The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1900-09-22
NUMBER II.

in 1896. that the fact of enlistment shall
be deemed conclusive evidence that the
accepted him. A certificate given now
to the health OF a person 40 years ago.
even IL easily obtainable, should not have
as much weight as the certificate OF the
medical officer who examined the volun-
teer with view of ascertaining his fit
ness for army service.
Nicaragua.
The democratic party is in favor of the
Immediate construction, ownership and
control of the Nicaraguan canal by the
United States. The failure of the repUb-
lican party to make any progress in car
rylng out pledge contained in it's plat
form four years ago, together with the
substitution in its latest piaffarm of e
plank favoring an isthmian 6afel for a
speeinc declaration In favor sflthe. Nicar-
publican leaders either do not Xppreeiats
the Importance of this great waterway
to to the maritime strength and commercial
interests OF the country. OF that they give
opposition Of transcontinentai kissss. s. The
senate. would. IL ratified. greatly lessen
the value of the canal, II II would not
indeed convert It into a positive menace
of the United States in the western hem
isphere, together with the obligations to
US. make it NECESSARY II that tne our sIuyn soverD
ment shall be able to close the canal
against any hostile power.
Alaska and Porto Rico.
, mere VIII De popular acquieScence In
the demand for home rule. and terri
torial form OF government. in Alaska and
Porto Rico Both are entitled to local
selt-goyernment and representation in
congress.
Cuba.
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
I is proper. however, to consider whether
! the accomplishment of this purpose can
be safely intrusted to the republican par
~ after II has yielded to the allurements
OF Inc colonial Idea, and abandoned its
earlier faith in the natural and inalien-
\ able rights of man.
| Reclamation of Arid Lands.
The time is ripe for a systematic and
and tt them for actual settlers. The last
| agricultural report estimates that homes
| can thus be provided for many millions
| of people. The impoundiDg and use OF
the waters which are wasted in the spring
| would people the western states with
| thrifty. intelligent and industrious cit
| izens. and these would furnish valuable
market for all the products OF the fac
| tories. small percentage of the money
spent IN war Of conquest would provide
pie than would ever seek residence in
colonies within the tropics.
Foreign Alliances.
The reasons given by Washington, JEFF
ferson 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 strong
er to-day than they were hundred years
ago our commerce is rapidly increas-
ing. and We are brought into constant
communication with. all parts of the
world. Even II we desired to do so, we
could not afford to ALLEVIATE many nations
by cultivating unnecessary intimacy with
| such that it is less necessary than ever
before to lean for aid upon the friendl-
ness OF a foreign power.
Monroe Doctrine.
The doctrine enunciated by Monroe, and
approved by succeeding presidents, is es-
| sential to the welfare of the United
States. The continents of North and
South America are dedicated to the de-
Velopment of free government One re-
public after another has been established.
until to-day monarchial idea has barely
| foothold in the new world.
While it is not the policy of this coun-
try TO interfere where amicable relations
| exist between European countries and
their dependencies in America, our peo-
pie would look with disfavor upon any
attempt on the part Of European govern
ments TO maintain an unwilling or fore
ible sovereignty over the people living on
this side of the Atlantic.
Extravagnnce.
The republican party, drawing as It does
enormous campaign funds from those who
| enjoy special privileges a the hands of
| the government. is powerless to protect
the tax payers from the attack of those
| who profit by large appropriations. A
surplus in the treasury offers constant
temptation to extravaganza. and extrava-
| gance. in turn, compelS a resort to new
means OF taxation. which, in being kept in
the background until the campaign is
over, Is a fair illustration of the imposi-
ton which will be attempted when there
is a considerable amount of money idle
in the treasury. The rehabilitation Of the
merchant marine. laudable in itself is
| made the pretext for expenditure of pub
lie money for the benefit of large ship
owners, and in the interests of trans
portation monopoly The goyernment be-
right to collect from the people taxes
| beyond the legitimate needs OF a govern
ment honestly and effectively admins
tered. and public servants should exercise
| the same degree of care in the use of the
peoples money that private individuals
| do in the of their own money. With
a restoration of foreign policy consistent
| with American ideas there can be an
immediate and large reduction in the bur-
dens now borne by the people.
Income Tax.
BY inadvertence the income tax plank
| agreed upon by the resolutions commit
read snd adopted S The suSeee ns hOWever
is covered by the reaffrmation of the
Chicago platform, and / take this occa-
sion to reassert my belief in the prn-
ciple which underlies the income tax.
Congress should have authority TO levy
and collect an income tax whenever nec-
essary, 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 draft the citizen: it
ought TO be able 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.
| Impe erialism.
| The subjects, however. treated in this
letter important as each may seem in
itself do not press so imperatively for
solution as the question which the plat
form declares to be the paramount issue
in this campaign. Whether we shall ad-
here TO or abandon those ideas of gov
ernment which have distinguished this
nation from other nations and given to
its history its peculiar charm and value,
is question the settlement of which
cannot be delayed. No other question can
approach 1t in Importance; no other oues-
ton demands such immediate considera-
ton. 1t is easier to lose reputation than
to establish one. and this nation would
find 1t a long and laborious task to regain
its proud position among the nations, IL,
under the stress of temptation, II should
| repudiate the selt-evident truths pro-
| claimed by our heroic ancestors and
sacredly treasured during a career un-
paralleled in the annals of time When
the doctrine that the people are the only