The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-09-21

its consular service, and the treasury
department, with its close connection
with fiscal affairs, keep the executive In
touch with the business and commercial
interests.
A cabinet officer truly representative
of the wage earning class would be of
invaluable aid, not only to the toilers,
but to the president.
CHINESE EXCLUSION.
The Chinese exclusion act has proven
an advantage to the country, and It's
continuance and strict enforcement, as
well as its extension to other similar
races. are imperatively necessary.
The Asiatic is so essentially different
from the American that he cannot be
assimilated with our population, and
Is, therefore, not desirable as a perma-
nent citizen. His presence as tenn
porary laborer, preserving his national
identity, and maintaining a foreign
scale of wages and living, must ever
prove an injustice to American pro-
ducers, as well as perpetual source
of irritation.
PENSIONS.
The party expresses it's pride in the
soldiers and sailors of all our wars,
and declares its purpose to deal gener-
| ously with them and their dependents.
A liberal policy Is natural and neces-
sary In government which depends
upon a citizen soldiery, instead of q
| large standing army. Self-interest, as
well as gratitude, compels the govern
ment to make bountiful provision for
those who. in the hour of danger, and
al great sacrifice Of business, health
and life, tender their service to their
country.
The pension laws should be construed
according to the generous spirit which
prompted their passage. The platform
very properly reiterates the position
| taken in 1896, that the fact OF enlist
ment shall be deemed conclusive EVIL
dence that the soldier was sound when
| the government accepted him. A GER
| tificate given now to the health of per-
son forty years ago, even IL easily OBJ
| tainable, should not have as much
weight as the certificate of the medical
officer who examined the volunteer with
| view of ascertaining his fitness for
| army service.
NICARAGUA.
The Democratic party is in favor of
/ the immediate construction, ownership
and control Of the Nicaragua canal by
the United States. The failure of the
Republican party to make any progress
in carrying out a pledge contained in
L
with the substitution in Its latest plat
form a plank favoring an isthmian
canal for a specific declaration In favor
| of the Nicaraguan canal, would indi-
cate that the Republican leaders either
do not appreciate the Importance of this
gerat waterway to the maritime
strength and commercial interests of
the country, or that they give too much
consideration to the interested opposi-
tion of transcOntinental lines.
The ay-Pauncefote treaty, now be-
| fore the senate, would, II ratified, great
| ly lessen the value of the canal, II 1t
| would not indeed convert 1t into pos
tive menace in time of war. The par
amount interests of the United States
with the obligations to defend the re-
publics to the south of us, makes 1t
necessary that our government shall
be able to close the canal against any
hostile power.
ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO AND OK
LAHOMA.
Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma
have long been ready to assume the
responsibilities and enjoy the privi-
leges of statehood, and 1t win be a
pleasure, as well as a duty, to carry out
the platform pledge concerning them.
There Will be a popular acquiesence
| in the demand for home rule and a
| territorial form of government in Alas
ka and Porto Rico Both are entitled
| to local self-government and represen-
| tation In congress.
The recognition contained in both the
Demcratic and Republican platforms
Of the right of the Cubans to indepen-
dence removes the general principle in
volved from the domain of partisan
politics. 1t is proper, however, to
| consider whether the accomplishment of
this purpoe can be safely entrusted
yielded to the allurements of the colo
| nial idea, and abandoned its earlier
faith in the natural and fnalienable
rights Of man.
RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
The time is ripe for systematic
and extended effort to reclaim the arid
| lands and fit them for actual settlers.
The last agricultural report estimates
that homes can thus be provided for
millions of people. The impounding
| end use of the waters which are wasted
in the spring would people the western
states with thrifty, intelligent, and in
dustrious citizens, and these would fur
nish valuable market for all the pro-
ducts of the factories.
| A small percentage of the money
| spent in war of conquest would pro-
vide. occupation and habitatfon for more
people than would ever seek a residence
in colonies within the tropics.
FOREIGN ALLIANCES.
The reasons given by Washington
Jefferson and other statesmen of the
early days in support of the doctrine
that we should maintain friendly rela.
tions with all nations, but enter into
Ientangling alliances with none, are ever
stronger today than they were a hun.
dred years ago. Our commerce Is rap.
idly increasing, and we are brought in.
to constant communication with al
parts of the world. Even II we desired
to do so we could not afford to alienatc
many nations by cuItivating unneces
sary intimacy with few. Our strength
and standing are such that II is les.
necessary than ever before TO lean fo
ala upon the friendliness OF q foreign
power.
We cannot connect ourselves will
European nations. and share In that