Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-03-10

and the effort will be made to pose us
before the country as advocating the other
extreme Such is NOT the case.
Democrats know and understand exist
ing conditions, built up under and adjusted
to excessive protection, aud it is as much
opposed TO the destruction Of an existing
industry by law, as it is to the creation Of
a class monopoly by law, and its position
is, and will be, that the tariff must be re-
vised with view to existing conditions,
carefully and conseryatively, attacking aud
reducing first those schedules which afford
shelter to monopoly. Nor do we propose,
because we advocate economic government,
that we shall be understood as being
penurious and nggardIy in the proper ex-
penditure of the peoples money, for the
wise and benefcient purpose Of govern
ment Democracy viii not hesitate 10
spend whatever millions may be necessary
in the interest of commerce, in river and
harbor improvements aud all other ex-
penditures requisite to the proper develop
ment of our internal resources. That it
will watch, with careful eye, all expendi-
lures and especially those touching insuiar
possessions and international questions, may
be safely conceded. Nor upon the question
of colonialism, do we intend to be put
before the country in the light Of anti
expansionists
Democracy has been, and viii continue
to be, party of expansion, but it will
continue to contend for an expansion in
accord with organic law, and will bitterly
oppose any and all schemes Of colonialism.
The Philippines can never be States OF the
United States OF America; we cannot hold
them permanently as a colony, under our
form 4 government, and hence it follows
that some honorable way must be adopted
to rid ourselves of them.
'sThese issues should be clearly put in
our national platform by the most concise
statement of the principles controlling the
party upon each issue. Let us have pos
tai card platform, one that can be printed
on the back of postal card, and that will be
read, and can be UNDERSTOOD by the humb-
lest voter in the land. This will be in
accord with the rapid and business-like
methods of our times. Let us cease dis
cussing either Republication or 'Reaffirma-
ton of past platform In the words of
New England's great poet,
ssLet the dead past bury its dead.
Act, act in the living present,
Heart within. and God DER head
against what will we have to contend:
A party at heart divided among them
selves on each of these four great issues,
and having no declaration of principle
upon either, and held together in the main,
as once said by great Democrat, by the
cohesion Of public plumber, to be led by
political comet, the rapidity Of whose
movement is only equalled by the uncer-
tainty as to the time or directi n of his
.zaSA -~5
course. they will all borrow from their
recently deceased great political campaign
manager, Senator Hanna, the campaign
cry, The country is prosperous, stand pat
They will seek to delude the people into
the foolish belief that their administration
has produced the prosperity which the
country enjoys, as the best argument they
can put forth for continuance in power.
Let Us meet that issue fairly, and let us
demonstrate, as we easily can, to the
people, that the marvellous prosperity
which this country has enjoyed for the past
eight years Is not the gift Of party, but the
result of Gods blessings in season and soil
and mans industry and economy combined. .
Normal and permanent prosperity de
ponds upon increased markets, and in
creased markets depends upon increased
demand, and increased capacity to buy.
Our records easily demonstrate that our
vast exports not favorably affected BY any
Republican law, have poured back into this
country tide of European gold, and the
discovery and coinage of gold have poured
| into American channels of business an in
creased money volume. These two CAUSES
have increased capacity to buy, and haye
stimulated general investment, which in
turn gave employment to labor everywhere,
and an added demand and capacity for con-
sumption. Thus we have naturally been
prosperous.
1.-THE fact is, that prosperity is less uni
versal properly and widely distributed by
reason of protection and monopoly, than It
otherwise would have been. Let the Re-
publican understand that when he breaches
prosperity as reason for Republican con-
tinuance in power, upon this contention be
must face one or two propositions He
must contend either that government can
produce prosperity, or if he admits that it
cannot, that Republican policies have tend