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

: issue of this campaign. This declaration
did not make it SO, but only gave recog-
milton to an admitted fact. The Republi-
cans have made it the issue which in
this campaign overtops all others. They
may we'll endeavor to run away from it.,
as they are doing, but they cannot escape
it. by their fruits We shall know them,''
was the best philosophy nineteen hun
dred years ago, it is the best now.
Imperialism consists in levying upon
the people, and collecting from them I'M
equal taxes. 1t consists in levying taxes
on one territory of the United States, and
not levying the same on other portions
thereof. The Constitution says that all
taxes shall be uniform throughout the
United States. The power to tax is the
power to destroy. When those in power
proceed as they have done by recent acts
OF Congress, to construct a tariff wall
against one territory and thus exclude
its products from other territories and
States of the Union, seek to dodge as they
may, they exercise imperial power No
king or emperor can do more. They can
not do the acts and deeds which can
only be done in a Kingdom or an EN-
pire and say they are not imperialists
and that there is no issue of Imperialism
abroad, and oppression at home; it means
the strong arm of the military, and it's
concomitant a great standing army,
which has ever been fatal to all free in
stitutions. 1t was this that drove from
Europe to our shores millions of our
fellow citizens, and which is constant
menace to the liberties of the people.
Large standing armies have no place in
a republic. An imperial government
can only be maintained by brute force,
and without militarism imperialism
cannot exist. The union or mating of the
two brings forth Caersarism, whether
under that or some other name I'm
perialism means death to Democracy and
and fewer plowshares? Militarsm means
death to selfg government, and more
spears and fewer pruning hoops.
In the great battles upon us we will
make the fight thckest and hottest upon
this monster Imperialism, which always
feeds upon the life blood of liberty The
cause you represent, sir, is humanity.
The highest duty Of humanity is to help
others to be free. The just punishment
Of a people that enslave and rule over
another is the loss of their own liberty,
for a democracy cannot be an empire and
remain both.
WAR ON THE TRUSTS.
The platform also declares unceasing
warfare in nation, State and city against
trusts and private monopolies in every
form. This declaration means that the
laws now on the statute books against
this growing evil must be enforced by
honest and competent officials, and that
there shall be enacted other laws eff
cient enough to completely govern and
control all trusts and monopoles. The
baneful effects of these organizations
cannot be estimated or described. They
have grown up under the fostering care
of the party now in power, which has
completely controlled all the law max
ing authority for nearly four years. By
it's enaction this party confesses it's in
ability or Discrimination, either of which
is criminal to deal with the trusts. II
the people therefore would put a curb
on the trusts they must vote the Govern
ment out of the hands of the trusts. We
recently saw a Republican Congress sur
render the combination of the Treasury
vaults to the Armour Plate trust enc
day, and on a different day for the hene-
fit of another trust withdraw the COnsti-
tuition from our newly acquired territory.
The trusts now count the United States
as one Of their assets. They claim to
own Congress. Self control is great at
tribute. These trusts, therefore, are in
favor of the regulation of trusts by a
Congress controlled by trusts. In other
words, the trusts will trust the Congress
sonal trust to control the trusts The
serious objection to trusts is that by
their methods they are rapidly acquiring
all the business of the country. They
have driven out of business by their
methods tens of thousands of heretofore
prosperous establishments trading in a
comparatively small way. The prosperi-
ty which they have created is Republi-
can prosperity and not the prosperity of
the masses of the people, or of the vast
body known as the middle classes. They
multiply the fortunes of a few until they
are many times mllionaries. One of our
trusts magnates boasts that he intends
to die a Millionaire. Still the sweat
shops increase and the wage of those in
the rural districts barely sustains life.
The friends of the trusts and those
who are their immediate beneficiaries
do not hesitate to assert that the day
of the individual has passed. This being
admitted then the day of monopoly, the
syndicate, the combine and the mother
Of these, the trusts, has come. The man
full of true American vim and vigor,
brains, skill and energy is to count as
nothing in the eternal fight for bread,
and the unfeeling soulless and heartless
corporation is to rule. Financial indie
pendence among the prosperous middle
classes and merchants of moderate means
will depart and they are to be driven into
financial obscurity and ruin. This is an
alarmingly unhealthy condition, unjust
to the great majority of the people, and
altogether un-American.
If this fashion continues, ere long only
few masters will grasp the whole do
main The WELT TODD and contented
citizen will be dispossessed, and in the
place of happy homes unwieldly wealth
and cumbrous pomp will repose. The
rich mans wealth will increase while the
poor will decay, and all will realize how
wide the limit stands between splendid
and happy land.