The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-08-21

The democratic party must not be mega
tive party-a party of mere opposition. 1t
cannot be party of calamity which draws
vitality and success from Industrial or finan-
clal depression. 1t will merit success be-
cause 1t grapples the problems of the present
and brings to their solution wise statesman
ship, the wisdom that comes from democratic
principles, because 1t is guided by the com
pass OF the constitution, ever pointing to the
great declaration of human rights which the
fathers proclaimed at the beginning and fixed
IN the armament of our national life. From
that guide and that object we get our cardinal
principles Of equality of all men-natural and
corporate-to enjoy the rights and bear the
burdens of government
While it remedies the wrongs Of special
legislation for favored classes, 1t will labor
for the upbuilding of right industrial and
commercial progress, for real expansion from
within that will make our country the great
political and commercial power of the world,
while all Of our people will share in its pros
perity while they enjoy the blessings of free
government and the noblest citizenship. We
are facing to-day conditions that are moment
Gus, destructive to our industries, our com
merce and the welfare Of our people-condi-
tions that have been created by the republican
party In violation of the democratic doctrine
of equal rights to all and special privileges to
none-that it was the destiny of the United
States to be the great American power, the
dominent power of the western hemisphere
Imperialism and Trusts.
Imperialism and trusts are the two great
dominant evils of our national life. They
produce the two great issues which the demo-
cratic party must meet The colonial policy
of the administration had it's inspiration and
its demand from place hunters, concession
grabbers, from those who have seek special
privileges in our acquired possessions. If
the administration had said to those who
sought concessions in Havana and Manila
that its policy was equal rights to all and
special privileges to none, we would have had
no war in the Philippines and our army Of
occupation would long age have left Cuba.
There can be no solution of the trust prob
lem; there can be no breaking down of
monopoly until government favor is with
drawn from them Destroy monopoly and
special class privileges and you kill the
trusts. Commence in the patent office, the
fountainhead of legalized monopoly.
If the government at Washington would
demand that the stock of every corporation
licensed by it represents money or property
at its actual worth-if 1t will see that it gets
no undue advantage from the transportation
companies-that it uses no unfair means to
destroy legitimate competition-that It sells
its products for fair price-that it treats its
employees honestly and pays fair wages for q
fair days work-if 1t will oblige it to pay an
income tax upon its possible earnings. we
would find a great many Napoleons of finance
losing interest In what are now the vast
monopolies and trusts Of the world, and
honest business men could use their methods
of operation for the benefit of our in
dustries.
Duty of the States.
II congress persists in refusing to submit
necessary amendments to the constitution Of
the United States it is the duty OF the states
to call a convention for that purpose and
! revise the constitution by adding to it the
grants necessary to enable congress to con-
troll the trusts, destroy monopoly, provide
for an income tax on persons and corpora