New-York tribune., 1900-09-18
can producers. as we'll as perpetual source Of
THE PENSION QUESTION.

THE PENSION QUESTION.
The party expresses its pride Ia the soldiers
and sailors cf all our wars. and declares us
purpose to deal generously with th"i; ana thelf
dependents. \ liberal policy is natufa! anu Hec-
eSsaIS in government which CePehNS ul'' ~
citizen scldieTy instead OF large standing army.
Seif-iuterest as we'll as gratitude conlpeis the
Government to make bountfu provision 1o1
those who in the hour Of danger and at great
sacrifice of business, health and lfe tender their
services to their country.
The pension laws should be construed accord
inc 20 the generous spirit which prompted the'r
passage. The platform very properly rclterhtes
the position taken in 1896 that the tact OF en-
listmAnt shall be deemed conclusive eFlichfe
that the soldier was sound when the t9Et'L-
lnent accepted him a certificate given now -
the health of person forty years ago. ven II
easily obtainabie. should not nave as inuCi al
weight as the certificate of the meiical otlcer
who examined the volunteer With a view or ~
certaining his fitness for Army service
The Democratic party is in favor or the I'M :
mediate construction ownership and control OF
the Nicaragua Canal by the United States, The
failure Of the Republican party to make any
progress in carrying out pledge contained IN
IT'S platform four years ago, together with the
substitution in its latest platform Of plank Ia
voring an isthmian canal for speelnc Gee,
laraticn in favor of the Nicaraguan Cenal, would
indicate that the Republican leaders either 90
not appreciate the Importance of this great
waterway TO the maritime strength and COM
mercial interests or the country, or that they
give too much consideration to the Interested
opposition Of transcontinental lines. The Hay
Pauucefote Treaty now before the Senate
would, If ratified. greatly lessen the value OF
the canal If il would not convert 1t into pos
itive menace in time of war. The paramount
interests Of the United States in the Western
Hemisphere. together with the obligations to de-
fend the republics to the south of us. make 1t
necessary that our Government shall be able
to close the canal against any hostile Power
Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma have long
been ready to assume the responsibilities and
enjoy the privileges of Statehood and it will be
a pleasure as we'll as a duty to carry out the
platform pledge concerning them.
There will be a popular acquiesoence in the
demand for home rule and a territorial form OF
H., Op~An Pnfh ortA
entitled to local self government and repre-
sentatOn in Congress.
CUBAN INDEPENDENCE.
The recognition contained in both the Demo-
cratic and Republican platforms of the right OF
the Cubans to independence removes the gen
eral principle involved from the domain Of par
tisan politics. 1t is proper, however to consider
whether the accomplishment of this purpose
be safely intruSted to the Republican party
after it has yielded TO the allurements of the
colonial idea and abandoned its earlier faith in
the natural and iHalienable rights of man
The time is ripe for a systematic and ex-
tended effort to reclaim the arid lands and hit
them for actual settlers The last agricultural
report estimates that homes can thus be pro-
vided for many millions of people The i'm
pounding and of the waters which are
wasted in the spring would people the Western
States with thrifty. intelligent and industrious
citizens and these would furnish valuable
market for all the products of the factories. A
sHaH percentage OF t1e iIloIey siel' III d W1L VI
conquest would provide occupation and habita-
tion for more people than would ever seek
residence in colonies within the tropics.
The reasons given by Washington, Jefferson
and the other statesmen Of the early days In
support Of the doctrine that should maintain
friendly relations with all nations but enter into
entanglng alliances with none. are even strong
er to-day than they were hundred years ago.
Our commerce is rapidly increasing, and we are
brought into constant communication with all
parts Of the world Even If we desired 10 do so,
we could not afford to ALLEVIATE many nations by
cultivating unnecessary intimacy with few.
Our strength and standing are such that 1t Is
less necessary than ever before to lean for aid
upon the friendipess of foreign Power.
We cannot connect ourselves with European
nations and share in their jealousies and am
bitions without losing the peculiar advantage
which our location, our character and our in
stitutions give us in the worlds affairs.
The doctrine enuncated by Monroe and ap-
proved by succeeding Presidents is essential to
the welfare Of the United States. The con
tinents OF North and South America are dedicat-
ed to the development of free government. one
republic after another has been established
until to-day the rnonarchicaf idea has barely
foothold in the New World.
While It is not the policy of this country to in
teTfere where an7icable relations exist between
European countries and their dependencies in
America. our people would look with disfaynr
upon any attempt on the part Of European gov
ernments 70 maintain an unwhlng or forSl'b2
sovereignty over the people living on this side OF
the Atlantic.
DISTORTING THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
The position taken by the Republican leaders
and more recently set forth by the Republican
candidate for the Presidency, viz: That
cannot protect nation from outside interfer-
ence without exercising sovereignty its
people is assault upon the Monroe Doctrine,
for while this argument is this time directed
against the proposition to give TO the Filipinos
both independence and protection, ii is equally
applicable to the republics of Central and South
America. If this Government cannot lend its
strength 10 another republic without making
subjects OF its people. then We must either with
draw our protection from the republics to the
south of US or absorb them. Under the same
plea, that the guardian nation must exert an
authority equal to its responsibility, European
nations have for centuries exploited their wards
and it is significant fact that the Republican
party should accept the European idea of a
prOtectOrate at the same time that It adopts a
European colonial policy.
There IS no excuse for this abandonment Of
the American idea. We have maintained the
Monroe Doctrine for thTee-quarters of q cen
tury. The expense 20 us has been practically
nothing. but he protection has been beyond
value 70 our sister republics. If a Filipino re-
public is erected upon the ruins Of Spanish
tyranny, its protection By us Will be neither diff
be willing for any other European nation to
have the islands; neither would any European
nation be willing TO provoke a with us in
order to obtain possession Of the islands If we
assert sovereignty over the FilipinOs we will
have to defend that sovereignty by force, and
the Filpnos will be our enemies; If we protect
them from outside interference they will defend
themselves and will be friends If they
show much determination in opposing the
sovereignty Of other nations as they have shown
in opposing our sovereignty. they Will not re-
quire much assistance from US.
The Republican party, drawing as il does
enormous campaign funds from those who enjoy
special privileges at the hands of the Govern
ment. is poweriess to protect the taxpayers
from the attack Of those who profit by large ap-
preparations. surplus in the Treasury offers
constant temptation to extravaganza, and ex-
traVagance. in turn, compels q resort 70 new
means Of taxation which is being kept in the
background until the campaign is over and is
a fair illustration Of the imposition which will
be attempted when there is a considerable
amount OF money idle IN the Treasury. The re-
habilitauon Of the merchant marine, Iaudable