Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-08-23
WAS ORATOR.
|CAL JUBILEE
Continued from Page ~

OF the action of other %nationss., - The
failure of the republican party to secure
international bimetallism and it's open
Iespousal Of the gold standard ss;l kept
tine none question in politics, but no
economic question can compare in i'm
portance with a question which concerns
! the principle and structure of govern
fment. System of taxation can b. changed
with less difficulty than financial sys-
TENS, and financial systems can be alter
ed with less danger and less disturbance
to the country a the vital doctrines
upon which free government rests.
IN the early COS when we We're engag-
ed in a contest which was to determine
whether we should have one reublic or
1.-TWO, questions of finance were lost sigh
OF. Silver was at a premium over gold,
and both gold and silver were at a
premium over greenbacks and bank
Anotes, but the people could not af-
$ford to divide over the money qestion in
the presence of a greater issue. And, so
today we are engaged in a controversy
With we'll determine whether we are to
have a republic in which the government
derives its just powers from the consent
OF the governed, or al empire in which
brute force is the only recognized source
of power.
In a government where the people rule
every wrong can be righted, but when
once the doctrine of self-government is
impaired, and might is substituted for
right, there is no certainty that any ques-
ton will be settled rightly.
A colonial policy would so occupy the
people with the consideration of the ma
TONS foreign policy that domestic ques-
lions would be neglected. who will aul
; down the flag?' or Stand by the presi-
dent" would be the prompt %response to
every criticism of the administration and
corruption and special privilege would
thrive under the cover of patriotism.
1t is not strange that the populists
should oppose militarism and imperial
| ism. for both are a~ntagonistic to the prin-
ciples which populists apply to other
questions. Looking at questions from the
standpoint of a Spectator, the popul:st
recognizes in militarism a constant and
increasing burden. The army worm
which occasionally destroy a field Of
wheat is not nearly so dangerous an enc
my to the farmer as a large standing
army which invades every field of indus
try and exacts toll from every crop.
If 100, 900 men were withdrawn from the
ranks of the producers n placed as a
burden on the backs of those who remain,
it must be longer hours, harder work and
greater sacrifices for those who toll, and
the farmer, while he pays more h a his
share of the expenses of the army, has
no part in any contracts or development
of companies and his sons are less likely
to fill the positions in the army than the
sons of those, who by reason of wealth
or political prominence exert influence at
Washington.
H. Soon after the republican leaders be-
l. gan to suggest the propriety of a colonial
policy, the papers published an interview
given out from San Francisco, by a for
eign consul residing at Manila. He de-
clared that the people of the United
States owed it to themselves, to other ma
tions, and to the Filipinos, to hold the
Philippines permanently. At the conclu-
sion of the interview there appeared the
very significant statement that the gen.
Ptleman was visiting the United States for
the purpose of organizing a company for
the purpose of developing the Philippine
Islands.
A few days later on his way east, he
gave out another interview, in which he
explained that the company, which he in
tnded to organize, would establish banks
at Manila and at other places. throughout
the islands, and build electric light plants,
water plants, street car lines, railroads,
factories, etc. 1t seemed that the plan Of
his syndicate was to do all the developing
andleave the rest of the American people
nothing to do in the matter except to
furnish an army sufficient to hold the
Filipinos in subsection while they were
being developed.
At the present rate we will spend an
nually upon the army approximately half
as much as we spend for education in the
United States, and this immense sum is
Wrung from the tax payers by systems
of taxation which overburden the poor
and undertax the rich nan
In the presence of such an issue as
militarism, it is impossible that any pop
ulist should hesitate as to his duty.
But even the menace of militarism is
but a part of the question of Imperialism.
The policy set forth in the declaration Of
independence, strikes a blow at popular
government and robs the nation of it's
moral prestige. Already the more advance
ed supporters of the colonial idea point
to the economy of a system of govern
ment which e%ntrusts all powers to an exc