The leader., 1900-03-21

article of merchandise,
ain its platform of 1860 the Repub-
lican party declared that the mainten-
ance of the principles promulgated in
the Declaration of Independence and
embodied in the federal constitution,
viz, That all men are created equal;
that they are endowed with inalienable
rights; that governments are institu-
ted to secure these rights, and that
governments derive their just powers
from the consent of the governed is
essential to the preservation of our in
stitutions. But the Republican party,
under its present leadership, is endan-
gering the preservation of.Republican
institutions by placing the dollar bove
the man in the construction of govern
ment and in violating the principles
that it once declared to be essential
I'VE condemn the Porto Rico tariff
bill recently passed by Republican
house of representatives as bold and
law and fragrant breach of good faith.
"We assert that the constitution fol-
lows the flag, and denounce the doc
trine that an executive or a congress,
created and limited by the constitu-
ton, can exercise lawful authority be-
yond that constitution or in violation
of it. Believing that nation cannot
endure half republic and half empire,
we oppose wars of conquest and colon
ial possessions.
'The Filipinos can be citizens with
out endangering our civilizations; they
cannot be subjects without endanger-
ing our form of government, and as we
are not willing to surrender our civili-
ization or convert a republic into an
empire, we favor an immediate declara-
ton of the nations purpose to give the
Filipinos, first, stable form of govern
ment; second, independence; and
third, protection from outside inter
ference, as it has for nearly a century
given projection to the republics of
Central and South America.
"We favor the expansion of trade by
every legitimate and peaceful means,
but we are opposed to purchasing trade
at the cannon's mouth with human
blood; neither do we believe that trade
secured and held by force is worth the
price that must be paid for it. We are
in favor of extending the nations in
fuence, but we believe that that in
fuence should be extended, not by
force and violence, but through the
persuasive power of high and honor
able example.
'We oppose militarism. 1t imposes
upon the people an unnecessary bur-
den, and is a constant menace. A
small standing army and we'll equip
ped State militia are sufficient in time
of peace; in time of war the citizen-so
dier should be a republics defense.
"We believe, with Jefferson, in
peace, commerce and honest friend
ship with all nations and entangling
alliance with none, and we regard with
apprehension the doctrine advocated
in some quarters that this nation
should, in its dealings or diplomacy,
show partiality towards any of the Eu
ropean nations.
"Not because of hostility to Eng
land, but because we believe in the
principles of republic, and reject, as
did our forefathers, the theory of
monarchy, we sympathi2e with the
Beers in their heroic efforts to pre-
serve their national integrity. The
failure of the Republican leaders, who
four years ago expressed sympathy for
the Cuban patriots, to feel an interest
in the struggle of the Dutch in South
Africa, shows the paralyzing influence
of the imperial policy to which the ad
ministration is now endeavoring to
commit this country"