The Washington weekly post., 1900-09-18


head. When We remember how important
position the laborrr fills Ia our econor1-
ic. social. and political fabric. IL Is hard
70 conceive Of a valid objection being
made 10 this recognition Of his services
Agriculturs IS already represented IN the
Presidents official household: ths Sray
and navy have their representative
there: the State DEPARTMENT. with its con-
slilar service. AMI the Treasury Depart
nnent. with rs close connection with IS
cal affairs. keep the executive IN tc1ch
with the business and commercial intss-
ests. A cabiret officer truly represeiiiia =
tive Of the wage esrnlng class would Dc
OF invaluable aid. not only 70 the toilers,
but TO the President
Exclusion sf the Chinese.
The Chinese exclusion act has proven
an advantage to the country. and Its con-
,inuance and strict enforcement. as well
as its extension to other similar races. are
mperstively necessary. The Asisiie Is 80
essentially different from the American
that ne cannot be assim!lated with or
population. and is. therefore. not Gesi-A-
bic as a permanent citizen. His presence
as a temporary labOrer, preserving his
national identity and maintaining a FOR
eign scale OF wages and living. must ever
prove an injustice 70 American p7odueers'
as well as a perpetual source OF iTTltatioh'
The party expresses its pride in tie sol
diers and sailors Of all our wars, and 9e-
e:ares IT'S purpose 10 deal generously WIN
them and their Dependents. a LIBERAL pei
icy is natural and necessary In govern
ment which depends upon ei'izen SOL
diery instead of a large standing army
Self-interest. as well as gratitude. compe4s
the government to make bountiful proVis-
ion for those who. in the hour or danger
and at great sacrifice Of business. healta'
and life. tender their services TO the-r
country.
The pension laws should be construei
according 10 the generous spirit whicn
prompted their passage The PLATFORM
very properly reiteratss the position taken
in Isss that the fact OF enlistment shall
be deemed conclusive evidence that the
soldier was sound when the government
accepted him. A certifcats given now 0
the health Of person forty years ago,
even IL easily o0tailable, sho9lc rot nave
as much weight as the certificate OF The
medical officer who examine tfe yoi N
teer with a view Of aseertainilg MS nt-
ness for army service.
The Nica-asua Canal.
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 its
platform four years ago. together with
the substitution In its latest platform OF
a plank favoring an isthTian canal for p
specific declaration In favor Of the Mica
raguan Canal, would indicate that the
Republican leaders either DO not appre-
eiate the importance Of this great water
way TO the maritime strength and COM
mercial interests Of the country. or that
they give too much consideration to the
interested opposition of transcontinental
lines. The Hay-Pauncefote treaty. now
before the Senate. would. II ratifef.
greatly lessen the value of the canal, If II
would not indeed convert II into positive
menace in time Of war The paramount
interests Of the United States in the west
ern hemisphere. together with the obliga-
tiOns 10 defend the republics to the south
of US. makes it necessary that our gov
ernment shall be able to close the canal
against any hostile power.
Arizona. New Mexico. and Oklahoma
have long been ready to assume the re-
sponsibilities and enjoy the privileges OF
statehood and it will be a pleasure. as
well as a duty. 10 carry out the platform
pledge concerning them.
There will be a popular acquiescence in
the demaDd for home rule and a Terri
torial form of government in Alaska and
Porto Rico. Both are entitled 10 local
sef-government and representation In
| Congress.
Coban Independence.
The recognition contained in both the
Democratic and Republican platforms of
the right Of the Cubans 10 independence
removes the general principle involved
from the domain Of partisan politics. II
IS proper, however. 10 consider whether
the accomplishment OF this purpose can
he safely intrusted to the Republican
party after it has yielded to the allure
ments of the colonial idea and abandoned
its earlier faith In the natural and in
alienable rights OF man.
The time is ripe for systematic and ex-
tended effort to reclaim the arid lands and
/ fit them for actual settlers. The last agii-
cultural report estimates that homes can
thus be provided for many millions Of
People TIE impounding and use of TIE
waters which are wasted in the spring
would people the Western States with
thrifty, intelligent, and industrious citi-
zens. and these would furnish a valuable
market for ali the products OF the facto-
ries. A small percentage of the money
spent in a war Of conquest would provide
occupation and habitation for more people
than would ever seek residence in colo
nies within the tropics.
/ The reasons given by Washington. JEFF
/ fersOn. and the other statesmen of the
I early days in support OF the doctrine tha;
we should maintain friendly relations
with all nations. but enter into entan-
Cling alliances with none. are even strong
er to-day than they were a hundred years
ago. Our commerce Is rapidly increasing
and We are brought into constant CON.
munieation with all parts of the world
I Even IL we desired to do so. We could not
( afford to ALLEVIATE many nations by cult.
VatIng unnecessary intimacy with a few
I Our strength and standing are such that
I II is less necessary than ever before 10
/ lean for aid upon the friendliness OF a
| foreign power.
We cannot connect ourselves with Eu.
ropean nations and share In their teai-
ousles and ambitions without losing the
/ peculiar advantage which our location
l our character. and our institutions give
Us in this worlds affairs
| Principle Of the Monroe Dsefrine.
! Inc NOLlIiuc tEunCidttt uN MDNFDe anu
I approved by succeeding Presidents Is es-
I sential 10 the welfare OF the United States
/ The continents OF North and South Amer
I lea are dedicated 10 the development ot
+ free government. One repYblic after an
other has been established. until to-day
moasrchieaI idea has barely foothold In
/ the New World.
| While IL IS not the policy OF this country
/ 10 interfere where amicable relations ex-
I isl between European countries and the
1 dependencies in America. our people would
/ look with disfayor upon any attempt on
! the part OF European governments "a
/ maintain an unwilling or foreible soYer.
eighty over the people living on this SIDE
Of the Atlantic.
/ The position taken By the Republican
leaders. and more recently set forth by
+ The Rep ibliean candidate for the Presl-
/ deney. viz, that We cannot protect q
4 nation from outside interference without
I z1vrrw.4s.-srF rtrz- asa r.o-f.