Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-08-18

n ROB4AB4Aal4Jt Va tAAE AAGA4fAA a AAakA4S
Of the Kansas City platform and the
personal statements Of Mr.. Bryan CON
corning questions cf national impor
lance produces a horoscope for the
country that its voters VIII be slow
to indorse at the polls in November.
Porto Rico would either be erected
into territory or turned adrift to shift
for itself, with pronounced leaning
toward the policy Of abandonment
The Republicans are charged with en-
shaving and impoverishlng the island
Notwithstanding the fact that this
years volume Of business there, both
in imports and exports. Is about 100
per cent larger than it was last year.
Cuba would be abandoned AT once.
All officials, both civil and military,
would be withdrawn, and the Cubans
would be told to work out their own
future. Furthermore, this country
would have to trust to the honor and
ability of a government not yet created
for repayment Of the money loaned
and spent for the benefit of that is
land
The mutually jealous tribes of the
Philippine archipelago would be given
a stable native government without
the employment of force. How this
is to be done is a detail too simple to be
explained. The foreign population
would look to the Filipinos for pro
lection. The United States, without
any rights on land. would use the navy
to protect the natives from European
aggression and would take their part
In European quarre 1t is worth
while to notice also that when the
Democracy is talking about the Fill
pinos it insists that they should be
treated as the Cubans are. and when
speaking of Cuba it arraigns the con
duct of the administration in Cuba as
being burdensome, wrong and i'm
perialistic.
1t is demanded that the United
States take some formal action toward
stopping the war in South Africa. How
this is to be done is another unim-
portant detail which the country is
asked to leave to the wisdom of the
man whom Mr.. Bryan may select for
secretary of state.
An army of $4,000 or 10000 men
we are told is entirely too large for
little nation of 7J,000.000. Less than
one soldier for every 1000 inhabitants
is a threat and menace to the perpe-
tuity Of free institutions, and we are
told that an era of militarism is threat
ened. The Democratic candidate
would protect the country from inter
nal disorder and external aggression
with Bryan soldiers~clubs.
The country is told with words of
prophetic solemnity that unless Bryan
is elected in November there will be
no more Fourth of Julys. so it can be
seen that the matter is getting serious.
Then there is to be a good deal of
wiping out all along the line. Trusts
and business combinations are to be
wiped out, the Dingley tariff is to be
wiped out, the gold standard is to be
wiped out national banks are to be
wiped out, injunction by the courts is
to be wiped out and the party of Lin
coin is to be wiped out
No encouragement Is to be given to
foreign trade. But the cheap products
of Europe and Asia, made by cheap
labor, are to come into our markets
under a tariff for revenue only, not
protection, and they will destroy our
home industries and make American
labor as idle as it was under the
Democratic administration of Presi-
dent Cleveland.
These are some of the serious
changes promised by the tripartite
candidate for the presidency.
The Republican party is the party
Of Lincoln and Grant, whose work in
their respective spheres saved repub-
licanism not alone in America, but for
all the world. The rebellion was the
crucial test Of the ability of self gov
erning nation to stand the strain of
internecine strife The cost of saving
the Union was fearful. The land was
Unlocked with graves, the blood of
heroes fattened a hundred battletields,
the nation was exhausted, but the flag
was not furled, and not a single star
was lost from Its azure field. The re-
suit, however, was worth all it cost.
1t was struggle for integrity of en-
pire, and yet it was a struggle against
Imperialism. The triumph of the north
made thrones across the sea rock Oh
their old foundations, and some indeed
have fallen, while those which still
remain have only been able to endure
by granting n larger measure of self
government to their subjects. Man
hood has become a royal thing, due
to the efforts of the Republicans party
! to dignity and verify the sovereignty
of manhood. Power has drifred down
| to the masses, who became conscious
| of their power through the work OF
such men as Lincoln, Grant Garfield
Harrison and Mckinley, who in camp,
| in battle and in the councils of the ma
ton have made our country the envy
of the world. The policy of the Repub-
lican party has gone ON in advance OF
the flag, carrying some of the blessings
of liberty to peoples and countries
| who have npypr seen the banner OF