Willmar tribune., 1900-09-26
location, our character and our insti-
tut1ons give us in the worlds affairs.


The doctrine enunciated by Monroe,
and approved by succeeding presidents,
IS essential to the welfare of the
United States. The continents of
North and South America are dedica-
ted to the development of free govern
ment. One republic after another has
been established, until to-day mon
archial idea has barely a foothold in
the new world
While it is not the policy of this
country to interfere where amicable
relations exist between European
countries and their dependencies IL
America, our people would look with
disfavor upon any attempt on the part
of European governments to maintain
an unwilling or forclble sovereignty
over the people living on this side Of
the Atlantic.
The position taken by the Republi-
can leaders, and more recently set
forth by the Republican candidate for
the Presidency, viz: That we cannot
protect nation from outside inter-
ference without exercising sovereignty
over it's people, Is an assault upon the
Monroe doctrine, for while this argu-
ment Is at this time directed against
the proposition to give to the Filipinos
both independence and protection, it
Is equally applicable to the Republics
of Central and South America. II this
government cannot lend it's strength to
another Republic without making sub
5ects of its people, then we must
either withdraw our protection from
the Republics to the south Of us or alb
sorb them! Under the same plea, that
the guardian nation must exert an au-
thority equal to its responsibility, Eu-
ropean nations have for centuries ex-
plotted their wards, and it is sig
nificant fact that the Republican party
should accept the European idea of a
protectorate, at the same time that it
adopts European colonial policy.
There Is no excuse for this abandon
ment of the American idea. We have
maintained the Monroe doctrine for
three-Quarters Of a century. The ex-
pense to us has been practically moth
ing, but the protection has been beyond
value to our sister Republics. If a
Filipino Republic is erected upon tho
ruins Of Spanish tyranny, its protec--
tion by us will be neither difficult nor
expensive. No European nation would
be willing for any other European ma
tion to have the islands. neither would
any European nation be willing to pro-
woke war with us in order to obtain
possession of the islands. If we assert
sovereignty over tho Filipinos we will
force. and the Filipinos will be our
enemies; If we protect them from out
side interference, they will defend
themselves and will be our friends. If
they show as much determination in
opposing the sovereignty of other ma
tions as they have shown in opposing
our sovereignty, they will not require
much assistance from us.
Extravagance.
The Republican party, drawing as it
does enormous campaign funds from
those who enjoy special privileges at
the hands of the government, is power
less to protect the tax payers from the
attack of those who profit by large ap-
preparations. A surplus in the treas
ury offers constant temptation to ex-
travagance, and extravaganza, in turn,
compels resort to new means of taxa
ton, which, is being kept in the back
ground until the campaign is over, is
fair illustration of the imposition
which will be attempted when there is
considerable amount of money idle
in the treasury. The rehabilitation Of
the merchant marine, laudahle in it.
self, is made the pretext for expen-
diture of public money for the benefit
of large ship owners, and in the in
terests of transportation monopoly
The government being only the agent
of the people, has no right to collect
from the people taxes beyond the le-
gitimate needs Of government hon.
estly and effectively administered, and
public servants should exercise the
same degree of care in the use Of the
pOOpAS nOACy SA0I PAAFdkS 4AOASAO"
uals do in the use of their own money.
With a restoration of foreign policy
consistent with American ideas there
can be an immediate and large reduc-
ton in the burdens now borne by the
people.
Income Tax.
BY inadvertence the Income Tax
plank agreed upon by the Resolutions
committee, was omitted from the plat
form as read and adopted. The SUBJ
ject, however, is covered by = the re-
affirmation Of the Chicago platform,
| and take this occasion to reassert
my belief in the principle which under
lies the income tax. Congress should
have authority to levy and collect an
income tax whenever necessary, and
an amendment to the federal consti-
tuition specifically comforting such au-
thority ought to be supported by even
those who may think the tax unneces-
sary at this time. In the hour Of
danger the government can draft the
citizen; 1t ought to be able to draft
! the pocketbook as well. Unless money
Is more precious than blood we can
not AFFORD to give greater protection to
the incomes Of the rich than to the