Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-08-08

century witness the American people
abandoning the sure pathway In which
| past generations ave formed prosperity
and happiness. and embar&ing up0n that
of aggression and conquest, against
which we are warmed by the wrecks that
lie among the entire pathway Of history?
Standing out against the new policy of
conquest. with all hat 1t involves Of
European complication. are the warnings
of the founders OF the republic.
W favor trade expansion by all peace
full and lawful means. We believe that
liberty. as well as the constitution, fol-
lows the flag. Democrats, In common
with many republicans. oppose the Porto
Rican law as a violation of the constitu-
tion, and q fragrant breach of good faith
toward a dependent people. 1t imposes
government without the consent OF the
governed. 1t is in conflict with that pro-
vision Of the constitution which, decAa4es
hat: Duties, imports, and excuses shall
be uniform throughout the United
States Believing that this constitutional
provision aplies to every part of the
Unfted States. we Condemn the tariff
taxation imposed by a republican con-
gress upon the helpless and distressed
people Of Porto Rico. Such legislation
inspired solely by greed-is indeed the
harbinger Of evil to the republic. Thu at.
tempt to collect unjust taxes with one
hand and, with the other to return them
in part to q plundered people, is utterly
without constitutional warrant or justifi-
cation. q,
1.-THE law imposing tariff duties upon
| the people of Porto Rico is a., palpable
violation of the constitution. and a flag
rant breach of the pledged faith of the
nation. .
1.-The democratic platform condemns
the policy pursued by the present admin
istration toward the Philippine islands.
This policy-inspired by the great spirit
of commerciaIism-has embroiled our
government in an unnecessary war. sac
rihced valuable lives, and placed the
American republic in deadly antagonism
to our former allies in their efforts to
secure their liberties. For the first time
in our history we are boldly confronted
with the question Of "imperialism-the
spirit of the empires"
THE policy of aggressive expansion
of su~bjugation of distant islands-pur-
ued by the present administration, finds
no precedent In the peaceable cession Of
the Louisiana country by Napoleon. that
of Florida by Spain. nor that yet later.
OF the vast western area, by Mexico. 1t
was territory contiguous to u own, and
acquired with the declared intention
when the conditions and population
would j~ustify-of carving 1t into states.
a it be that the new policy Of forcible
annexation of distant islands finds pre-
cedent in the historic events / a men
toned? The answer is found in the bare
statement of facts. The territory ac-
quired under democratic administration
is conference.-the Philippine islands 5000
miles distant. The acquisition OF terri
tory upon our own continent added little
to the national expense-to maintain
permanent sovereignty over the distant
islands necessitates immense expendi-
lures upon u army and navy. More
than that, lit contemplates methods OF
administration that pertain not to the re
public, but to the empire.