The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-03-17
Outlines. At Milwaukee. What
Should Be Party's Attitude
On Various National
And State Questions
ADVOCATES THE PRIMARY LAW
Scores ImperiaIstic Doctrine OF Emil
nent Domain COmmendS Last
Philippine PIank-Urges Cana
dian Reciprocity As The
True Expansion

In very able and we'll received ad
dress before the jefferson Club of Mil
waukee, Monday evening, l.. j. Nash.
of this city, outlined his idea of the
platform upon which the party should
stand in the coming campaign. Mr.
Nash advocated the adoption of the
primary election law and recommended
that the platform of 1904 contain II
"commendatory reference to the Tax
Commission. Mr.. Nasn was particular
ly happy in his description of the diff
ferent attitudes of the Republican and
the Democrat with regard to govern
mental questions He remarked:
The party that looks back To Hamilton
rs its founder admires II great, strong,
busy AMI magnificent government, and
thinks II citizen should be proud and
good because he is II citizen of such n
government. The followers of Jeifer-
son, on the other hand, say that if we
first see to it that the citizen is virtuous,
intelligent, Independent and self re-
|
underneath every great and living in
stitution or government you Will always
| find still greater people A Republi
can travels in thought and sym
pathy from government down to citizen
ship; a Democrat from citizenship up
to government. A Republican says
this is free government because 1t
bestows so many blessings upon its
citizens; A Democrat says this Is II free
people because each ciUizen retains so
much of natural God given liberty, and
has been compelled to part with 50 few
of these blessings in order to provide
for the eXigencies of civil society and
government. The difference is in view
point, direction of v,Sion and course of
thought; and it would be interesting
to investigate and point ont how the
steadfast characteristics of the two par
ties have inevitably been evolved from
this difference how, for instance,
paternalism is the necessary concOmi
tant of the one, Whilrindividualism and
private initiative are the ideal of the
other.
With regard 10 the primary election
law Mr. Nash said: -
For my own part, think the party
aught to declare in favor of n ratitich
tion of that act. My intercourse with
citizens leads to the belief that about
two Democrats out of three and about
two Republicans ont of three are in
favor of II primary law as II substitute
for caucuses and conventions ] am
satisfied that the people want to try
primary elections. They have right
to make the trial. If it is II bad thing
it will surely be so demonstrated and
! that will clear the atmosphere and end
the strife.
Mr.. Nash spoke at some length on
the Panama question. He was not N
clined to criticse adversely the course
of the government except in the matter
of unwise haste in recognizing the new
republic. He scored, however, the
doctrine of eminent domain, remarking
that international right of eminent
domain is an invention Of advocates
who lack legal arguments. In its fna
analysis it is nothing more nor less than
the rule of brute force, the spoliation OF
Suppose it were true that the only sol
in the world that would produce cottoI
was found in 'heU nited States The com
mercial interests of the world call for
cotton quito rs loudly as they have ever
called for an inter,catnic canal. But
could they singly, or all combined, say
that the sovereignty of the United
States ~ to its cotton lands is limited
limited to the inexorable needs of thu
commerce of the world? To ask tn,
question il to answer it. The doctrn,
insisted upon i5a dangerous doctrine ant
ought to be repuiiated by the Democra
tic party. although ~ to actual facts ac
complished ! think we should regart
the incident closed and insist that picl
and shovel aud dredge shonld now com
plete the canal ut the earliest possible
date
Regarding the Philippine problem
Mr.. Mash spoke strongly In commen
dation of the plank IN the last Demo
cratic platform and remarked. 1t ina
well be repeated AZ one of the per
mauent plank- Of Democracy until tht
Philippine question receives tina
settlement.
Mr. Nash touched upon the tariff but
did not 20 at length into the subject
He spoke heartily IN favor Of recprocif,
with Canada, claimin ( that there wa
the true field for expansion Of trade an,
territory. His address~was frequentl,
applauded and at its close he was givol
! u rising vote Of thhnks