The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-09-04
IMPERIALISM.

IMPERIALISM.
Taking ND the subject Of imperialism
Mr.. Jones said that 1t was the one OF
supremest importance. Ii involves the
gery existence Of the Republic and the
perpetuation Of our free institutions.
Unless the people by their votes in No
vember condemn the policy which has
been and is being pursued by Mr.. Nc
| Kinley's administration the foundations
upon which our republican government
/ rests must sink beneath It. The Re
| publican party has not had the courage
| 60 enunciate a policy in regard 10 our
foreign accusations. The whole world
knew what the policy Of the Democratic
| marty would be IL entrusted with the
reins of the Government The solemn
| pledge to give TO the Oubans their free
| dom aud independence will be sacredly
kept If Mr.. Bryan becomes President
| and the unjustifiable and unholy war
now being prosecuted against the Fill
pinos would be brought TO an end. The
| Constitution conferred upon Congress
| the right 30 declare war and Congress
| alone has the constitutional right TO
appropriate money TO carry on war, and
| yet for more than a year and half one
| man has arrogated unto himself the
/ right and the power to carry on
relentless foreign war costing
millions Of money and the lives
| of thousands Of American soldiers.
| This was the criminal exercise Of an.
tocratic power in conformation to the
| spirit. IL not the letter Of the constitu-
! ton. The money cost Of the Spanish
| war and our futile efforts TO paolfy the
| Philippine Islands was enormous, and
vet that was nothing as compared with
| the lives lost in battle and wasted by
| disease. II the islands contained all
the undeveloped wealth which Repub'
lican orators have pictured. their pos
session would not compensate for the
wrecked lives, ruined constitutions. the
misery and the grief which the prose-
cution of the accursed war has entailed
upon our country. but even from the
sordid point of view of money alone.
Mr.. McKinley's policy was q colossal
thunder. There have been appropriated
during two sessions Of the Doth Oon'
Qress, solely on account OF the Spanish
war and in maintenance OF the Repub-
lican policy of imperialism, S4SS OOO' :
600 in round numbers, and the hrst ses'
sion OF the 56th Congress. Just ended,
appropriated Sl3l, 600 600, making In
all the gigantic sum Of 1913, 900, GOO,
whilst the total value of all the trade
and commerce, imports and exports
between North America and the Phil
ippine Islands for the last six months
Of the year 1899, according to statistics
furnished By the Treasury Department,
was less than $1,000 600 There are now
over go. 900 American soldiers in the
Philippine Islands, although Gen. Otie
assured us not long ago that 20. 600 were
all that would be needed to subjugate
the people of these islands, bat even II
we succeeded in making of the Philip.
pine Archipelago the subject province
of the United States, it Will be Deces'
sary to keep there for all time an army
of so 600 men, or twice as large an
army as we had before the Spanish war
at an annual cost Of more than $50. 600 :
900, to say nothing Of the loss OF life
as a result of the dissipation and dis
ease incident to that deadly climate.
Mr.. Jones commented in bitter terms
upon policy which resulted In filing
Manila with bar.rooms and dives. and
which had been the ruin Of 30 many oil
| tQb yOutu VI AmCAiOnt bAfAbB EbNAOi
aud facts to sustain his statements.
TRIBUTE TO BRYAN.
Mr.. Jones paid a glowing tribute e
the characters Of Msssrs. Bryan anC
Stevenson, giving it as his opinion
that viewed from every standpoint
: taking into consideration the beauty OF
his private life. his high moral char
: acter, his exalted ability,-his wonder.
fol eloquence, his steadfastness Of pur-
pose, his devotion TO principle, his in.
tense patriotism and his love of his
: countrymen, without regard to station
or position, Mr.. Bryan is the greatest
statesman alive to-day.
{ Mr.. Jones closed with an eloquent ap
peal TO his auditors without regard L
I party TO uphold the Constitution Of tho
! country BY supporting the Democratic
a. 49, l..