The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-09

States. we condemn the tariff taxa
ton imposed by a Republican Con-
gress upon the helpless and distressed
people of Porto Rico; such legislation
Inspired solely by greed-is indeed
the harbinger of evil to the Republic.
The attempt to collect unjust taxes
with one hand and with the other
TO return them in part 10 Il plundered
people is utterly without constitu-
tional warrant of justification. we
give our earnest assent to the declara-
ton: ''Our plain duty is to abolish
all custom tariffs between the United
States and Porto Rico, and give her
products access to our markets. NO
party eXigency or pressure could JUS
tify a departure by fhe President
from the plain pathway of duty he
! had here so clearly indicated. the
law imposing tariff duties upon the
| people of Porto Rico is a palapabe
| violation OF the Constitution. and {"
| fragrant breach of the pledged faith
| of the nation.
OUR PHILIPPINE POLICY.
The Democratic platform condemns
the policy pursued the present admin
| istration toward the Philippine Is
lands. This policy-inspired by the
great spirit of commercialism- has
embroiled cur government in an un-
necessary war, sacrificed valuable lives
and placed the American Republic in
! deadly antagonism to our former
allies in their efforts to secure their
liberties. For the first time in our
history we are boldly confronted
with the question of imperialism
the spirit of empire.
This is indeed the supreme question
to which all others are of secondary
! Importance. Before we break irrevoc-
ably with the past, and abandon the
doctrines of the fathers, it is we'll that
we deliberate upon the consequences
of Il permanent departure from the
settled governmental policy Of more
than a century. The success of the
imperialistic policy foreshadows 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 happiness, and
embarking upon that of aggression
and conquest, against which we are
warned by the wrecks that lie along
the entire pathway of history? Stand
ing out against the new policy of con
| quest, with all that it involves OF
European complications, are the
warnings of the founders of the Re
public. Out of fashion as it may APP
pear, | quote the last words of Wash
ington TO fhe coming. generations OF
his countrymen: "The great rule OF
conduct for us in regard to foreign
nations is, in extending our CONNER.
cial relations. to have with them as
little political connection as possible
It was fhe author of the Declaration
of independence who said: "Our first
! and fundamental maxim should be
/ never to entangle ourselves in tho
broils of Europe" Is it not we'll to
ponder these warnings before per
| manently embarking upon an untrie6
| pathway beset with foreign iealousies
complications, and ant1gonisms?
WISE TERRITORIAL EXPANSION.
The Democratic party has ever
| been the advocate of wise territorial
expansion. 1T was in control of the
/ government during forty years of the
first half of the present century. Dur
/ ing that period new States were ad
mitted into the Federal union,and ON
western border extended bevond The
Mississippi. Out of the Louisiana
country acquired under the frs
(, Democratic ADMINISTRATION have
! been carved fourteen magnificen