Evening star., 1900-07-06


representation. 1t dishonors the American
people by repudiatng a solemn pledge
made in their behalf by the commanding
general of our army, which the Porte
1dcans welcomed to peaceful and unre-
sisted occupation of their land. 1t doomed
to poverty and distress a people whose
helplessness appeals with peculiar force tc
| our justice and magnanimity.
In this. the first act of its imperialistic
program. the republican party seeks to
commit the United States to a colonial
policy. inconsistent with republican institu-
| tions and condemned by the Supreme Court
in numerous decisions.
Must Deal Fairly With Cuba.
We demand the prompt and honest fulfill
| ment of our pledge to the Cuban people
| and the world that the United States has no
| disposition nor intention to exercise sover-
| eighty, jurisdiction or control over the
Island of Cuba, except for it's pacifcation.
The war ended nearly two years ago. pro-
| found peace reigns over all the island. and
| still the administration keeps the govern
| ment of the island from Its people while
| republican carpetbag officials plunder it's
| revenues and exploit the colonial theory to
\ the disgrace of the American people.
| We condemn and denounce the Philippine
| policy of the present administration. 1t
| has embroiled the republic In unneces-
| Sary war. sacrificed the lives of many of its
noblest sons. and pl.red the United States.
| previously known and applauded through
| out the world as the champion of freedom,
| IN the false and un-AmeriCan position of
| crushing With military force the efforts Of
| our former allies to achieve liberty and
| seif-government. The Filipinos cannot be
| citizens without endangering our civiliza-
| ton. They cannot be subjects without i'm
| periling our form of government; and as we
| are not willing to surrender our civilization
| or to convert the republic into an empire
/ We favor an immediate declaration of the
| nations purpose to give to the F'ilipinos-
| first stable form of government; second
| Independence. and. third. protection from
| outside interference, such has been
| given for nearly century to the republics
of Central and South America.
The greedy commercialsm which dictat-
ed the Philippine policy of the republican
administration attempts to justify 1t with
the pea that 1t will pay, but even this
| sordid and unworthy plea fails when
brought to the test of facts. The war of
criminal aggression against the Filpinos
entailing an annual expense of MANY mil
lions, has already cost more than any pos
sloie profit that could accrue from the en-
IRE Ph.hppine trade for years to come.
Furthermore. when trade is extended at
the expense of liberty the price is always
| too high.
| Expansion VS.. imperialism
We are not opposed to territorial expan-
| sion, when it takes in desirable territory
| which can be erected into states into the
Union, and whose people are willing and fit
to become American citizens. We favor
| trade expansion by every peaceful and
| legitimate means. But we are unalterably
| opposed to the seiZing or purchasing of
distant islands to be governed outside the
Constitution and whose people can never
become citizens
We are in favor of extending the repub-
lies influence among the nations but be-
| heVe that Influence should be extended not
| by force and violence. but through the per-
suasive powers of a high and honorable ex-
ample
The importance of other questions now
pehdlng before the American people is in
| no wise diminished, and the democratic
party takes no backward step from its nOsi-
ton on them. But the burning issue of i'm
perialism growing out of the Spanish war
involves the very existence of the republic
and the destruction OF our free institutions
we regard 1t as the paramount issue of the
campaign.
The declaration in the republican plat
form adopted at the Philadelphia conven-
ton held in June, 1900. that The republican
party steadfastly adhered to the policy an
noGnced in the Monroe doctrine is manifest
" lnslncere and deceptive. This profession
l.; contradicted by the avowed policy of
| mat party in opposition to the spirit of the
Monroe doctrine TO acquire and hold sover-
eighty over large areas of territory and
large numbers of people in the eastern
hemisphere.
We insist on the strict maintenance Of
the Monroe doctrine aEG on all its integrity
| both in letter and spirit, and necessary to
| prevent the cxteIs.on 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 un-
willing subsection TO European authority
| Opposition to MiIitarism
We oppose militarsm. 1t means conquest
abroad and intimidation and oppression at
| home. 1t means the strong arm which has
| ever been fatal to free institutions II Is
| what millions of Our citizens have fled from
In Europe. 1t will impose upon our peace
| loving people large standing army and
| unnecessary burdens of taxation and a con-
stant menace to their liberties. A small
| standing army and u wcll-discplincd state
| militia are amply sufficient in time of peace
| The republic has place for a vast mill
| tary service and conscription
When the nation is in danger the volun-
teer soldier is his country's best defender
| The National Guard of the United States
| should ever be cherished in the patriotic
| hearts OF free people. Such organiza-
| tions are ever an element of strength and
| safety. For the first time in our history
| and coeval with the Philippine CONQUEST
| has there been wholesale departure from
| our time-holored and approved system of
volunteer organizations. We denounce 1t as
| un-American, undemocratic and unrepubli-
| can. and as a subversion of the ancient
and nxed principles of free people
| PRIVATE monopolics are iadefensible and
| lntoerable They destroy competition, con-
| trol the price OF all material and of the fin
| lshed product, thus robbinS both producer
| and consumer. They lessen the employ-
| Hent Of labor and arbitrarily fix the terms
| ard conditions thereof and deprive individ-
| ual energy and small capital Of the oppor-
| tuEity for bettermcEt.
| Ihey are the most efficient vet devised
| for appropriating the fruits of Industry to
| the beneht of the few at the expense of the
| many. and unless their Unsuitable 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 conclusive pre- of the truth
| o. the charge that trusts an the legitimate
| product of republican policies. Alat they are
/ fostered by republican laws, and that they
| are protected by the republican administra-
| ron In return for campaign subscriptions
| a2d political support.
| To War Against Monopoly
| We pledge the democratic party to an un-
| ceasing warfare in nation, state and CITY
against private monopoly in every form.
| Existing laws against trusts must be en-
| forced and more stringent ones must be en-
acted providing for publicity as to the af-
falrs OF corporations engaged in interstate
commerce. and requiring all corporations to
| show. before doing business outside of the
| state Of their origin, that they have no
| water in their stock and that they have