The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-01-09
Interview win
De GI10Dd,
TREND OF REPvBLIcANIsX.
Tendencies Artagonistio TO American
Ideals Pointed Cut By The
Missouri Representative.

Hon. David A. De Almond, of Mis-
souri,, iu au interview published IN
The Baltimore Sun, attacked the
Mckinley Administration without
reservation, and summoned all Dem
ocrats to unite and vote solidly
against tee revolutionary policies
of the Republican party"
Judge De Armond deela'ed the
Mckinley regime "hsd thrown It's
whole moral and material strer 9Th
against liberty and in favor of despo-
tlsm," that Federal officials refused
to enforce the law against the trusts;
that the alliance between the United
States aud England was morally de
grading to free people,
There will enter into the discus
sion and consideration of this session
of Congress-" said Mr.. De Almond,
many of the problems solved by the
makers of the nation. The Federal
Administration has violated the es'
sential principles of free government.
The Mckinley regime use the ex-
preston intelligently, because | do
not believe the conscience and IT,
tellect of the Republican party in
dorse the revolutionary policies OF It's
dominant leaders-hss thrown It's
whole material and moral strength
against liberty snd in favor OF
despotlsm.
"The trend of political thought in
the Republican party is from re-
public to an empire-from simplicity
TO display, from economy to ex'
travagance, from a sense of justice
to lust for power, from the delights
of liberty to the glory of despotlsm.
"Those tendencies are discordant
with aud antagonistc to the ideals OF
the American people-s people Jesl-
GUS Of their own rights and careful to
respect the rights Of others.
81 believe we should return at once
to the simple ways Of the republic
and walk in the paths our fathers
trod.
"This nation cannot remain one
half republic and the other half sn
empire, any more than it could re-
main one-half free and the other half
slave. Either it will continue, IN
essence as well as in name, what our
fathers made it-s republic-or 1t
will incarnate, in essence, if not Ia
name. the spirit of empire our fathers
pledged their lives. their fortunes and
their sacred honor to overthrow IN
America.
"The fundamental question is this:
Shall the United States renOunce
those principles Of free government
which have made and kept this ma
ton the best and greatest on the
earth7
"The Mckinley administration has
committed the Republican party to
the affirmative side of the question
The Democratic party will unltedly
support the negative.
"If the Republicans prevail, the
United States will embark upon a
colonial policy which, though well
adapted, perhaps, to monarchical
government, is inconsistent with q
republic and hostile to the views of
the makers of our Constitution.
"a colonial policy carries with 1t
the equipment and maintenance of
large standing army. 1t involves
huge expenditures, which can be met
only by increasing the burden of tax
alton upon the producing class Of
our people, and in return for this
enormous outlay of public treasure
there can be no adequate moral OF
even material compensation. The
Administration, in It's lev
oluticnsry policy, has frittered
away, and is preparing to fritter
away, on a mere detail in our COM
mercial development life and treas
ure which may some day be needed
for mightier matters.
"The colonial policy insugurated
by the President has already plung-
ed, and will continue to plunge, the
United States into the storm center
of European politics. 1t has tempt
ed us, and will continue to tempt
us, to make those entangling ali
ances with foreign nations which
wise counselors warned US to studi-
ously avoid.
at is idle to say in explanation OF
recent events that there is no open
alliance between the United States
and Great Britain. 1t will not be
forgotten that Washington and JEFF
ferson counseed their countrymen
not only against alliance with other
nations, but also against cherishiug
for any nation either peculiar friend
illness or peculiar hostility. They
realized that any preference shown
by one nation for another involves
the moral obligation of reciprocity,
and that it is, therefore, unwise for
the United States either to offer or to
accept any such attention or service
Washington especially urged us as an
independent nation to rely wholly
upon ourselves, to work out our own
roo;ol a I'D noltfioal ealvafion and m