The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-07-06

tended, not by force anu violence, but
through the persuasive power OF. a high
and honorable example. The import-
ance OF other questions now pending
before the'AmerIcan people Is in nowlse
diminished aud the Democratic party
takes no backward step from Its posi-
ton on them. but the burning issue OF
Imperialism growing out of the Span
+ ish war involves the very existence OF
the republic and the destruction OF our
free institutions. We regard 1t as the
paramount issue Of the campaign.
The declaration In the Republican
platform adopted at the Philadelphia
convention held In June. 1900. that the
Republican party "s,eadfastly adheres
10 the policy announced In the Monroe
doctrine" is manifestly inslncere and
deceptive. The. profession Is contra
dlcted by the avowed policy OF That par
ty in opposition to the spirit OF the
Monroe doctrine TO acquire and hold
sovereignty over large areas OF terri
tory and large numbers of people In the
eastern hemisphere. We Insist on the
strict maintenance Of the Monroe doc
trine and in all It's integrity, both In
letter and In spirit, as necessary to pre-
vent the extension OF European author
ity on this continent and as essential to
our supremacy in American affairs. At
the same time we declare that no Amer
lean people shall ever be held by force
in unwilling subsection TO European au-
thurity.
Militarism Means Conquest Abroad.
We oppose militarism. 1t means con-
quest abroad and intimidation and op-
preston at home. 1t means the strong
arm which has ever been fatal to free
institutions. 1t is what millions OF our
citizens have fled from In Europe. 1t
Will Impose upon our peace loving peo-
Pile n large standing army and unneces-
sary burden OF taxation! and q constant
menace to their liberties. a small
standing army ana n well disciplined
state militia are amply sufficient In
time of peace. This republic has no
place for vast military service and
conscription, when the nation is in dan
ger the volunteer soldier is his coun-
try's best defender. The national guard
OF the United States should ever be
cherished in the patriotic hearts of 4
free people. Such organizations are
ever an element of strength and safety.
For the first time in our history and CO.
cval with the Philippine conquest has
there been 4 wholesale departure from
our time-honorr5 and approved system
of volunteer organization. We de-
nounce It as un-American, un-Demo-
cratic and un-Republica, and asc n
subversion of the ancient and fxel
principles of q free people. Private
monopoiies are indefensibfe and intoi-
cradle. They destroy competition, con-
troll the price OF all material, and of the
finished product. thus robbing both pro-
ducer and consumer. They lessen the
employment of labor, and arbitrarily fix
the terms and conditions thereof aud
deprive Individual energy and small
capital OF their opportunity for better
ment, Ie
All Wealth Will be Aggregated.
They are the most efficient means yet
devised for appropriating the fruits OF
industry to the benefit of the few at the
expense OF. the many and unless their
insatiate greed is checked all wealth
will be aggregated in few hands and
the republic destroyed.
The dishonest paltering with the trust
evil by the Republican party In state
and national platforms Is conclusive
proof Of the truth OF, the charge that
trusts are the legitimate product of Re-
publican policies, that they are fostercd
by the Republican administration in re-
turn for campaign subscriptions and
political support.
We pledge the Democratic party to
an unceasing warfare In nation, state
and city against private monopoly, in
every form. Existing laws against
trusts must be enforced and more
stringent ones must be enacted provid-
ing for publicity as to the affairs OF
corporations engaged in Interstate
commerce and requiring all corpora
tions to show. before doing business
outside of the state of their origin, that
they have no water In their stock, and
that they have not attempted and are
not attempting. to monopolize any
branch of business OF the production Of
any articles of merchandise, and the