The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1900-03-28
FOR SALE BY J.. E. KAUFMAN.

nance of the principles promulgated
in the declaration of independence and
embodied inthe Federal Constitution
(viz: That all men are created equal:
that they are endowed with inalien-
able rights; that governments are in
stituted to secure these rights, and
that governments derive their just
powers from the consent of the gov
erned), is essential to the preserve
ton of our republican institutions,
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 constitution of govern.
ment, and by violating the principles
that it once declared to be essential
We condemn the Porto Rico tariff
bill recently passed by a Republican
House of Representatives as a bold
and open violation of the nations or
ganic laws and a fragrant breach of
good faith.
We assert that the Constitution
follows the fig and denounce
the doctrine that an executive or
q congress created and limited by the
Constitution, can exercise lawful au-
thority beyond that Constitution, or
in violation of it. Believing that q
nation cannot long endure half re.
public and half empire, we oppose
wars of conquest and colonial posses
sions.
The Filipinos cannot be citizens
without endangering our civilization;
they cannot be subjects without en-
dangering our form of government,
and, as We are not willing to
surrender our civilization or to con-
vert a republic into an empire, we
favor an immediate declaration of the
nations purpose to give to the Fill.
pinos, first, q stable form of govern
ment; second, independence, and
third, protection from outside inter
ference, as it has for nearly q century
given protection to the republics Of
of Central and South America.
We favor expansion of trade by
every legitimate and peaceful means,
but We are opposed to purchasing
trade at the lannon'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. W. are in favor of extend.
ing the nations influence, but We be-
lieve that influence should be ex-
tended, not by force and violence,
but through the persuasive power Of
a high and honorable example.
We oppose militarism. 1timposes
upon the people an unnecessary bur-
den and is q constant menace. A
small standing. army and a we'll
equipped State militia are sufficient
in times of peace; in war the citizen
soldier should be a republics defense.
We believe, with Jefferson, in peace,
commerce and honest friendship with
all nations, and e~ntanglipg alliances
with none, and we regard with appre-
hension the doctrine, advocated in
some quarters, thatthis nation should
in it's dealings or diplomacy, show
Partially toward any of the Earop-
can nations, not because of hostility
to England, but because we believe
in the principles of a republic and
reject: as did our TO, efathers, the
theory of monarchy.
We sympatbizs 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 fee! an interest in the
struggle of the Dutch of South Africa,
shows the paralyzipg Influence Of
the imperial policy to which the ad-
ministration is now endavoring to
commit the country.