The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-04-27

ism on the people VINO are tnaue
subjects by our government there isle
danger OF overlooking the effects on 4
And yet there are events
continually occurring which should
serve to remind US OF them. The
federal government is not only in
creasing expenditures at a tremen-
dous iate, in view Of its proposed
colonial system, but is also assum- I
ing powers that it would not have
yentured to assume but year or
two ago. The enormous appropria-
ton for new battleships and the gro
tesquely lavish expenditures Of the
Philippine commission illustrate
the expense account, but the en-
croachments Of congress and the
executive are far more serious. We
are already informed that constitu-
tional limitations amount TO moth
ing in view of the manifest desti-
nv" of the nation, and, therefore,
congress and the president may se.ze
whatever power they deem neces-
sary to carry out their ideas. There
is no secrecy about this. II i pro-
claimed openly as the adopted poll
cy of the administration and defend
ed as such. In an editorial last
Friday the New York sun, an ar
dent supporter of Mckinleyism
said:
!, Under the inspiration OF the coun-
try's new policy and manifest destiny the
practical requirements of expansion are
met promptly by congress as they arise,
even when previously accepted ideas
, about Capitalization have % be reversed.
The government of distant possessions
necessitates Capitalization. Expansion
I carries with il an enormous, an unprece-
.dented aggrandizement of federal pow
er."
: This confession from the princi-
I pal champion of trusts and com
: bines, merely serves to confirm
g the conclusion which all rejecting
men must reach who consider the
. situation. The imperial policy
makes the president military die
!, tator to a large extent, and 1t is
i mere matter of course that he shoule
be clothed with the powers OF die
, tator and backed by an increase'
= army and navy. And this yer.
J policy of Capitalization OF power II
} exactly what is wanted by th'
great monopolistic interests and the
privileged classes of the coun
try in general. 1t is what the
have been working for for years. Ths
is why there is now pending in con
v g-ess the proposed amendment {
5. the constitution to give the feders
). government exclusive power owe
" corporations. The trust magnate
0. want it. They foresee the effects
Is the imperial policy and they SUI
90 port it also. There is another elias
4 lof people who understand its NEAR
az ing. In the recent address OF th
Re- American federation OF labor o.
II ours this statement:
ID "Absolutism, protected and stimuli
e. ted by large standing army and e
a. couraged by disarmei people, crush
all opposition, assumes all real powe
q while it leaves the trappings thereof
-, people, who, feeling the substan'
a gone, all the more they worship the i
"A sigma that remains.
=, "Fesling that this Is our own prese
All condition, we urge upon all lovers OF p
4 - - II a.. .
er gardless of political or other immedia
% interests, in the defense ofthis fund
- mental principle. We warn our peop
VI against the plausible arguments adva
Tx lced in support OF extension Of territori
yh dominion. We have noted the repeat
!, Recommendations by the several seer
'ltaries OF war that the army be increase
Ks giving the increased industrial distul
ls, ances of the country as their reason, a
20. Ito use such increased army as IN III
,ca past it was used to further subiugate q
- working people"
err No argument OF the truth OF tn
wnis needed to convince the workin
I'D men Of the country. They unie
nv stand it. But this is a matter th
Of concerns other citizens as well
nd the members of organized lab'
np There is no class Of citizens in Il
for country to which the following a
his ditional statement Of the federati
does not apply:
"When the Cubans, the Porto Rics
and the Filipinos are deprived OF
right Of self government by our ruli
Are class, il is our political rights which |
per in jeopardy. When the military arm
,ws the government unduly enlarged is p
ma mitfed to exhibit its inherent tenden
whether such be in Cuba, in Idaho or
W ~ the Philippines, then freedom is in
W; gravest danger"
,a. o. 1t is the climax Of folly to inn
= inc that the nation can create
-- autocracy in its midst of the XII
proposed for these possessions .
as0 n )t feel the iron hand of that
: tocracy itself. On the same prir
~ A.