The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-24

American people to shape their financial system
for themselves, regardless Of the action of other
nations. The failure Of the Republican party to
secure international brnctallism and it's open
espousal OF the gold standard still kept the
money question in politics, but no economic
question compare in Importance with
question which concerns the principles and struc.
ture Of government. Systems OF taxation can be
changed with less difficulty than financial system,
and financial systems can be altered with less
danger and less disturbance TO the country than
the vital doctrines upon which free government
rests.
Republic or Empirep
In the early sixties, when we were engaged in
a contest which was to determine whether we
should have one republic or two, questions OF
finance were lost sight Of Silver was at pre-
MUM over greenbacks and bank notes, but the
people could not afford to divide over the money
question in the presence Of a greater issue And
so today are engaged in controversy which
will determine whether we are to have republic
in which the government derives its just powers
from the governed an empire in which brute
force is the only recognized power
In a government where the people rule every
wrong can be rightcd and every evil remedicd,
but when once the doctrines Of sclf.government
is impaired, and might substituted for right,
there is no no certainty that any question will
be settled correctly
/ A colonial policy would so occupy the people
policy that domestic questions would be neglect.
ed. "Who will haul down the hagH" or "Stand
by the presidcntn would be the prompt response
to every criticism of the administration and cor
ruption and special privilege would thrive under
the cover Of patriotism.
Militarism.
II is not strange that the Populists should op.
pose militarsm and Imperialism, for both are
antagonistic to the principles which Populists
apply to their questions. Looking at questions
from the standpoint Of a speculator, the Popu-
list recognizes in militarism constant and in.
crcasng burden The army worm, which oc.
casonally destroys a field Of wheat, is not nearly
so dangerous an enemy to the farmer as large
standing army, which invades every field Of in.
industry and exacts toll from every crop.
II 900 men are withdrawn from the ranks
of the producers and placed as a burden upon
the backs of those who remain, it must mean
longer hours, harder work and greater sacrifice
for those who toll and the farmer, while he
pays more than his share Of the expenses of the
army, has no part in army contracts, in de-
veloping companies, and his sons are more likely
fill the life positions in the army than the
sons OF those who, by reason Of wealth politi
| cal prominence, exert influence at Washington.
Soon after the Republican leaders began to sug-
gest the proprety OF colonial policy, the pa.
| pcrs published an interview given out from
| San Francisco by a foreign consul residing at
| Manila. lie declared that the people of the Uni
| ted States owed 1t to themselves, to other ma
| tions, and to the Filipinos, to hold the Philip
| pine Islands permanently At the conclusion Of
| the interview there appeared the very insignif.
cant statement that the gentleman was visiting
the United States for the purpose of organizing
a company for the development of the Philip
pine Islands few days later on his way east
he gave out another interview in which he OK
| planned that the company which he intended to
/ 4
| other places throughout the islands and build
electric light plants, water plants, street car
| lines, railroads, factories, etc. 1t seemed that
| the plans Of his syndicate TO do all the de.
| veoping and leave the rest Of the American
people nothing to do in the matter except to
| furnish an army sufficient to hold the Filipinos
in subjcction while they were being developed.
| AT the present rate we will spend annually
upon the army approximately half as much as we
| spend for education in the United States, and
this immense sum is wrung from the taxpayers
by systems Of taxation which over-burdcn the
poor man and under.ax the rich
In the presence of such an issue as mitarism
it is impossible that any Populist should hesitate
| as to his duty.
| Rut even the name OF militarism is but a part
| of the question of imperialism. The policy con
| tcmpated by the Republican party nullifies every
principle set forth in the Declaration of lnde
pendence, strikes a blow at popular government
and robs the nation OF its moral prestige. Al
ready the more advanced supporters OF the
colonial idea point TO the economy of = system
of government which entrusts all power to ar
executive and does away with the necessity fol
legislation. The Army and Navy Journal, in it,
| issue Of August (, comments on the English sys
| TEN and declares that a result of this system
| fifth of the worlds area containing fifth o.
the population, is ruled with an administrative,
economy which is an administrative marvel anc
adds:
Zone million two hundred thousand dollar,
spent in London is the price Of administrative
aggregate S1,724 3j4, ,s9G, or 80 per cent. NOR,
than our total Of the federal state, county snC
village expenditures fer every possible purpose
for which taxes are levied. in contrast TO tn,
results Of this system Of executive administration
the fact is cited that the American congress ha
spent an entire session wrestling with the tariff
the taxation, the administration and the persona
rights Of two little islands. The English exccu
tive is an imperial executive. The British par
lament is an English Legislature. To the sam,
system we are coming by the decree OF circur
stances as inevitable that OF fate. If this b.
imperialism, make the most Of il. So far a
citizenship is concerned the British empire is one
but beyond the limits of the United Klgdom tn
citizen lives under rule essentially mcnarChia
and not restricted by the constitutional limita
tions Of the parliamentary system"
Cannot Hold Colonies.