Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-08-16

free governments. In This the convention
not only voiced the sentiments of Amer
lean Democrats, but Of llberty-loving men
everywhere. 1t is not strange that those
who have kept the political faith Of the
authors. Of the Declaration Of Indcpen-
dehce should express their abho renee at
the effort of a great European power to
subjugate people whose Only crime is a
death struggle to maintain their liberties.
The earnest utteranees of ;he convention
that our sympathies are with the Beers
in their unequal struggle mee;s hearty
response from all who yenerate the prin-
ciples of our fathers.
THE lavish appropriations by the pres-
ent Republican congress should challenge
the attention of all thoughtful men, SUBJ
sldy bills and all unnecessary taxes are
condemned by our platform. The accu-
mutation of surplus revenues is too often
the pretext for wasteful appropriations Of
the public money. The millions Of sur
plus now accommodating in the treasury
should remain in the pockets of the peo- .
pie. To this end the Democratic party
demands a reduction of war taxes to the
actual needs of the government, and q
return to the policy of strict economy in
all governmental expenditures.
''ln apt words the Dingey tariff law Is
condemned. 1t is tersely characterized as
legislation skillfully devised i'll the inter-
est of class, and to impose upon the
many burdens which they should not
bear. Adhering to the time honored doc
trine of the Democratic party, we oppose
all tariff legislation the necessary conse-
quence of which is, at the expense of the
consumer, to secure unjust advantage to
the favored few. The baleful but logical
result of the tariff law condemned by our
platform is seen in the sudden growth Of
giant monopolies, combinations in re-
straint of lawful trade and trusts more
threatening than foreign foe to the exist
ence of popular government Believing
that wherever there is a wrong there
must be a remedy, the Democratic party
will favor such legislation as will curb
the spirit of monopoly and place an eff
fectve barrier against the unlawful COM
binations of capital which now prove an
insuperable obstacle to legitimate enter
prise and investment. During almost four
years of absolute Republican control Of
all departments of the government the
trust evil has grown to it's present over
shadowing proportions. What finger has
! been lifted for its suppression? With it's
friends again intrenched in power, what
hope is held out for the future?
Questions of domestic policy, however
important, may be but questions of the
hour-that of imperialism is for time. In
tho presence of this stupendous issue,
others seem but as the dust in the bal
ance. In no sense paltering with words,
it is the supreme question of republic or
empire
1.-The Democratic platform condemns
the policy pursued by the present admin
| jStra r1 he pbj1ipnira icJa
This policy-inspired by the great spirit
| of commercialsm-ha embroiled our gov
eminent in an unnecessary war, sacri-
feed valuable lives and placed the Amer
lean republic in deadly antagonism to our
former allies in their efforts to secure
their liberties. For the first time in our
history are boldly confronted with the
question Of imperialsm-the spirit of en-
pire. This is indeed the supreme ques-
ton to which all others are of secondary
Importance. The Democratic party has
ever been the advocate of wise terri
torial expansion. The policy Of agrees
sive expansion-of subjugation of distant
islands-pursued by the present admins
tration finds no precedent in the peace
able cession Of the Louisiana country BY
Napoleon, that Of Florida By Spain, nor
that yet later of the vast western area by
Mexico. Can it be that the new policy Of
forcible annexation of distant islands
finds precedent in the historic events I
have mentioned? The answer is found in
the bare statement of facts. The terri
tory acquired under Democratic admins
tration is contiguous-the Philippine
islands eight thousand miles distant. The
acquisition of territory upon. our own
continent added little 10 the national ex-
pense-to maintain permanent SOW
eregnty over the distant islands necessi-
tates immense expenditures upon our
army and navy. More than that, it con-
templates methods of administration that
pertain not to the republic, but to the
empire, Gag it be doubted that the at,
tempt to stiHe the spirit of liberty abroad
Will imperil popular government at home?
"We are told that our REPUBLIC is now
to become "a world power In the high
est sense-with the Declaration of Inde-
pendence as its corner stone--it has been
in all its past world power. It has been
the lofty ideal to all liberty-loving people,
the model for all builders of republics for
more than a century. In the sense used
by imperialists the expression is one Of
terrible significance. 1t necessitates the
methods and equipments Of monarchies.
1t means the creation and maintenance
by our republic of standing armies equal
to those of the world powers of Europe.
At no less cost can we hold place as a.
world power. Study existing conditions
in European nations and know what all
this means to US. 1t means taxation to
the verge of despair. 1t means, as has
been truly said that eve.y laborer must
carry an armed soldier upon his back as
he goes to his daily toll All history
teaches that the corner stone of imperial-
ism is the force of the standing army
1--WE stand one hundred years from the
hour when the political forces were gath u
ering which were to result in the election
of the first Democratic president. The
anniversary of the masterful day in our
history was wisely chosen for the assem-
bling in convention of the representatives .
of the historic party whose founder was
Jackson and whose platform Is the Dec.