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

applicable to the republics Of Cnerai
and South America.
If this government cannot lend its
strength to another republic without
making subjects of its people, then we
must either withdraw our protection
from the republics to the south of US or
absorb them. Under the same plea,
that the guardian nation must exert
an authority equal to It's re-
sponslbility. European nations have
for centuries exploited their wards, and
IL is a significant fact that the Repub-
lican party should accept the European
idea of protectorate, at the same time
that 1t adopts an European colonial pol
icy.
There is no excuse for this abandon
ment of the American idea. We have
maintained the Monroe doctrine for
three quarters of a century. The ex-
pense us to have been practically moth
ing, but the protection has been beyond
value to our sister republics. II Fill
ipino republic Is erected upon the ruins
of Spanish tyranny, its protection by us
will be neither difficult nor expensive.
No European nation would be willing
for any other European nation to have
the islands, neither would any Euro
pean nation be willing to provoke
war with us In order to obtain possess
sion of the islands.
If we assert sovereignty over the Fill
pinos we Will have to defend that SOW
ereignty by force, and the Filipinos Will
be our enemies: II we protect them from
outside interference, they Will defend
themselves and be our friends. IL they
! show as much determination In oppos-
ing the sovereignty of other nations
as they have shown in opposing our
sovereignty, they will not require much
o ssistance from us.
EXTRAVAGANCE.
The Republican party, drawing as II
does enormous campaign funds from
those who enjoy special privileges at
the hands of the government, Is power
less to protect the taxpayers from the
attack Of those who who profit by large
appropriations. A surplus in the treas
ury offers constant temptation to ex-
travagance, and extravaganza, In turn,
cornpels a resort to new means of taxa
| ton, which is being kept in the back
ground until the campaign is over, Is
a fair illustration. of the imposition
which will be attempted when there is
a considerable amount of money idle
| in the treasury.
The rehabilitation of merchant ma
| rine, laudable in itself, is made the pre-
text for expenditure of public money for
| the benefit of large shipowners and in
| the interests of transportation mo-
| nopoly. The government, being only
the agent of the people, has no right to
collect from the people taxes beyond
the legitimate needs of government
honestly and effectively administered,
and public servants should exercise
the same degree of care in the use OF
| the peoples money that private indi-
viduals do in the use Of their own
money.
With a restoration of a foreign pol
| icy consistent with American ideas
| there can be an immediate and large re-
duction in the burdens now borne by
| the people.
INCOME TAX.
BY inadvertence the income tax plank
agreed upon by the resolutions COM
mittee was omitted from the platform
| as read and adopted. The subject, how
ever, is covered by the reaffirmation OF
the Chicago PLATFORM, and I take this
occasion to reassert my belief in the
principle which underlies the income
tax.
Congress should have authority to
levy and collect an income tax when
| ever necessary, and an amendment to
| the federal constitution specifically
comforting such authority ought to be
supported by even those who may think
| the tax unnecessary at this time. In
the hour of danger the government can
uTdlt tHe CttlZen, IL ought 10 De dDle
to draft the pocketbook as well.
Unless money is more precious than
blood we cannot afford to give greater
| protection to the incomes of the rich
than to the lives of the poor.
IMPERIALISM"
The subjects, however, treated in this
| letter, important as each may seem In
itself, do not press so imperatively fol
solution as the question which the plat.
form declares to be the paramount issue
in this campaign. Whether we shall
adhere to, or abandon those ideas OF
| government which have distinguished
this nation from other nations and
given to it's history it's peculiar charm
, and value, Is a question the settlement
of which cannot be delayed. No other
| question can approach 1t in Importance
no other question demands such imme.
diate consideration. 1t is easier to lose
| reputation than to establish one, and
this nation would find a long and la.
borious task to regain its proud posi-.
| ton among the nations, IT, under the
| stress of temptation, 1t should repudi.
| ate the self evident truths proclaimed
by our heroic ancestors and sacredly
| treasured during a career unparalleled
| in the annals Of time. When the doc
trine that the people are the only sourc,
| of power is made secure from further
| attack we can safely proceed to thu
settlement of the numerous question!
which involve the domestic and econo
mic welfare Of our citizens. Very truly
yours, w. j. BRYAN.
Il