Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-07-24
What Doe, 1t Mean?


the tariff agitation which has suddenly
fsprung up in the Republican papers is
a sort of red herring across the trail of
the imperialistlc fot. Not the slightest
doubt is warranted that the Republi-
cans are very much worried over the
possible fate of their colonial schemes.
1t was only by narrow majority Of
one that these schemes We're not given
their quietus by the Supreme Court;
and the reasoning by which the major
fly reached this decision in favor of
government by force was SO devious
and so incoherent that the fears of the
| plotters have been augmented rather
than allayed.
So far from the anti-imperial propa
ganda having lost heart or hope, there
are evidences that 1t has taken on fresh
zeal and that 1t has accepted the hint
of the Supreme Court and will center
Its fire upon Congress hereafter. Had
this been done in the last election, 1t is
exceedingly doubtful whether the Fiji
ty-seyenth Congress would have had a
majority which could be relied upon to
attempt the governing of acquired ter
ritory outside the pale of the Constitu
ton. AS it was the anti-imperialists
let Congress go rather by default, con-
centrating their efforts on the over
throw of Mckinley himself. This at
tack having failed and the question
still being open, the anti-imperialists
now see their way clear to decisive
test of strength.
The question of Imperialism in all its
badness and all its immortality and all
Its cruel disregard of human rights will
now be brought home to the plain peo-
pie in the Congressional districts of the
whole country. No intervening ques-
ton will be permitted to cloud the is
sue. No suggestion of Reputation" or
national dIshonor' or overthrow of
prosperity" can be worked in by cum
ming political jugglers to confuse the
public mind and brighten timid bust
ness interests into supporting the Presi-
dent in his brutal policy Of foreign con-
quest. The people will be asked to de-
eide whether they are in favor of
American ideals and American princi-
Piles or whether they wish to abandon
these principles and ideals and go back
more than a century to take up with a
policy which our fathers fought and
died to overthrow.
4. The Republicans undoubtedly see
that this is going to be the line of at
tack. They are therefore casting about
for the best way to side-track the agi-
tation. They know full well that the
people are restless under the frightful
burdens of Dingleyism, burdens which
the trusts make heavier by eXtortions
of their own under its monstrous pro-
lection. But the Republicans have no
intention of wiping out Dingleyism or
Of overthrowing the trusts. They do
intend to fool the people as far as they
can with plans for the modification of
the Dingley tariff and the curtailment
of trust robbery. They talk and will
continue to talk of reciprocity and per-
haps Babcock will talk and continue to
!; talk Of free-listing some trust-made ar
ticles; but let no one be deceived. The
party of public plumber, the party of
! privilege, the party of plutocracy, is not
going to put stop to public plumber.
Not IL 1t can help 1t. But If this party
can divert popular attention from its
schemes of world conquest by talking
of the tariff and by renewing the agita-
ton along that line, what more likely
than that 1t should resort to this trick
in order to gain time for the carrying
out Of its vast undertakings in colonial
Ism?
i, That the tariff is attracting more and
more attention and that sooner or later
| that issue must become detinitivc one
before the American people is certain.
, 1t really ought to be the foremost ques-
ton before the people at this moment
!, and 1t would be but for the lamentable
fact that the Dingley party has taken
care to oyershadow TINT tremendous is.
sue with one even more tremendous
For after all the matt =. Of preserving
free government is Aore important
than the establishment of free trade
Ordinarily Democrats would welcome
the precipitation Of the tariff question
!, into the arena of political discussion.
, Indeed they would welcome 1t Mt this
suspicious suggestion that 1t is being
dragged in for the purpose Of distract
ing notice from the more vital question
of whether we shall have Republic
or an Empire. Democrats can hardly
avoid taking hand In the fight where
the tariff is concerned mud this fact
: is relied upon by the imperial free.
hooters to disturb the alliance be-
!, tween the Democrats and those of the
> Republican faith who have Joined the
/, Democratic party on the issue of i'm.
perialism. Whether the plans of the
. Republicans will fail or not remains to
: be seen.
: But that this is really the inspira.
! ton of all the stir that is recently
5 abroad concerning the tariff we have
little doubt. The plutocratic party has
E enormous undertakings in view. 1t is
not merely seeking to govern Cuba
! Porto Rico and the Philippines by force
1t is not merely looking for the conquest
of the islands of the sea; it is plan
= ming for the conquest of the United
States; and 1t has made the first steps
In that direction. 1t has already over
thrown free government in one of the
sovereign States of the Union. 1t is
: only question of time and of public
} temper when it will take further steps
along the same imperial road. And that
party may be trusted to resort to any
expedlent, however desperate, to avoid
a square issue before the people on the
vital question of Republic or Empire
If it can keep the Empire in the back
!. ground by Juggling the tariff to the
4, front, 1t will accept the risk of free
3 trade rather than challenge return tc
the old fundamentals of the Republic
3 I-Johnstown Democrat.
Where Do Republican, Stand.
Senator Foraker is right, no doubt
in saying that the Democratic part,
: has not lately made an authoritative