The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-03-27


further believe that congress should
supplement the efforts of the state by
legislation which will require every
corporation, before engaging in inter-
state commerce, to show that 1t has no
water in its stock and that it has neither
attempted in the past nor Is attempt
ing to mdnopolize any branch of busi-
ness or the production of any article of
merchandise.
IMPERIALISM is DENOUNCED.
In its platform of 1860 the Republican
party declared that the maintenance of
the principles promulgated in the Decla-
ration. of Independence and embodied
in the federal constitution, viz, that all
men are created equal; that they are en-
dowed with inalienable rights; that
governments are instituted to secure
their rights, and that governments de-
rive their Just powers from the consent
of the governed, is essential to the
preservation of our Republican institu-
tions, but the Republican party, under
it's present leadership, is endangering
the preservation of republican institu-
tions by placing the dollar above the
man in the construction of government
and violating the principles that it once
declared to be essential.
We condemn the Puerto Rican tariff
bill, recently passed by a Republican
house of representatives, as a bold and
open violation of the nations organic
law and a fragrant breach of good faith.
We assert that the Constitution fol-
lows the flag and denounce the doctrine
that an executive or a. congress, created
and limited by the Constitution, can ex-
ercise lawful authority beyond that con-
stitution or in violation Of it. Believ-
ing that a nation cannot long endure,
half republic and half empire, we op-
pose wars of conquest and colonial pos
sessions.
WOULD FREE THE PHILIPPINES.
The F'ilipinos cannot be citizens with
out endangering our civilization; they
cannot be subjects without endanger-
ing our form Of government, and as we
are not willing to surrender our civiliza-
tion or to convert a republic into an
empire, we favor an immediate declara-
ton of the nations purpose to give to
the Filipinos; first, a stable form of
government; second, independence as
1t has for nearly century given pro-
lection to the republics Of Central and
South America.
We favor the expansion of trade by
every legitimate and peaceful means,
but we are opposed to purchasing trade
at the cannon's' mouth with human
blood; neither do we believe that trade
secured and held by force is worth the
price that must be paid for it. We are
in favor of extending the nations in
fluence, but we believe that that in
fluence should be extended, not by force
and violence, but through the persuasive
power of right and honorable example
We oppose militarism. 1t imposes up
on the people an unnecessary burden
| and is a constant menace. A small
standing army and we'll equipped state
militia are sufficient in time of peace; in
time of the war the citizen soldiers
should be republics defense.
NO ENTANGLING ALLIANCES
WANTED.
We believe, with Jefferson, in peace,
commerce and honest friendship with
all nations and entangling alliances
| with none, and we regard with appre-
| hension the doctrine advocated in some
quarters that this nation should in it's
dealings or diplomacy show partiality
| toward any of the European nations.
Not because of hostility to England,
but because we believe in the principles
Of a republic, and reject, as did our
forefathers, the theory of monarchy;
we sympathize with the Beers in their
heroic efforts to preserve their national
| integrity. The failure of republican
leaders, who four years ago expressed
sympathy for the Cuban patriots, to feel
| an infpraSt the Strnpp1a nf tha nntcb
| in South Africa shows the paralyzing
influence of the imperial policy to which
the administration is now endeavoring
to commit this country.