The Portland daily press., 1900-08-23

A1@"aAa anu sent out to those islands as
our representative, John l.. Stevens, an
other distinguished SON OF Maine ahen
came the revolt OF those islands. The
monarchy fell and soon after treaty
was made tor the annexation of those
islands to the United States, and 1t was
laid before the Senate and Gen. Harrison,
then the President At this time Cleve.
land came into power Gresham. who
became Secretary OF State, did not like
Harrison, and he had the treaty with
drawn from the Senate and then the
Democratic party hauled down the
American flag which had been located
over those islands by the Republican ad-
ministration. They pointed out the fact
that a state which claimed to be a re pub
lie was not necessarily a republic. They
then set out to re establish the fallen
monarchy IN the Hawaiian islands. 1t
is interesting to note how much their
opinions regarding what constitutes a
republic have changed since then. Any
thing which is now called a republic their
liberty loving hearts ara quick to smell
and they are ready to cali pretty much
everything a republic inc udlng the gov
eminent Of AguinaIdo in the Philippines
and tho so-called republics in North
Carolina and Kentucky.
At that time President Cleveland sent
out to the Hawaiian islands what he
called a paramount commissioner. The
Democrats met at Kansas City and en-
deayored to establish an issue which they
term the paramount issue OF this cam
paign. They have been attached to that
! word as~a. afroa Dfor~a4a~,G rr-a4 ~
like the old lady who loved to hear the
word Mesopotamia, they have been
using it ever since They have tender
recollections OF that commission who
was sent out by Cleveland to haul down
the American flag, and they regard this
word as peculiarly appropriate as an
adjective TO apply to thai issue which
they would force into this campaign
TO haul down that flag somewhere else.
They put forward this paramount is
sue as they term 1t, called imperialism
by them. II they know what this word
means ana mean what they say, they
believe that the Philippine policy Of
expansion viii result in the creation of an
empire. My distinguished friend, George
Fred Williams, made a speech while
: ago, and as ne stepped on the plstform,
he said: 1.-The empire Is here" Q4augh-
teri
1t Is difficult to deal with this ques-
Z ton. 1t is hard to analyze rubbish. 1t
is almost impossible TO grasp the facts
which are as effervescent as the visions
Of an opium dream. They say that we
arc IN danger of becoming an empire be-
cause we hold the islands in the Pacific
and have 60, 900 men ont there.
There might be some danger OF an en-
pire If we were to bring into power that
: body of men who oppose law and order,
: who attack the supreme Court of the
: United States who are anti-every6h
The empire VIII not come because we
hold the Philippine islands. Why the
- great state OF New York. where they have
! a government republican in form and a
constitution and governor elected by
: the people, who win be promoted before
:. long (Appiause), a legislature elected by
the people, a popular government IN the
city of New York, IN the conuol Of the
Democratic party, which is ruled BY
one autocrat, all these things the marks
= of a republic and yet it is called the
Empire State. But 1t is not an en-
pire. Neither is any party in this coun
! try imperialistic in its policy.
If, however, we are to elect an en-
peror. / want better emperor than
Bryan. (AppIause.) If we are going tx
elect a constitutional President, we
!, want a man who in MS youth has fought
for American principles and who
: through his life has been working fol
American interests. We want man like
: William Mckinley (Applause.)
The Imperialism is a bogus issue
No one believes IN it. The Democrat:
, themselves don't believe in it. There
: isn't a sensible man living who lies
awake nights because he fears that If he
: falls asleep he may awake to find a
Caesar at the White House.
a Already this paramount Issue OF the
Democracy is beginning to break down.
The candidate of the Kansas City con
vention is going to turn his strength
o. shortly against other issues. In my
. Judgment, within a fortnight only, will
4 this paramount issue of the Democratic
platform disappear as completely as has
the paramount commissioner whom
2 President Cleveland sent to the
4 Hawaiian islands to haul down the
American flag. 10 prove the falsity Of
= the Democratic claim that party is the
a protector of the peoples rights; just
h glance at the Southern States where they
are in power. Anyone who has followed
) the history of Kentucky In the last ten
a months win see there just as much
4 crushing out of the popular viii as there
= has been in the Philippines, where no
. popular viii ever existed. Anyone who