Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1903-01-14
IMPERIALISM AND DEMOCRATS.
An Issue That = Without Foun dation
~sosHa Csreenry the Osly
SAFE Ore.

1 40 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OK senator
James IL. Jones that anti-imperial-
ism must be the paramount issue
upon which the democrats go into
the next presidential campaign
would have tendency To disturb
| oil democrats who wish for the sue
cess of the party were il not for
one thing. That Is the settled CON
viction that James Il. will not be
/ allowed to dictate or formulate a
policy for the party in 1904. His Gay
as leader or dictator Is past. and the
party will select safer man TO fol-
low when it again falls into line for
national campaign His ineilicicn-
cy as leader has bcen fully dem
onstrated, and he and those who
think with him may as well retire
gracefully or they will he retired,
says the Montgomery (Ala.) Adver-
tiser (dem.).
The folly of making or trying to
| make definite issue of anti-im-
| perialism is mere moonshinc. Ii
matters not what the individual opin-
Ions of democrats snay be on the
| question of our foreign policy. il is
foolish to suppose that the party will
| unite in opposition 10 the policy of
| the government while it is engaged
in foreign war. IL is perfectly true
| that some of our strongest demo
cratic statesmen are opposed to the
retention of the Philippines. but il
is equally true that others of equal
prominence and patriotism. as well
rs of equal devotion to democracy.
are in full accord with the policy now
being pursued. We admit that demo
| Gratis may hold these diverse opinions
| without ceasing to he democrats, but
to talk about uniting the party on
| policy of virtual opposition to the
government is tommy-rot. Evidently
Senator Jones wishes to fall upon an
issue which will virtually relegate
| the money question to- the back
ground without saying so in so many
words. He would find. il he could
| have his way. that his paramount is.
| sue" would divide the democracy in
| finitely worse than free coinage did
While we are speaking of issues
and platforms, it may not he out of
place to refer to the platform re-
Gently formulated by one OF the
shre~est men in the party, David b.
Hill. il is thus briefly stated:
| IA strict construction of the fed.
eral constitution. No entangling al
liances with foreign nations. Insist
ence upon the reserved right of the
states. Public taxation for public
purposes only. Opposition to monop-
olies and dangerous combinations of
capital. The preservation of the
personal liberty of the citizen. No
Capitalization. Home rule for states
and municipalities. These are dem
ocratic principles, which survive all
defeats and must ultimately tri-
umph."
We thoroughly agree with Mr.. Hill
that these are all democratic prfnci
pies, old as the party itself, and II
should not be difficult for democrats
To unite on platform of this kind
but we do not believe it will be hon.
est OF good policy to ignore the
money question, for the republicans
will not allow our party to remain
silent on that point. The party must
declare itself in favor of safe and
sound financial system and Of n safe
and permanent currency, or IL need
not go into the fight at all. Moth.
ing is more absolutely certain i'm our
estimation than this. The republic
ans will undoubtedly go into the next
campaign with plain and unequiv-
ocal declaration for sound money
and a safe and fixed monetary sys.
tenn, and for the democrats to under
take TO make fight on platform
Of lodging and cowardly evasion on
tie currency question would mean
defeat from the beginning. IT is as
certain as anything can be in politics
that the entire country has made up
its mind on the currency question
and any party which attempt, to dis
turb or disorgarize our mo notary
system is defeated at the begin
ming. Whatever form or language
'he leaders of the party may see best
20 adopt in dealing with this ques
ton. it must be done in such way
ms will assure the country that our
tcurrency will not he debased or our
finances disturbed and demoralized.
With all MI. HIS shrewdness as q
leader. IL he thinks democracy can
win battle by lodging the financial
Issue. he is as badly mistaken ms
Jones is when he thinks he can unite
the democrats OF the country on a
declaration Of anti-impcrialism.
POINTED PARAGRAPHS.