The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-24

WIFI IS dTNUTHT IISTTITTIs IT TtUFIC u
find II easier TO secure any remedial legis-
lation which they may desire But how
hating has been the progress! Holland has
said:
:. Heaven is not gained by a single bound,
We build the ladder by which We rise
From the lowly earth TO the vauited skies.
And we mount to its summit round by
round
"And so il is with great social and politi-
cal movements. Great problems are solved
slowly, but struggling humanity marches
on. step by step, content IL at each night
fall 1t can pitch Its tent on a little nigner
ground.
II have called attention TO the issues
which brought the Democrats and Popu-
lists together and which justified their CO.
operation during the last four years Let
me now invite. your attention to new cues.
tions which would justify cooperation at
this time even though we differed upon
all economic questions. 1t is not our fault
that these new questions have been thrust
into the arena of politics: IL Is not our
fault that the people have been called upon
to consider questions of ever-increasing
magnitude.
I'm 1890 the tariff question was the prin-
cipal subject of discussion and the Demo-
cratic party contended that the masses
were carrying a burden of unjust and I'M
necessary taxes. In 1899 the tariff question
was still the principal issue between the
Democratic and the Republican parties. al
though in the West and South the money
question was assuming greater and greater
piOpOi liOuS. anu the IOpulStS VII
tending that our monetary system was
more responsible than the tariff laws for
the depression in agriculture and the dis
tress existing among the wage-earners. In
1896 the whole question of taxation became
of secondary Importance because OF the In
creased boldness of those who opposed the
gold and silver coinage OF the constitution
When the Republicans declared at ST
Louis hat the restoration of bimetallism
in this country, although desirable, was I'M
possible without the aid of the leading COM
mercial nations of the old world, the Popu-
lists and Silver Republicans joined with the
Democrats in asserting the right and duty
or the American people to shape tnelr
financial system for themselves, regaruless
OF the action of other nations.
SILVER STILL AN ISSUE.
1.-THE failure of the Republican party to
secure international bimetallism. and its
open espousal of the gold standard, still
keeps the money question in politics: but
no economic question can compare in i'm
p%ortance with a question which concerns
the principles and construction of govern
ment.
Systems of taxation can be changed
with less difficulty than financial systems,
and financial systems can be altered with
less danger and less disturbance to the
country than to the vital doctrines upon
which free government rests.
In the early sixties, when We were en-
gagged in a contest which was to determine
whether We should have one republic or
two. questions of finance were lost sight of.
Silver was at a premium over gold and both
gold and silver were at a premium over
greenbacks and bank notes, but the people
could not afford to divide over the money
question In the presence Of a greater issue.
And so to-day We are engaged in a contro-
versy which will determine whether we are
to have a Republic in which the govern
ment derives its just powers from the con-
sent or the governed, or an empire in which
brute force is the only recognized source of
power.
I'm a government where the people rule
every wrong can be righted and every evil
remedled, but when once the doctrine of
seIf-government is impaired and might is
substituted for right there is no certainty
that any question will be settled correctly.
"A colonial policy would so occupy the
people with the consideration of the Ma
tons foreign policy that domestic ques-
tons would be neglected. Who will haul
down the flag? or Stand by the President
would be the prompt response to every
criticism of the administration and cor
ruption and special privilege would thrive
under the cover of patriotism.
1T is not strange that the Populists
should oppose militarism and Imperialism.
for both are antagonistic to the princi-
pies which Populists apply to other ques-
tons; Looking at the questions from the
standpoint of the producer of wealth,
rather han from the standpoint of the
Speculation, the Populist recognizes in mil
itarism a constant and increasing burden.
The army worm, which occasionally de-
sSroys a field of wheat, Is not nearly so
dangerous an enemy to the farmer as q
large standing army which invades every
field of industry and exacts toll from
every crop.
IF 100000 men are withdrawn from the
ranks OF the producers aid placed as
a burden upon the backs of those who re-
work and greater sacrifice for those VINO
toll, and the farmer, while he pays more
than his share of the expenses of the army,
has no part In army contracts or in de-
likely to fill the life positions in the army
than the sons Of those who. by reason of
wealth or political prominence. exert in
huence at Washington.
ALLEGED SYNDICATE.
Soon after the Republican leaders began
to suggest the propriety Of a colonial pol.
icy the papers published an interview given
out from San Francisco by a foreign consul
residing at Manila. He declared that the
| people of the United States owed it to
themselves, to other nations and to the
Filipinos to hold the Philippine islands per.
manently. At the conclusion of the inter.
! view there appeared the very significant
statement that the gentleman was visiting
the United States for the purpose of organ.
izing a company for the development OF
! the Philippine islands. a few days later
on his way East, he gave out another In.
terview, in which he explained that the
company which he intended to organize
would establish banks at Manila and al
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 and leave the
rest OF the American people nothing to dc
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 hall
as much as we spend for education in tbs
United States, and this immense sum i:
wrung from the taxpayers by systems OF
and undertax the rich man. In the pres
ence of such an issue as militarism IL Il
impossible that any Populist should hest
tate as to his duty.
But even the menace of militarism Ii
but a part of the question of Imperialism
The policy contemplated by the Republic
ans utilities every principle set forth in
the Declaration of Independence, strikes
a blow at popular government and rob:
the Nation of its moral prestige.
Already the more advanced supporter:
of the colonial idea point TO the economy
of a system of government which ~intrust.
all power to an executive and does away
with the necessity for legislation.
1.-THE Army and Navy Journal. in IT,
issue of Aug. 4, commends the English
system and declares that as a result o.
this system a fifth of the worlds area
containing a fifth of it's population, Is rulee
an administrative marvel. and adds:
"sOne million two hundred fhofsan nd dol