Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-08-02
THE ISSUE in SIGHT.
Protection and the Trusts VIII BE
Vigorously Combated by the
Democracy.

congress will be under way and the
people will decide by the political af-
filiation of those they then elect to
represent them what the future policy
of the government shall be on the i'm
portant issues that are now being dis
cussed.
Hon. James D. Richardson, chair
man of the democratic congre ssional
committee, gives to the Baltimore Sun
his views on some of the momentous
questions, as follows:
"The development of issues" he
said, ''is much more rapid than that
of candidates for either party in the
1904 contest. In the discussion of can
didates it must be borne in mind that
we have the congressional campaign
of 1909 to reckon with before we en-
ter upon the business of president
making in 1904.
"Out of the earlier contest may
grow conditions which will indicate
more clearly candidates available for
the presidency. The only excuse for
the discussion at this time of candi-
dates for 1904 seems to be found in the
|
less prominence to begin a canvass in
their own interests.
"The national issues of the near flu
ture seem to me to be more clearly in
dicated than at the close of our latest
contest it seemed possible they could
be SO soon. True democratic princi-
pies have great vitality. Whenever
the country feels that false theories
and dangerous policies are leading the
government from the observance of
right principles democratic doctrines
; are appealed to for rescue and safety.
? 1.-THE tariff question, which the re-
publican party declared few years
ago to have been settled finally and
forever in favor of high protection,
will be found to be very pressing in
the next presidential campaign.
Trusts, the offspring of the republican
policy, have grown so great that they
orertop the parent and Dame Protec-
J ton can no longer conceal them at her
!. back by spreading her skirts or en-.
veloping them in the black smoke OF
the factories. Even the trusts them
selves demand something more than
simple home products to feed on, and
the most robust of them are looking
for an open way to foreign markets
Within the very ranks of the repub.
| loan party there is discomfort at the
continuance of the system which shuts
US out of our proper place in the
worlds commerce. There is reluc-
tant acknowledgement that the old
democratic tariff doctrines furnish
means to open markets to our prod.
ucts. 1t may be clearly seen by one
who looks ahead that the tariff ques.
thon will enter into the campaign OF
1904 as an important issue, and that
the democrats will be found standing
where they have always stood.
"All the old articles of faith which
have given the democratic party en-
during life will be found boldly EN-.
, blaZonsd in the next national cam
paign. The preservation of the faith
Of our fathers will make the great
comprehensive issue of the campaign
"The jeopardy in which the Monroe
doctrine has been placed through the
) short-sighted policy of the Mckinley
administration is likely to attract very
become an overshadowing issue. do
not know whether It is fully realized
!, by our people that the agitation over
the Monroe doctrine at this time Is
due to the fact that the administra.
ton is seriously embarrassed by the
anticipated purpose Of foreign gov
ernments to acquire coaling station.
t b the proximity Of South and Contra
American ports.
. "Prior to our adventure in the Phil
1ppines and before we had become g
world power to use that term as the
advocates of empire use 1t, the desire
of foreign governments to establish
fish bases of supplies within The
sphere of American republics would
have occasioned no serious embar
rassment. There were no doubts ex
cited by foreign entanglements an6
complications of conflicting policy
There was no question Of our right tx
object, and it was silently acknowl
edged by all the world. But the
S new policy of the administration ha!
placed this government in suoh posi-
: ton that to maintain sovereignty ovel
ACLhOpS 3SAaldn tAS - ulCou Qua YES Ill US
acquire the right to establish coaline
stations within the sphere where the
influence of foreign powers is recog.
nized. How can this government deny
to other powers privilege within the
: sphere covered by the Monroe dictrine
while it seeks similar privilege within
their dominions? This is the question
which embarrasses.
"The administration does not know
how to refuse privileges similar to
those 1t must ask; yet to grant then
would be at least a modification of the
: Monroe dictrine, and would threaten
our stability as nation through per
f uniting the establishment of bases O.
supplies at our very ports, from which
, foreign powers could operate against
us in time Of war. Worse than aban
donnent of the Monroe doctrine, this
: would place us in the position of no,
being strong enough to defend it or tic
, defend ourselves with certainty from
attack.
"This is one of the penalties we are
, called upon TO pay for the privilege OF
expanding This is becoming "a
world power Whether we arc willing
to pay the penalty must be one OF The
, things tested in 1904"
1t is reported that the offer Of the
American who promised to give s25 900