The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-09-20

conditions have made IL imperative that
| the people be permitted to speak direct
! ly in the selection of their representa-
| tives in the senate. a senator Is no less
the representative of the state because
! he receives his commission from the peo
pie themselves rather than from the mem
bers of the state legislature"
Relative to labor:
| Several planks of the labor platform
are devoted to questions in which the
lsboring classes have an immediate in
terest, but which more remotely affect
our entire population. While what is
generally known as government by in
junction is at present directed chiefly
against the employees of corporations
when there is disagreement between
them and their employer it involves a
principle which concerns every one. The
purpose Of the injunction in such eases is
to substitute trial by judge for trial by
jury and is covert blow at the jury sys.
TEN. The abolition OF government by in
junction is as necessary for the protec.
ton of the reputation of the court as it
is for the security of the citizen.
81 cannot too strongly emphasize the
Importance of the platform recommen.
dation of the establishment of a depart
ment of labor with a member of the cab
B met at its head. When we remember how
important n position the laborer fills in
our economic. social and political fabric,
it is hard to conceive of a valid objection
being made to this recognition of his
( services.
"The Chinese exclusion act has proved
an advantage to the country. and its con
tinuance and strict enforcement as well
as its extension to other similar races
are imperativcly necessary.
THE Democratic party is in favor of
the immediate construction, ownership
and control of the Nicaragua canal 10y
the United States. The failure of the Re
publican party to make any progress in
carrying out pledge contained in its
platform four years ago, together with
the substitution in its latest platform of
plank favoring an isthmian canal for a
specific declaration in favor of the Mica
raguan canal, would indicate that the
Republican leaders either do not appre-
ciate 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.
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 duty to carry out the platform
( pledge concerning them. There will be a
popular acquescence in the demand for
home rule and a territorial form of gov
ernment in Alaska and Porto Rico. Both
are entitled to local self government and
representation In congress.
THE recognition contained in both the
Democratic and Republican platforms of
the right of the Cubans to independence
removes the general principle involved
from the domain of partisan politics. 1t
is proper, however to consider whether
the accomplishment of this purpose can
be 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
alicnable rights of man.
by inadvertence the income tax plank
agreed upon by the resolutions commit
tee was omitted from the platform as
read and adopted. The subject, however,
is covered by the reafhrmation of the
Chicago platform, and l take this occa-
sion to reassert my belief in the principle
which underies the income tax.
THE reasons given by Washington
Jefferson and the other statesmen of the
early days in support of the doctrine that
we should maintain friendly relations
with all nations, but enter into entan-
Cling alliances with none, are even
stronger today than they were 100 years
ago. Our commerce is rapidly increasing
and we are brought into constant COM
munication with all parts of the world.
Even If we desired to do so we could not
afford to ALLEVIATE many nations by cultI-
waiting unnecessary intimacy with a
few"
Speaking Of expansion, he says:
"The position taken by the Republican
leaders and more recently set forth by
the Republican candidate for the presi
dency-viz, that we cannot protect ma
tion from outside interference without
exercising sovereignty over its peoples
an assault upon the Monroe doctrine, fol-
while this argument is at this time d
rected against the proposition to give tC
the Filipinos both independence and pro
lection it is equally applicable to the re
publics of Central and South America
If this government cannot lend it,
strength to another republic withou
making subjects of its people, then W,
must either withdraw our protection
from the republics to the south of US Of
absorb them. Under the same plea, tha
the guardian nation must exert an au
thority equal to its responsibility, Euro
pean nations have for centuries exploited
their wards, and it is a significant fac
that the Republican party should accep
the European idea of a protectorate a
the same time that it adopts Euro
pean colonial policy"
His reference to imperialism:
1.-THE subjects, however, treated in thi
letter, important as each may seem il
} itself do not press so imperatively 70
solution as the question which the plat
form declares to be the paramount :ssu
J in this campaign. Whether we shall ad
, here to or abandon those ideas of gov
! ernment which have distinguished thi
: nation and given to its history its pecul
lar charm and value is a question the set
: tlement of which cannot be delayed. N
other question can approach it in i'm
portance; no other question demand
such immediate consideration. 1t
easier to lose reputation than to estat
lish one, and this nation would find it
, long and laborious task to regain it
Droud poSitiOn among the nations if III