Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-10-04
STEVENSON ACCEPTS.
Formal Reply to Populist's NOmi
nation for Vice President.
imperialism Held to BE the One Greas
Issue at Stake-PhiIippiHe War
Denounced ms One Of
Conquest.

cepting the populist nomination for
vice president was received September
p. at the national headquarters of the
party in Lincoln, Neb. The letter
bears date of Bloomington, H., Sep
TENDER 25, 1900, and is addressed to j..
B. Weaver, j. 81. Edmisten and j. A.
Edgerton. in answer TO their formal
letter notifying Mr.. Stevenson of his
nomination. In his letter Mr.. Steven
son says:
"Gentlemeh: BY your communication OF
SepIemoer 5 | am officially advised OF my
selection as the candidate of the peoples
party for the office of vice president or the
Tinted States, to I'LL the vacancy upon Your
ticket occasioned by the OF
Charles a. Towne.
u cannot too earnestly express my ap-
probation OF this manifestation OF the con-
fdence reposed in me by your committee
ard the great constituency you represent.
Nor can | withhold the expression OF my
admiration for the generous action Of Mr..
Towne in his endeavor TO secure the har-
u.cnious cooperation of all the supporters
Of Mr.. Bryan in the pending presidential
contest.
The action of the peoples party in Sc
IeCting candidates outside of its own or
gaEization is almost without precedent In
cur political history. The explanation Is
foundin your own caEdid declaration: The
IHCI1DoES OF IlS pSUpIc tdfS IA oi SNS
tons realize that We have reached a cri-
sis in which the very life of free institu-
tionS is involved-a crisis in when mere
party considerations are of secondary I'M
poTtance and should be laid aside until the
peril is averted-
Upon the important questions of finance.
of domestic administration and of reform III
our methods of taxation the platform OF
the peoples party gives no uncertain
sound. 1t is no less emphatic in its de-
m1pS for a return IN the DG1ipv of honest
and economical expenditures OF the pubElc
money. The further demand for wise and
efficient legislation looking to the sup
preston of trusts cannot Tail to challenge
the attention of all thoughtful men,
In common, however. with the silver re-
publican and the democratic parties, you
recognize the important fact that all these
are but questions of the hour. In the pres
of the overshadowing issue of imperial
ism others are but as the dust in the b2i-
ance. 1t is not strange then, that there
should now be concert of action between
those who sincerely believe that a crisis
has been reached in which mere party
considerations are of secondary impcr-
tancF
Involved in the settlement of this great
question are consequences of deep import
to the American people. The supreme graV-
ity of the issue cannot be measured by
words. As was truly said by an eminent
republican senator: The question is great
ers than parties. greater than admintstra-
tionS, greater than the prosperity and hap
piness of a single generation.
1T is we'll even now to recall some of the
recent events of cur history. Before break
ing the peace of the world congress. re-
ferring to Cuba, supplemented its decIara-
ton of war against Spain with the WORDS;
The United States hereby disclaims any
disposition to exercise sovereignty, juriS-
Gietion or control over said island eXcspt
fer the pscifcation thereof, and asserts
its determination when that is accom-
pIished, to leave the government and COR
troll of the island to its people
1T was this solemn declaration by tbs
American congress that justified the wa,
at the bar of our own conscience and CT
that Of the world. The pretaESe now that
this disclaimer upon our part applied only
to Cuba and not to other Spanish depend
e.cies is TO paltsr with words in d couble
sense
Existing conditions abroad now chaI
ierge our serious thought, whether We
viii or no. Spain has been conquered and
tie 'pactfication of Cuba'-the declared p1r-
pose Of the war-Secured.. And yet we find
ourselves still engaged in war; a war too.
against CUR former allies in our conflict
with Spain. 1t is a war against a people
S,e90 miles distant and of whom until re-
cent years we had scarcely heard. Il is an
expensive war, having already cost neal
S209,G00.0G4 in money and thousands of val
liable lives.
The question to be answered by each
American voter now and in November is:
Why this war? What is to be our justifica-
ton at the bar of history? All mere words
and glorifcation OF the flag aside. the SAT-
fact remains hat it is purely a war OF COR
quest; a war of su~bjugatiou against a peo-
pie who. as has been e~IoquentIy said. in
their struggle for independence have in
terposed the declaration of Jefferson as
a shield against the attacks of his OWE
couutrymen.'
Sixty thousand soldiers are now in the
Philippine islands,; how much greater will
be the sacrifice of treasure and of human
life before the conquest is completed no
man can know. And when completed. what
next? How are these islands to be held and
goVerned% Does any sane man doubt that
it can only be by force, by the power of
the army and the navy? And this is not for
a day or a year. but for time. All this
implies the exercise of power unknown TO
the constitution. 1t is in very truth gov
eminent outside of the constitution. 1t
means the adoption by the American pub
lie of the colonial methods of European
monarchieS. 1t means the right to held
alien peoples as subjects. 1t enthroHes
force as the controlling agency in govern
ment. In a word, it foreshadows the em-
pire.
More shan this. following close in he
wake OF imperialism as the night the day,
comes the immense standing army. The
dread arm of militarism is to be made bare
ii the new world as it is in the old. The
strong arm of power is to be substituted
III +AES SACS ~ IN - AIgZ =
than a century have brought c-ontentnsat
and happiness to all our PEOPLE Exist
ing conditions in continental Europe-en-
failing taxation and misery to the verge
of human enduraEce-iIlustrate by sad Oh
iect lessons the inevitable result of large
armies in time of peace.
Conditions now existing in the Philip
pine islands, for which we are in q meas
ure responsible, impose new duties upon
us. These people are entitled to our protec-
ton against the cupidity and aggressive
spirit of other nations. And this rot to the
end Of ~subjugation upon our part, but TO
that of the full enjoyment by them of ifb-
erty and the ultimate establishment of
stable government fashioned by their own
hands.
'Imperia1ism-'the republic or the en-
pire--is, indeed. the overshadowing issue
with which we are confronted In the pscG-
ing struggle for political supremacy It's
determination is TO be by the American pso-
pie through the peaceful instrumentalty
of the ballot. Meanwhile its discussion
Will continue at the freside and on the
h~ustlings withan earnestEess rarely equaled |
in our history. It was Burke who said i
love efarnor when there Is an abuse TIE
alarm bell disturbs the inhabitants. aut
it saves them from being burned in their
beds
Again thanking the committee and those
they represent. I accept the nomination SO
generously rendered me. Should your ac-
ten be ratified by the people at The polls
It viii be my earnest endeavor TO d~ischarce
with fidelity the duties of the great office. |
I have the honor TO remain. yours very /
truly. ADLAI E. STEVENSON"
HANNAH QuibbIfng Mfssfatement. |
Mr.. Hanna's declaration that he does
not sbelieye that there is a single
trust in the United States" is based
the assertion that most ~ he 49, I