Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-04-19

Monticello on the anniversary OF his
birth, should be read by every lover
of his country and especially by every
democrat. Referring to the extension
|of American institutions Mr.. Hill
spoke of the negotiation by Jefferson
OF the treaty with France for the pur-
chase of Louisiana That. he said,
was democratic expansion, desirable
from every point OF view. because the
territory was intended for statessand
not permanent colonies, and the con-
stitution was applicable to it, with all
its sacred guarantees of life. liberty
and property. That expansion, he
said-natural. legitimate, inevitable
plished nonorably, without
wrong or injustice to any country or
people, can no more be compared to
the recent and pending experiment
with the Philippine islands than light
can be compared with darkness. Re-
ferring TO monopolies he said:
When billion dollar corporate COM
binations are forming on every side,
dazzling US with the bolduess of their
conception and the Dor ndless extent
of their proposed operations, it is
high time to consider whether some
Wholesale restrictions upon such cor
porate undertakings are not essential
in the interest of the people. Jeffer-
sons teachings might suggest limit
upon the amount of the dividends
which could be lawfully declared or
upon the profits which could be legal
| ly accumulated by these tremendous
business organizations. Or he might
demand that the government, in JUS
tice to its overburdened taxpay ers,
should Withdraw its tariff favors from
the infant industries represented by
these institutions whose projectors
are already rolling in wealth and are
astonishing the world by the munifi-
cence of their private benefactious.
We may at least be quite sure that he
would not appoint to the high office
of attorney general of the United
States the man recommended by the
friends and promoters of these very
schemes, whose official province it
would be to prosecute all violators OF
those federal statutes passed to pre-
vent the contamination of Just such
public wrongs"
In conclusion Mr.. Hill said: "And
now word to party friends as to the
future. We must not be dismayed by
recent defeats. The democratic party
was not born to die. 1t has survived
the political vicissitudes of hundred
years-disasters which would have
destroyed any other political organi-
cation that ever existed, but it still
lives with its 6. 342. coo voters. unter-
rifed = indestructable- unpurchasa-
BILE, conscious of the righifulness of
its cause and confident of the ulti-
mate supremacy of its principles.
1--WE have a right to be proud OF
our ancient political lineage. Our
party is the great conservative force
In the country today. and absolutely
necessary to its welfare. 1t stands
against radicalism of every descrip-
ton. 1t is opposed to plutocracy on
the one hand and communism on the
other. 1t antagonizes monopoly on the
one side and socialism on the other.
1t is opposed to Imperialism in the
Philippine islands and anarchy in
Cuba. 1t respects the vested rights
of capital and at the same time SYM
pathises with labor oppressed. 1t has
no alliance with powerful corporate
interests. Neither is it in league with
demagogues who disturb society and
agitate for the mere sake Of. agitation.
1t does not regard the possession of
wealth as crime, nor even a badge
of honor; nor does it consider poverty
as either disgrace or a virtue. 1t
makes no war upon classes, but OPP
poses corrupt and vicious systems
and methods wherever they are to be
found"