Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-09-15


taxation imposed by a republican con-
people of Porto Rico. Such Iegisla-
ton inspired solely by greed-is
indeed the harbinger of evil to the
republic. The attempt to collect I'M
! just taxes with one hand and with
the other TO return them in part to a
plundered people, is utterly without
constitutional warrant or ustiica-
tion. We give our earnest assent to
the declaration: Our plain duty is
TO abolish customs tariffs between the
United States and Porto Rico and
give her products access to our mar
kets." No party exigency or pres
sure could justify departure by the
president from the plain path of duty
he had so clearly indicated. The law
i'm posing tariff duties upon the peo-
pie of Porto Rico is in palpable viola
tion of the constitution and a tiagrant
breach of the pledged faith of the ma
ton.
Spirit of Empire DepIored
The democratic party condemns the
policy pursued by the present admin
istration towards the Philippine ISL
ands. This policy-inspired by the
greedy spirit of commercialism-has
EN- broiled our government in an un-
necessary war, sacrificed valuable
lives, and placed the American repub b.
lie in deadly antagonism to our form
er allies in their efforts to secure
their liberties. For the first time in
our history we are boldly confronted
with the question of imperialism
3 he N,rif ~ ba
This is, indeed, the supreme ques-
tion to which all others are of second
ary Importance. Before we break ir-
reVocably with the past and abandon
the doctrines of the fathers, it is well
that we deliberate upon the conse-
quences of a permanent departure
from the settled governmental policy
of more than a century. The success
of the imperialistic policy foreshadows
the empire. Shall the closing hours
of the century witness the American
people abandoning the sure pathway
in which past generations have found
prosperity and happiness, and en-
barking upon that of aggression and
conquest. against which we are
warned by the wrecks that lie along
the entire pathway of history. Stand
ing out against the new policy of con-
quest, with all that it involves of
European complication, are the warn
ings of the founders of the republic.
Jenersonian Expansion.
The democratic party has ever been
the advocate of wise territorial expan-
sion. 1t was in control of the govern
ment during 10 years of the first half
of the present century. During this
period new states were admitted into
the federal union, and our western
border extended beyond the Missis-
sippi. Out of the Louisiana country
acquired under the first democratic
admin been carved IA
magnificent states. Under a later
democratic administration - and as
the result of the treaty which termi-
mated our war with Mexico-we &C
quired California and neighboripg
states and territories, thus bringing
under our flag, TO remain forever, the
vast expanse stretching to the Pacific.
The policy of aggressive expansion
of subJugation of distant islands
pursued by the present administra-
tion, finds no precedent in the peacea-
BILE cession of the Louisiana country
by Napoleon, that of Florida by Spain.
nor that, yet later, of the vast west
ern area by Mexico. The territory &C
quired under democratic administra-
lions was, with favorable climatic
conditions, the hit abode for men of
our own race. At the time of annex
alton it passed under the rule Of the
Anglo Saxon, who carried with him
cur language and our laws. 1t was
contiguous to our own, and
acquired with the declared intention
when conditions and population would
Justify-of carving it into states. The
result: Millions of American homes,
our national wealth increased beyond
the dream of avarice, and the United
States chief among the nations of the
earth. Can il be that the new policy
of forcible annexation of distant ISL
ands finds precedent in the historic |
events mentioned? The answer is
found in the bare statement of facts. |
The territory acquired under demo- |
cratic administrations is contiguous
the Philippine islands s 600 miles dis !
taut. The acquisition of territory |
upon our own continent added little |
TO the national eNpense-to maintain |
permanent sovereignty over the dis
isn't islands necessitates immense e1-
penditures upon our army and navy
More than that. il contenplates meth |
DDS of administration that pertain, |
not to the repu bile. but to the empire. |
Can it be doubted that the attempt to |