The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-08

ceasing warfare against private monopoly
In cT3ry form. 1t demands the enforce
neat of existing laws against trusts and
the Enactment of laws yet more stringent,
It "fsely demands publicity as to the al
fairs Of corporations engaged in interstate
commerce.
LAS one means to the important enc OF
curtaiiing the power of trusts We favor
such amendments of our tariff laws as will
place the products of trusts upon the free
list and thereby prevent monopoly under
the plea Of protection. During almost four
years of Republican control of all depart
ments OF the Government the trust evil
has Grown to its present oyershadowing
proportions. What finger has been lifted
for its suppression? With its friends again
entrenched in power, what hope is held cdt
for the future?
"At this hour I can but alfude in brief
words to other needed reforms to which
the attention of the country is called by
the Democratic platform. Prominent among
these is such enlargement of the scope Of
the Interstate Commerce law as will pro-
tect the public from unjust transportation
rates and individuals from unfair discriLai-
nation As is well known, this law has
failed 10 effect the wise purpose for which
it was enacted In fact, it is now little
more than dead letter upon the statute
books. Under we1l-eonsidered amendments
the commission should be vested with am
pie power TO prevent injustice to individ-
uals and to the public.
Labor and Pensions.
Our platform favors the creation of a
shall take rank with the other constitu-
tional advisers of the President. This is in
the interest of justice, and will prove an
important step locking to the proper rec
ignition and encouragement of the pro-
ducers of wealth.
In specific terms it favors liberal pen
sions to our soldiers and sailors and to
those dependent upon them
With equal justice it reiterates the de-
mands of a former Democratic platform for
bimetallsm; the restoration of silver to
its proper function in our monetary sys-
TEN.
For the protection of the home Iaborer
1t demands the enforcement of the Chinese
Exclusion act
And in the interest of an enlarged COM
merce it fayors the immediate construc-
ton OF the Nicaragua Canal. This, how
ser, with the provision that it shall re-
main forever under the exclusive owner
snip and control of the United States. The
pending Hay-Pauncefote Treaty is con-
demned as a surrender Of American rights
pie. In the construction and control of
this great work there can be no concession
of right TO any European power. CONNER
cial interest and national safety in time
of war alike demand its permanent owner
ship by our Government
The Paramount Issue
"a question is yet to be discussed to
which all of these are of secondary i'm
II jc SoIauDlv dacIara5 Lr o,,-
platform TO be the paramount issue CUES
tons OF domestic policy, however impor-
tant, may be but the questions of the hour
that Of Imperialism is fer time In the
presence Of this stupendous issue others
seem but as the dust in the balance In no
sense paltering with words. il is the ST.
preIne question Of republic or empire The
words Of the eminent Republican Senator.
Mr. Hoar, challenge attention: I believe
that perseverance in this policy will be the
abandonment of the principles upon which
our Government is founded that il Will
change our Government into an empire;
that our methods of legislation, of diplo-
macy of administration, must hereafter
be those which belong TO empires. and not
those which belong to republics
Upon every phase OF our foreign policy
the language Of the Democratic platform
IS too clear to admit OF misconstruction It
'avors trade expansion by all peaceful and
lawful means
Constitution Follows the Flag.
We believe that liberty. as well as the
Constitution. follows the flag. Democrats. |
IN common with many Republicans, oppose /
the Porto Rican law as a violation of the
Constitution. and fragrant breach OF good j
faith toward a dependent people 1t is i'm |
posing government without the consent of |
the governed 1t is in conflict with / at
OF the Constitution which de- /
ciares that duties. imports, and excises /
shall be uniform throughout the United /
States Believing that this constitutional
applies TO every part OF the Uni /!
ted States. We condemn the tariff taxat on !
imposed by Republican Congress upon TIE /
helpless and distressed people of Porto /
Rico Such legislation-.inspired solely bv |
sreed-1s indeed the haTbinger OF evil 10
the Republic
The attempt to collect unjust taxes with /
one hand. and with the other to return .
them in part 10 a plundered people. is ut I
terly without constitutional warrant or I
Justification We give Our earnest assent 1
TO the declaration: Our plain duty is 70
abolish all customs tariffs between the Uni
ted States and Porto Rico, and give her
products access to our markets. No party
eNgency OF pressure could Justify a de-
oarture by the President from the plain
pathway of duty he had here so clearly IN
heated. The law imposing tariff duties
upon the people Of Porto Rico is in pal
Fable violation of the Constitution and 4
fagrant breach of the pledged faith of the
lation.
DepIores Spirit of Empire.
THE Democratic platform condemns the
policy pursued by the present Administra-
ion toward the Philippine Islands. This
'oiicy-inspired by the greedy spirit OF,
embroiled our Govern
nent IN an unnecessary war sacrificed
Taiuabie lives, and placed the American /
Republic in deadly antagonism to our for
ner allies IN their efforts to secure their
lberties- For the first time in our history |
se are boldly confronted with the aues- /
ION OF 'Imperialism-the spirit OF empire
Th1s is. indeed, the supreme question.
o which all others are of secondary inn |
ortance Before we break irrevoeabIv
With the past and abandon the doctrines |
the fathers, it is well that we deliberate
pom the consequences of a permanent de-
arture from the settled governmental |
oilcy of more than century The sue
ess of the imparialistfc policy foreshad-
Tvs the empire. Shall the closing hours
I the century witness the American peo-
lie abandoning the sure pathway in which !
asst generations have found prosperity
nd happiness and embarking upon that of
ggression and conquest, against which we
re warned By the wrecks that lie alons the
ntire pathway oS history? Standing out
sainst the new policy of conquest, with all
hat it involves of European complication.
re the warnings OF the founders of the Re
ublic. Out of fashion as il may appear. I
uOte the last words Of