Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-02-19

vitality affecting both cur foreign
and domestic affairs the democratic
party should first Of all stand for q
pacific instead Of a military republic;
for appeal TO the last resort of kings
only in Legitimate self-defensc, anC
not for criminal aggression; for al
army and fleet commensurate with
actual needs. but not use either as
playthings or to bully the weak on
provoke the strong; in short, for the
things that make fer peace and not
for war. The democratic party should
also stand for the supremacy of the
law; for law for nations no less than
for individuals; for law for the great
est as not exempt from its power
and for the very least as wanting its
care; for law for capitalists and law
for wage-earners; for law for presi-
dents ana cabinets as well as for the
humblest of private citizens
1t seems to me that with such prin-
ciples as these Incorporated in our
national platform the objects which
the true lovers of the democratic
the membership of this club desire,
Noui+ nv plill'liHItN- anu ll4il INV
democratic party would go into the
next national campaign presenting Il
united front TO the common enemy.
and with every prospect of success
in the election to follow.
Depart From Traditions.
Have we been respecting the rights
of every nation, however small. and
have we been continuing our tradition
al role Of defender of the weaker
states Of the western hemisphere? /
think not. Our course in the Philip
pines, il seems to me. has been such
as to shatter all the ideals upon which
our government was founded, attempt
ing as we have. To govern foreign
people against their will. course
which il seems to me will prove to be
disappointing to those who through
greed and love of power have led our
government to depart so radically
from the fundamental principles by
which a republic should he guided
EX-Gov. Taft. not long before his
recent departure from Manila. said
in Il public address: Were ! assured
that the present attitude Of the ma
jOrity of the American merchants
and the American press in the archi
pclago would be permanent. and | did
not hope that there must be n change
in the future. | should be very much
discouraged in respect TO the result
of the experiment which the United
States is making in these islands,
This remarkable statement opens up
the whole question of the character
of the American occupation, its pres
ert tendencies and probable results.
That the Philippines up to date have
been financial abyss for the United
States is virtually conceded by Mai.
Gen. Davis in his last annual report.
IF the exterior possessions of the
L nited States writes Gen. Davis.
were as extensive as. are these at
Holland. or were equal even to those
of France. and we should undertake
to administer the affairs of their peo-
pie in the same manner that prevails
here. the drain upon the resources of
the United States would be appalling.
producing Il financial crisis in our
affairs.
1t seems To me that the hasty rec
ogniticn of Panama on the part of
our government is a radical departure
from our traditional role As the de-
fender of the weaker states of this
hemisphere. How different must he
the feeling entertained BY the people
of Colombia toward, our government
now from that which was entertain
ed 10y the states Of South America
when they were springing into indie
pendence. emerging from that Spanish
in which they have been
immersed for ages. Then the great
hearts of the American people went
out to them in their struggle for lib