The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-12-06
SAYS DEMOCRACY
LACKS V|R|L|TY
Senator Stone Declares Party
Must Regain Aggressive Spirit
Be a National Factor.
BUILD UP MERCHANT MARINE.
Policy of Force in the Far East
Should Be Advocated, Recog-
nizing the United States as
a World Power.
The Repuhnc Burea1.
l4th ST. and Pennsylvania Ave

Washington. D. c.. Dec. Sin an inter
view contributed to the Washington Post
Senator William ]. Stone of Missouri de-
clared for a constructive Democratic pro-
gramme more positive and radical than
the Republican or Rooseveltian doctrine
The declaration Is the most aggressive in
some ways that has vet come from a Dem
ocratic source. and 1t has caused general
comment in this center of political dis
crssionS.
Similar views have at different times
been expressed by him In Missouri. but.
following defeat and at the moment Of the
reconvening Of Congress. they attain to
consequence in a national sense.
For q long time" he said. 'T have felt
that the Democratic party lacked virtlity.
In the old days of its supremacy and pow
er 1t was the suggestive. positive. aggres-
sive force in our political life 1t was
the force that blazed the way and did
things. Opposing parties. for the most
part. only stood in the way. comparative
ly aimless and helpless. as forces In re-
sistance.
For some time # has been quite clear
to me- and never more so than now. that
nationally the Democratic party cannot
the old masterfui and assertive spirit shall
be revived
Asked what plans he had to propose, he
answered:
1T is four years OF until we can pro
mulgate another platform. but in the
meantime the work of building should 20
on We must recognize accomplished
faes bap tbs . e sass, .o4s
Power. The old idea OF national exclusion
from world politics must be modified to
meet the exisencies Of this age: Hence
forth our international responsibilities will
multiply. and our sphere Of influence and
power rapidly expand
~ PARTITION OF CHINA.
Tho American Government should. for
its own safety and for the preservation
Of most important interests. take resoIute
ground against the forcible partition of tho
Chinese Empire. There In the East u 'he
srsat great heid for future & commercial nm e1p.oi;
chance with all who would compete. and
that chance we should not consent to Be
deprived Of by any Interference foreign
this would be policy Of force. but what
ts there behind the Monroe Doctrine but
fierce:
II would like to see the Democratic par
ty lead on on this line and at the same
time outline definite Pan-Amerfcan pol
icy with tie object of closely uniting the
<AtuSiicdu fSepuoucS IN COmm6rC13l spirit
and interest
Follow this by a determined and dem.
ite policy to rebuild the merchant marine
at all hazards. I say at all haxards un-
till we have the greatest merchan. navy
afioat. and to hare all these interests pro
tected by war navy. ample for every
emergency.
TAKE AFFIRMATIVE STAND.
Here are things not only right IN
themselves. but things that would appeal
to both commercial and popular impulse:
and this illustrates what mean when
say I would have the party stand for
policies affirmative and progressive.
Upon the questions OF money, the
tariff, trusts, transportation. the construc-
tion Of water routes. public roads and the
like, we must take broad, progressive
views, remembering that these are bua1(
ness questions and that. except inc1dentaE
ly. there Is no question of public morals
or fundamental principle involved In them.
"Henceforth, we must be 4 party Of ac-
ton, party with something to do. We
cannot afford to fight a good thing simply
because somebody else may be for II, or
because somebody else may have 6uG-
gested It. We must have good thfnSD Of
our own to purpose We must lead IN
the march Of progress or b run ovr hy
the procession"
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