Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1900-07-13
RightfuI Expansion,

the expense OF liberty, the price l'
always too high
RightfuI Expansion,
We are not opposed to territorial
expansion when it takes in desira
BILE territory which can be erected
into states in the union and whose
people are willing and fit to become
| American citizens. We favor trade
lexpansion by every peaceful and
Legitimate means. But we are un.
alterably opposed to the seizing or
purchasing of distant islands to be
governed outside the constitution
and whose people can never become
citizens. We are in favor of ex-
tending the republics influence
among the nations, but believe
that influence should be extended,
not bv force and violence, but
through the persuasive power OF
high and honorable example.
The Paramount Issue.
The Importance of other questions
now pending before the American
people is in no wise diminished and
the Democratic party takes no
backward step from its position on
them, but the burning question Of
Imperialism growing out of the
Spanish war involves the very eX-
istence Of the republic and the de-
struction of our free institutions.
We regard it as the paramount is
sue of the campaign.
The rlonrOe Doctrine.
The declaration in the Republi-
can platform adopted at the Phila-
delphia convention held in June
1900, that the Republican party
"steadtastly adheres to the policy
announced in the Monroe doctrine" ;"
is manifestly insincerc and decep-
tive. This profession is contradict
ed by the avowed policy of that
party, in opposition to the spirit OF
the Monroe doctrine, to acquire and
hold sovereignty over large areas
of territory and large numbers OF
people in the Eastern hemisphere
We insist on a maintenance of the
Monroe doctrine in all its integrity
both in letter and in spirit, as nee
essary to prevent the extension oi
European authority on this conti-
nent aud as essential to our supre'
macy in American affairs. At the
same time we declare that no Ameri'
can people shall ever be held by
force in unwilling subjection to Eu'
ropean authority.
! Danger of Militarism.
We oppose militarism. 1t means
a strong arm which has ever beer
fatal to free institutions. 1t is wha'
millions of our citizens have flee
from in Europe. 1t Will impose
upon our peace-loving people {
large standing army an / an unnec
essary burden of taxation and {
constant menace to their liberties
A small standing army aud vel
disciplined state militia are amply
sufficient in time of peace. This re
public has no place for a vast mill
tary service and conscription. Wher
the nation is in danger the volun
teer soldier is his country's S best de
lender. The national guard of tn,
United States should ever be cher
ished in the patriotic hearts of
free people. Such organization
are ever the element of strengtl
and safety. For the first time il
our history and coeval with tn
Philippine conquest has there bee
wholesale departure from on
time-honored and approved syster
of the volunteer organization. w
denounce it as un-American, IN
democratic aud unrepublican, an
as a subversion of the ancient an
fixed principles Of free people.
i The Trusts.
f Private monopolies are indefens
e bic and intolerable. They destro
o competition, control the price of a
the raw material and of the hnishe
S product, thus robbing both the pre-
ducer and the consumer. The
lessen the employment of labor, an
arbitrarily fix the terms and cor