion il par
tIcularly unpopular on this coast for the
following reasons: Every intelligent
person who has given any thought to
the subject knows that the construction
OF the Nicaragua canal would be more
beneficial to the Pacific coast, 0articu-
larly to the agricultural interests Chere-
IN, than any other public measure now
0elng discussed by the American people;
for every such person, surely, realizes
that not only does it cost a great deal
to transport our grain by way Of Cape
Horn, but that on account Of the length
OF time involved in such q long voyage
the buyers cannot, when taking chances
on future uncertain prices, afford to pay
what otherwise they could. The present
price OF wheat on this coast would to-
day be considerably higher were it not
Tor the unusually high charters. But,
while the construction of this canal
would doubtless be a great benefit to
the Pacific coast, yet, inasmuch as the
construction thereof would necessitate
the expenditure Of a very large sum Of
money, it Is not probable that it would
be constructed to sim ply serve the needs
OF this coast. However, it is very prob
able that, if the present policies being
pursued by the republican leaders, re-
spectlng expansion of territory by the
retention OF the Philippine islands and
expansion OF trade between the eastern
part OF this country and those islands
and the orient, be carried out, the canal
will be constructed. So it is Of vital i'm
pOrtanCe to this coast that those
policies be carried out so as to make the
construction of the canal a necessity.
As Bryan and the principal leaders Of
the democratic party are opposed to the
retention OF these islands-iust as the
democratic party was opposed to the
admission OF the Sandwich islands, al
though that party in the past was the
party OF expansiOn-that party can ex-
pect but little if any support from any
person who favOrs this policy Of expan-
sion, whether for commercial reasons or
otherwise. Upon the destruction of the
Spanish power in those islands, it was
certainly the obligation Of this nation,
which was responsible therefor, to main
tain order there and protect from the
natives the property rights there of all
persons, Spaniards and others, together
with the lives Of such persons. Where is
security to life and property given by a
semi-clvilized people divided into tribes,
with their deep seated prejudices against
one another? or has ever in the past
such security been given by such people?
But where such people has been re-
strained from warning upon one an
other, there order has prevailed. And
to secure such order it is not necessary
to deprive such a people Of all their pO-
lltlcal liberty. 1t is not done in India,
nor ii the island of Jamaica. And in
all probability it is not the intention in
holding the Philippine islands to de-
prlve the people there of all their pOlti-
cal liberty, but to exercise simply what
ever power or influence may be neces-
sary to secure and maintain order in
the interests, not only of the natives
there, but of all the world The only
arguments used by Bryan in bis opposi-
tlOn to the retention OF those islands
are that force is being used to bring
about order, and that the American
army there will upon its return possibly
turn It's guns upon the American people,
This nation was born by the exercise Of
torce, was maintained by force, and late
~ upheld it's honor by force. II Bryan
does not believe in force, why did he en-
list in the late war? Abraham Lincoln,
George Washington, and many more OF
our great statesmen, believed in using
force when that was necessary in a
worthy cause. Bryan's fears that the
American army may upon it's return
wage war upon the American people in
wolves an insult to that army, and to
the American people.
We Have Antitrust Law.
1he democratic party today is the
loudest in its denunciation Of trusts, al
though, having had ample opportunities
in the past, it has done the least in
legislating against them; while a repub-
lican administration secured in 1890 the
passage OF very stringent law against
them. This law, which is still in force, ,is
as follows.
An act to protect trade and commerce
against unlawful restraints and monopolies:
Section l. Every contract, combination in
the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy,
in restraint of trade or commerce among the
several states, or with foreign nations, is here
by declared to be illegal. Every person who
shall make any such contract or engage in any
such combination or conspiracy, shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on con-
viction thereof, shall be punished by fine not
exceeding five thousand dollars, or by i'm
prisonment not exceeding one year, or by
both said punlshments, in the discretion of
the court.i
Sec. 2. Every person who shall monopolize,
or attempt to monopolize, or combine or con-
spire with any other person or persons, to
monopolize any part of the trade or commerce
among the several states, or with foreign ma
tions, shall be deemed guilty Of misdemean-
or, and, on conviction thereof, shall be pun
ished by fine not exceeding FIVE thousand dol
lars, or by imprisonment not exceeding one