Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-27
CORNISH REFUTES ISLANDER
Denies that He Has Ever RepudiSted q
Republican Platform.
PARTY PLEDGES ARE BEING REDEEMED
Declines 60 he Placed n n False Light
by wOrld-HersId and It's Follow
ing of MOnErel POl-
ittciana.

OMAHA, July 26.-To the Editor Of The
Bee; A local newspaper charges me with
having two years ago repudiated the re-
publican platform, for which l voted as a
delegate from this district In the national
republican convention. The charge 10 false.
| should be Judged by what l said, and not
by the headlines that we're written by the
World Herald.
The platform declared specifically that
the pledge to Cuba should be kept. Any
republican campaign speaker who argued
otherwise two years ago repudiated the
platform of his party. Any republican
speaker who argued that China was to be
divided by the powers Of Europe and that
Il was necessary for our commercial in
terests to obtain sovereignty over a por-
tion Of China in the expected division, has
been proved to be out of harmony with
republican policies. Any republican who
argued in favor OF the colonial system in
the Philippines and sympathized with the
restrictions upon the elective franchise
which has been adopted by the democratic
party in the southern states, ~repudlated
that plank in the republican national plat
form which In effect condemned the demo-
cratic party for DISTINGUISHING the laboring
population of the south who happened to
be colored. President Roosevelt himself.
in his Decoration day address, has treated
the question of the permanent government
Of the Philippine Islands as an open one
and said that It should not be determined
until after a stable government is formed.
Freedom in Philippines.
Meanwhile, all the legislation in refer
ence to the islands has tended toward Civ
ing them local self government and en-
couraging them to participate In political
affairs. More freedom in the American
sense has been given to the Philippines in
the short space of four years than was
ever given by any other conquering people
to their subjects in a century. Every
person who knows me, knows that my
love Tor and belief in freedom makes me
sympathize with the present course and
willing to assist in its f%ruition. 1t 10 not
the manner, but the end, we seek. That
in the end freedom In the American sense
will be obtained through the republican
~party-always its Champion have no
doubt.
Many political issues existed long before
the Spanish war and will exist after Phil
ippine affairs have passed into history.
Who ever knew Of a republican being con-
demned by his fellows because he loved
freedom and believed that only in the bet
terment Of the conditions of the poor can
society improve? 1 care not whether the
poor are the toiling masses of the north,
the disfranchised laborers Of the south or
the helpless subjects of other nations. Par
ticipation in and responsibility for the az
fairs Of government is the only policy that
ever developed individuality and charact'r
in any people.
Such receptions as are being practiced
against me are refuted by the act of Presi-
dent Roosevelt in selecting Mr.. Littlefeld
to prepare the bill for the regulation OF
trusts and monopolies. Why did not the
president choose our congressman. who
ought to be equipped by ten years OF once
for such work, instead Of a man who had
been but two terms in office and had be-
come prominent as an anti-imperialist re-
publican? The president recognizes that
the sentiments and instincts that made
Mr.. Littlefield oppose the Beveridge wing
of the republican party were not based SC
much on mere sentimentality as the effect
upon the great problems that confront us
at home. Those who love freedom and be-
Ieve in the equality of all men before the
law as both right and expedient will be
found the truest friends Of the people In
these serious problems that threaten equal
ity Of opportunity in our society.
Policy of President.
President Roosevelt recognizes that In
the building Of the isthmian canal and the
government of distant possessions during
the period Of pacihcation there is grave
danger that the frauds that attended the
building of the Union Pacific railway will
be repeated and that individual selhshness
may corrupt distant officers and draw sus-
picion upon our pure motives in the Is
lands. Honesty and merit in the public
service has been the hobby Of his life
Never did our country stand more in need
OF such a man with such a hobby. HI
knows that his truest friends and support
ers will be the men who long ago foresav
such dangers. When the interests tha'
, have always and are now supporting Mr.
: Mercer shall look with fear upon Presiden
Roosevelt's honesty and strenuosity thu
! masses Of republicans will be glad to know
that there are men like Mr., Littleneld wit
will support and hold up the hands Of tn
-.o.I5art "a q rnatter NJ ronviction and M