The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-09-18

Democratic party ana It's canuluate ue-
mand the reversal of every policy, do
nestle and foreign, monetary, financial,
protective and expansive, which has
made the administration of President
Mckinley one of the most glorious in
our history by the splendor of its mill
tary and naval achievements, by its
financial legislation, by its making the
United States the first money power in
the world, by its extension of our SOW
ereignty and by our advancement to
the very forefront of international in
fiuence
For the first time the sovereignty of
the United States over territory held
by an unquestionable title is to be
abandoned and the flag lowered, and
that, too, in capitulation to n fragrant
insurrection against its authority-all
this, and more than this, is demanded
by the Democratic party as reason
for its investiture with power and is
promised to the American people in
case power is given to do it. Such de-
mands, such promises. such threats,
such consequences, will receive the
most consummate condemnation of the
people.
No Democratic platform, no Demo-
cratic speaker expresses any satisfac-
llOu Will Oul III NaiT VI N4fh
the abounding prosperity of our people,
or with our international ascendancy.
How can they rejoice in a prosperity
which falsifies every prediction they
made four years ago, and the approval
of which now would refute every claim
that they can possibly make for their
political restoration;
The present administration has kept
the faith in which the American people
invested it with power, has performed
every act to which 1t was pledged, and
has fulfilled every expectation which
has arisen from sudden events which
We're foreseen four years ago.
There are few events in our diplo-
matte and military history more honor
able than the consummate skill the
wise conservatism. and the untlinching
courage by which the administration
of President Mckinley relieved our le-
CATION and at the same time maintain
ed proper relations with the Chinese
empire.
The question for the plain people is,
do they wish. with the instructions of
n bitter experience fresh and deep In
their memories, to change or submit to
the danger of change that Astounding
prosperity which came with the cleo
ton of President McKinley-a prosper
ity which no Democratic platform or
speaker denies nor dare not rejoice in,
or even allude to. Aguinaldo can wait
until the American people take "a bond
of fate" If necessary by annihilating
for the preservation of their own do
nestle interests the political combina-
tion which Is at the same time their
enemy and the alder and abettor of the
Tagal rebels?
The conditions and situations as to
Cuba and the Philippines are not the
same. We never had sovereignty over
Cuba. We have sovereignty over the
Philippines. When we intervene as be-
tween, Cuba and Spain, the Cubans
were in arms fighting for their indie
pendence and We're practically belliger-
ants. When we invaded the Philippines
the natives were not in arms. We new
er promised to give Independence to
them and they did not demand 1t at
that time. Before we invaded Cuba,
in the very declaration of war against
Spain, this government did not promise
to give independence to that island.
We made no such promise as to Porto
Rico. Our title to Porto Rico and the
Philippines rest upon the same incon-
testable basis, and yet have not heard
that even the Democracy proposes or
wishes to erect Porto Rico into an in
dependent state.
In declaring that we will convene
Congress for these purposes, Mr.. Bry-
an shrinks from the logical conse-
quences of his own position. If elected
president of the United States, he will
become the commandments of the
army and navy conducting war
which he and the platform upon which
1..a t.4rif ff,Dt
gression' against a people who ought
to be independent. As such command
er-in-chief, holding to such principle,
he would have the right to withdraw
every man from the Philippines, cause
our squadron to sail out of Manila bay,
to entirely evacuate the archipelago,
and-to use his own language-leave
their people to work out their own des-
tiny. AS president he could recognize
the existence and independence of the
Philippine republic.
A bold man. holding such views as
these and with such powers, would
say that he intended to use them. But
there Mr.. Bryan halts and recoils. He
purposes to throw the responsibility
upon Congress, well knowing that in a
Republican Senate and House of Rep
resentatives no such action as he pro
poses 10 recoInliehu "oulu receive lhe
least sanction.
shall not detain you with any dis
cussion of this bugbear of militarism.
We are crippled to-day by inadequacy
of our military force in performing our
manifest duties as to our people in
China. The events in that empire dem
onstrate, as did our unprepared condi-
ton at the beginning of the Spanish
war, how suddenly and unexpectedly
crises may arise which will call for the
exercise of our military power and find
it entirely lacking. a nation of 10000
600 of free people. vast in extent need
have no fear that an empire will be
erected upon the ruins of the republic
by the scattered forces of an army OF
one hundred thousand men.
But If an increased army leads to
militarism so does an increased navy