The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-07-10

entailing an annual expense OF many
millions has already cost more than
any possible profit that could accrue
from the entire Philippine trade for
years to come. Furthermore, when
trade is extended at the expense OF
liberty, the price is always too high.
POSITION ON EXPANSION.
We are not opposed to territorial
expansion when it takes in desirable
territory which can be erected into
States in'the Union and whose PEG
pie are willing and fit to become
American citizens.
We favor expansion by every
peaceful and legitimate means. But
we are u~nalterably opposed to Selling
or purchasing of distant islands to
be governed outside the Constitution
and whose people can lever become
citizens.
We are in favor of extending the
Republics influence among She ma
tions, but believe the influence
should be extended not by force and
violence, but through the persuasive
power of a high and honorable
example.
The Importance of old questions.
now pending before the American
people is in no wise diminished and
the Democratic party takes no back
ward step from its position on them
but the burning issue of imperialism
growing out of the Spanish war in
wolves the very existence of the Re
public and the destruction of our
free institutions. We regard it as
the paramount issue of the cam
paign.
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
The declaration in the Republican
platform adopted at the Philadelphia
convention held in June, 1900, that
the Republican party "steadfastly
adheres to the policy announced in
the Monroe Doctrine, " is m~anifestly
i~nsincere and deceptive. This pro-
fessiOn is cOntradicted 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 Eastern
hemisphere.
We insist on the strict maintenance
of the Monroe Doctrine and in all its
sovereignty, both in letter and in
spirit, as necessary to prevent the
extension of European authority on
this continent and as 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. subsection to
European authority.
We oppose Imperialism. 1t means
conquest abroad and intimidation
and oppression at home. 1t means
the strong arm which has ever been
fatal to free institutions. 1t is what
millions of our citizens have fed
from in Europe. twill impose upon
our p~eace-lOving people a large stand
ing army and unnecessary burden of
taxation and a constant menace to
their liberties. A small standing
army and a welldisciplined State
militia are amply sufficient in time
of peace. This Republic has no place
for a vast military service and con-
scription.
OUR NATIONAL GUARD.
When the nation is in danger the
volunteer soldier is his cOuntry7s
best defender. The National Guard
of the United States should ever be
cherished in the patriotic hearts Ct
a free people. Such organizations
are ever an element of strength and
safety. For the first time in our
history and cO-eval with the Philip
pine conquest has there been a whole
sale departure from our time-hOnOred
and approved system of volunteer
organization. We denounce it as I'M
American, un-DemOcratic, and I'M
Republican and as a subversion of
the ancient and fixed principles of a
free people.
TRUSTS DENOUNCED.
Private mOnOpOlies are indefen-
sible and intolerable. They destroy
competition, control the price of raw
material, and of the finished product,
thus rObbing both producer and con
sumner. They lessen the employment
of labor and arbitrarily fix the terms