The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1900-07-12

sovereignty over large areas OF terrl-
tory and large numbers of people in
the eastern hemisphere.
I'VE insist on the strict maintenance
of tie Monroe doctrine and in all its
integrity both in letter and in spirit
as necessary to prevent the extension
of European authority on this CONT
nent and essential to our supremacy
in American affairs. At the same time
we declare that no American people
shall ever NC held by force in unwilling
subsection to European authority.
MILITARISM.
eve oppose militarism. 1t means
conquest abroad and intimidation and
oppression at home 1t means the
strong army which has ever been fatal
to free institutions. 1t is what millions
of our citizens have f1e" from in Eu
rope. 1t will impose upon our uDerty
loving people a large standing army
and an unnecessary burden of taxation
and constant menace to their liber-
ties. A small standing army and well
disciplined state militia are amply suf-
ficient in time of peace. This republic
has no place for vast military ser
vice and CONSUMPTION. When the ma
ton is in danger the volunteer soldier
is his country's best defender. The ma
tional guard of the United States
should ever be cherished in the patriot
ic hearts of free people. Such organ
izations are ever an element of strength
and safety. For the first time in our
history and co-evil with the Philippine
conquest has there been wholesale
departure from our time nonored and
approved system of volunteer organiza-
ton. We denounce it as un-American,
un-Gemocratic and un-republican, and
as srbversion of the ancient and
fixed principles of a fire" PEOPLE.
TRUSTS.
private monopolies are indefensible
and intolerable. They destroy compe
tition, control the price CT all material
and of the finished product, thus rob-
bling both producer and consumer. They
lessen the employment of labor and ar
bitrarily fix the terms and conditions
thereof and deprive individual energy
and small capital of their opportunity
for betterment.
"They are the most efficient means
yet devised for appropriating 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 aggregated in a few
hands and the republic destroyed.
"The dishonest paltering with the
trust evil by the republican party in
state and national platforms is conclu
sive proof of the truth of the charge
that the trusts are the legitimate prod
uct of republican policies; that they are
fostered by republican laws, and that
they are protected by the republican
administration in return for campaign
subscription and political support.
1--WE pledge the demo cratic party to
an unceasing warfare in nation, state
and city against private monopoly in
every form. Existing laws against
trusts must be enforced, and more
stringent ones must be enacted provid-
ing for publicity as to the affairs OF
corporations engaged IN interstate com
merce and requiring all corporations
to show, before doing business outside
of the state in their origin, that they
have no water in their stock and that
they have not attempted and are not
attempting to monoDolize any branch
of business or the production Of any ar
ticles of merchandise. and the whole
constitutional power of congress over
interstate commerce, the mails and all
modes of interstate communication
shall be exercised by the enactment of
comprehensive laws upon the subject
OF trusts. Tariff laws should be
amended by putting the products OF
trusts upon the free list to prevent mo-
nopoly under the plea of protection.
The failure of the present repub-
lican administration with absolute con-
troll of all the branches of the national
government to enact any legislation
designed to prevent or even curta1i the
absorbing power of trusts and alleged
combinations or to enforce the anti
trust laws already on the statute books
prove the insincerity of TIC high sound
ing phrase Of the republican platform.
Corporations should be protected in
all their rights, and the legitimate in
terests should be respected, but any at
tempt by corporations % Interfere with
the public affairs of the pee. Jle or to
control the sovereignty which creates
them, should be forbidden under such
penalties as will make such attempts
impossible.
Eve conuemn the Dingley tariff law
as trust breeding measure, skillfully
devised to give the few favors which
they do not deserve and to place upon
the many burdens which they should
not bear.
I'VE favor such an enlargement of
the scope of the interstate commerce
law as will enable the commission to
protect individuals and communi' les
from determinations, and the public
from unjust and unfair transportation
rates.
FINANCIAL PLANK.
I'VE affirm and indorse the principles
of the national democratic platform
adopted in Chicago in 1896, and we re-
iterate the demand of that platform for
an American financial s. stem made by
the American people for themselves,
which shall restore and maintain BIZ
metallic price level, and as part Of
such system the immediate restora-
ton of the free and unlimited coinage
of silver and gold at the present legal
ratio of 16 to l without waiting for
the aid or consent of any other nation"
1--WE denounce the curreLay bin en-
acted in the last session of congress as