Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-05-28

ulation Of contracts Of citizens Of
state or in relation to the corporations,
and we demand that laws be enacted
further restricting the power of the
Federal courts to interfere with the
internal affairs and administration or
Justice in the state. We condemn the
Dingley tariff law as trust-breeding
measure, skillfully devised to give the
few favors which they do not deserve
and to place upon the many burdens
which they should not bear. We re-
affirm our belief in a tariff for reve-
nue. only and that taxation should be
so regulated as to meet the demands
of an honest and economical govern
ment.
We condemn all class legislation,
such as the ship subsidy bill. which we
believe to be a rich mans raid on the
public Golfer, and we also condemn
all sectional legislation, such as the
Crumpacker bill, which we believe to
be intended to arouse sectional ami
mosities. We hold, with the United
States supreme court, that the Declar-
alton of Independence is the spirit of
our government, of which the consti-
tuition Is the form and letter. We de-
clare again that all governments insti-
tuted among men derive their just
powers from the consent Of the govern
ed; that any government not based up
on the consent of the governed Is
tyranny. and that to impose upon any
people the government of force Is to
substitute the methods Of Imperialism
for those of a republic. We hold that
the constitution follows the flag and
denounce the doctrine that an execu-
tive Of congress deriving their exist
ence and their powers from the consti-
tuition can exercise lawful authority
beyond it or in violation Of 1t. We as
sert that no nation can long endure half
republic and half empire, and we warn
the American people that imperialism
abroad will lead quickly and inevita-
bly, to despotism at home. We con-
denim and denounce the Philippine pol
icy Of the present administration. 1t
has involved the republic in unneces-
sary war; sacrificed the lives of many
of our noblest sons and placed the
United States, previously known and
applauded throughout the world as the
champion of freedom, in the false and
un-American position Of crushing with
military force the efforts Of our for
mer allies to achieve liberty and self
government. The Filipinos cannot be
citizens without endangering our civil
ization; they cannot be subjects With
out imperilling our form of govern
ment, and as we are not willing to
surrender our civilization to convert
the republic into an empire, we favor
an immediate declaration Of the ma
tion's purpose to give the Filipinos,
first, a stable form of government;
second, independence, and third, pro-
lection from outside interference. We
are not opposed to territorial expan-
sion when it takes in desirable terri
tory, which can be erected into states
in the Union and whose people are
willing and offer to become American
citizens. We favor expansion by every
peaceful and legitimate means, but
we are unalterably opposed to the seiz-
ing or purchasing of distant Islands
to be governed outside Of the consti-
tuition, and whose people can never
become citizens. We are in favor OF
extending the republics influence
among the nations, but believe that
influence should be extended, not by
force and violence, but through the
persuasive power Of higher and hon
orable example. The burning issue of
imperialism growing out Of the Span
ish war involves the very existence or
the republic and the destruction of our
free institutions. We regard 1t as the
paramount issue of the campaign.