Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1900-07-13

arenct opposed to territorial expansion
when il takes in desirable territory
which can be erected into States in the
Union, and whose people are willing and
Mt to become American citizens
EXPANSION NOT BY FORCE BUT BY PFAcE.
We favor expansion by every peaceful
and legitimate means. But we are unal-
terably opposed to seizing or purchasing
distant islands to be governed outside
the constitution and whose people can
never become citizens. We are in favor
OF extending the republics influence
among the nations, but believe that
influence should be extended, not by
force and violence, but through the
persuasive power of high and honorable
example.
IMPERlALlsM THE PARAMOUNT ISSUE.
The Importance of old questions now
pending before the American people is in
no wise diminishing and the Democratic
party takes no backward step from it's
position on them, but the burning issue
OF Imperialism growing out of the Span
ish war, involves the very existence OF
the republic and the destruction
oil our free institutions. We regard it as
the paramount issue of the campaign
The declaration in the Republican plat
form adopted at the Philadelphia con-
vention, held in June 1900, that the
Republican party "steadfastly adheres
to the policy announced in the Monroe
doctrine" is maniiestly insincere and
deceptive. This profession is COL
tradicted by the avowed policy OF that
party in opposition to the spirit OF the
Monroe doctrine to acquire and hold
sovereignty over large areas of territory
and large numbers of people in the East
ern Hemisphere. We insist OH the strict
maintenance of the Monroe doctrine in
all its integrity, both in letter and in
spirit, as necessary to prevent the extern
ton of European authority on this
continent and essential to our supremacy
in American affairs. At the same time
we declare that no American people
shall ever be held by force in unwilling
sublection to European authority.
Weoppose militarism. 1t means con-
quest abroad and intimidation and CD
preston at home. 1t means the
strong arm which has ever been
fatal to free institutions. It is whot
millions of our citizens have fed from
in Europe. 1t will impose upon our
peace-loving people large standing
army and unnecessary burden OIL tax
alton and constant menace to their lib
critics. A small standing army and q
well-disciplined State militia are amply
sufficient in time of peace. This Re-
public has no place for vast military
service and CONSUMPTION.
When the nation is in danger the vol
unteer soldier is his country's best de-
fender. The National Guard of the
United States should ever be cherished
in the patriotic hearts of free people.
Such organizations are ever an element
of strength and safety. For the first
time in our history and coequal with the
Philippine conquest, there has been an
unwholesome departure from the time
konored and approved systems of vol
unteer organization. We denounce it as
un-American, undemocratic and unre-
publican and as a subversion of the an
cient and fixed principles of free peo-
pie.
REPUBLICANS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TRUSTS
Private monopoliss are indefensible
and intolerable. They destroy com
petition, control the price of raw ma
terial and finished product, thus rob-
bling both producer and consumer.
They lessen the employment of labo p
and arbitrarily fix the terms and con-
ditions thereof, and deprive individual
energy and small capital of their oppor-
tunity for betterment. They are the
most efficient means yet devised for APP
propriating the fruits of industry to the
benefit of the few at the expense of the
many and unless their insatiate greed
is checked all wealth will be aggregat-
ed in few hands and the republic de-
stroyed, The dishonest paltering with
the trust evils by the Republican party
IN State and National platforms is con-
elusive proof of the truth of the charge
that trusts are legitimate product of
Republican policies, that they are fos-
tered by Republican laws and that they
are protected by the Republican admin
istration in r, turn for campaign sub.
scriptions and poli'ical support.
WAR DECLARED OF NoNoPoLIEs.
We pledge the Democratic party to