Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-08-09

menace popular government. Your con-
v%ention. in language clear and ,inmis-
takeable.. has presented the vital issues
upon which the pending contest is to be
determined. To its platform give my
THE Supreme Question.
Mr.. Stevenson discussed the various
planks of the platform, and continu-
ing said;
A question is yet to be discussed to
which all of these are of secondary inn
po.rtance. 1T is solernly declared by our
Questions of domestic policy, however.
may be but the questions of
the %hour-that of imperialism is for time.
others seem but as the dust in the bal
a,ice. In no sense paltering with words,
1t is the supreme question of republic or
publican senator, Mr.. Hoar, challenge at
tention: Il believe that perseverance III
this policy will be the abandonment of
ment is found I'd, that it will change our
government into an empire, that our
methods of legislation, OF d%iplomacyy. of
which belong to empires and not those
which belong to republics"
Upon every phase of our foreign policy
the language of the democratic platform
is too clear to admit of misconstruction.
1t avo trade expansion by all peace
fni and lawful means. We believe that
lows the nag. Democrats, In common
with many republicans, oppose the Porto
Rican law as Il violation of the constitu-
toward a %dependent people; It Imposes
erned. 1t is in conflict with thai pro-
that Duties, imposts and excises shall
be uniform throughout the United
States Believing that this constitutional
United States, we condemn the tariff tax
alton imposed by a republican congress
upon the helpless and distressed people
solely by ereed-is Indeed the harbfnger
of evil to the republic. The attempt to
collect unjust taxes with one hand, and,
u pluldered people. is utterly without
constitutional warrant or justification.
We. give our earnest assent 10 the decla.,
ration: 'Our plain duty is to abolish all
custom tariffs between the United
States and Porto Rico, and give her pro-
ducts access to our markets." No party
parlure by the president from the plain
pathway of duty he had here SO clearly
Indicated. The law imposing tariff duties
upon the people of Porto Rico is Il palpa-
BILE violation of the constitution and a
fragrant breach of The pledged faith of
the nation.
~ Philippine Foley.
The democratic platform condemns the
t%ration toward the Philippine Islands.
This policy-inspired by the greedy spirit
of commercialism-has embroiled our
government In AN unnecessary war, sac
riticed valuable lives and placed the
American republic in deadly ~antagonism
to our former allies in their efforts to
in our history we are boldly confronted
with the question OF "1mperialism-the
spirit of empire"
This is indeed the supreme question to
which all others are of secondary i'm
portancc. Before we break irrevocably
With the past, and abandon the doctrines
oil the fathers, it is We'll that we deliber-
ate upon the consequences of a perma-
nent departure from the settled govern
mental policy of more than, a century.
The success OF the impcrialistic policy
forcsliadoWS the empire. Shall the clos
ing hours OF the century witness the
American people abandoning the sure
formed prosperity and happiness and en-
barking upon that OF aggression and con-
quest, against which we arc warned by
the wrecks that lie along the entire path
new policy. OF conquest, with all that 1t
involves of European complication, are
the warnings Of the founders Of the re
public. Out of fashion as 1t may APP
pear, l quote the last words of Washing
ton toethe oncoming generations of his
countrymen: The great rule of conduc,
extending our commercial relations, tc
have with them as. little political con.
Of the declaration who said: "Our frs
and fundamental maxim should be never
To cntanglc ourselves in the broils OF
Europe Is 1t not we'll to ponder these
warnings before permanently embarkinl
upon an untlied pathway bcSet With for
c.gn jcalousies, complications and an
tagonisms?
Democratic Expansion.
The democratic party has ever been thu
advocate of wise territorial expansion. i
was in control of the government during
forty years OF the first nalf of the presen
century. During that period new state
Il Srora. 81 ri NJ IL ta.fla ibf, - hn tnd ara a a n
our western border extended beyond tn
Mississippi. Out of the Louisiana coun
try-and as a result of the treaty which
terminated our war with Mexico-wc &C
CURED California and neighboring terri
tories, thus bringing under our nag, 7
remain forever, the vast expansc stretch
ing to the Pacific ocean.
The policy of aggressive expans!on-o
subJugation of distant is~lands-pursue'
by the present administration, tinds n
precedent in the p~eaceable cession of TIL
Louisiana country by Napoleon, that o
~l'lorida by spain, nor that, yet later, Q
the vast western area by Mexico. TIL
territory acquired under democratic ad
mlnlstration was, with favorable climati
conditions, the mt abode for men of GU
own race. Al the time OF ~annexation
passed under the rule of the Angio-Saxor
who carried with him our language an
our laws. 1t was Il territory ccalguou
70 our own. and acquired with the de
clared intentioIi-When the conditions an
population would justiiy--ot carving
INTO states. The result: millions g
american homes. our national; wealth in
creased be.%ond the dream OF avarice an
the United States chief among the ma
tions OF the earth.
Can it he that the new policy of fore
BILE annexation OF distant islands find
precedent in The historic events l hay
!n~cntioncdY Tie ;,nswer is ound in tn
bare statement of facts. The %territor
acquired urder democratic administra
ton is c~oniisuors-tnc Philippine island
eight Thousand miles distant. The az
QUESTION OF territory uoon our own COZ
tlnent added little 10 The national e,
pense--to maintain permanent sovereign
: ty over tho distant islands nccessitate
immense Expenditure; upon our army an
navy. More ll.a'l that, it contcmplate
not to the republic. but to the empir
Can it be doubted that the attempt
stiie the spirit Of liberty abroad will in
peril popular government al noulcl
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