Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-04-21

dscredit the capacity and courage Of our
people for great achievements and cripple
all our efforts to command our Just dues
in that part Of the world
This Is not sentimental matter II
Is practical affair of the greatest con-
sequence 1t involves a question that
directly affects not only the honor and
good name of the American people but
the prosperity and happiness Of every
individual in the American BODY notifies,
not simply merchants and manufacturers,
but the farmers and wage workers az
well.
If We should surrender the philippinc,
and retire thercfrom we could not bona
to develop in that part of the globe tina
markets to which We are entitled. and
without those markets we would be nm.
able to sell our surplus, ana being nm.
able to sell it could not any longer afford
to produce 1t.
The inevitable consequence would he
a lesscning Of production affecting no,
only the capacity of our output but tho
strength Of our pay rolls and the demands
| of our home markets.
The history of the last elk years records
| unforeseen events and Unforeseen steps
| in expansion and general dcvclopment
| but all have come about naturally and
| through all has run a controlling vein
| of statesmanlike wisdom and American
| like patriotism.
SHALL WE TURN BACK?
The question now is shall VIC go forward
| or turn back? Shall we hold On to these
! acquisitions, or shall we surrender them?
If We turn back what shall We undo?
| If we surrender what we have acquired
what shall be first given up. Whore IS
the man to haul down the flag and sound
| the retreat? When and whore and how.
| is the operation to commcnc?
What Il spectacle It would bc to SEQ
| the United States withdrawing from Porto
| Rico. abandoning Hawaii and rctreating
from the Philippines.
Who would dismiss the schools that
have been started and explain the coward
| ice, pOltiooner or incapacty involved
| whichever or whatever 1t may be termed >
Such suggestions present the character
| Of the issue we are to try. for if tho
| course of our democratic friends has been
| marked with sincerity. they would be IL
| restored to power, in honor bound to re-
| verse the policies We have been pursuing
and do all these humliating things
| The questions that come home to US
| In connection with the coming election
are, therefore, whether. generally speak
| iEg. we shall condemn or uphold what
| the Republican party has done with re-
spect to the policy of protection. with re-
spect to our insular possessions. the
| island of Cuba, the republic Of Panama
the construction of a crral, and the in
slstence upon policy that secures for
| us an oyen door through which we can
| enter the Orient there to trade on an
equal footing with the other commercial
| powers of the earth.
| These are not important questions. They
| are far reaching in their consequence.
| affecting us not only rs a people, but
| individually as citizens Of this country,
| without regard to section, or class, or
| vocation.
DEMOCRATS OPPOSE THESE
POLICIES.
It has been said that the Democratic
| party has no settled policy with respect
| to any of these great questions. In the
| sense that they are a unit as to any Of
| them that Is true, for if You will consult
| the records YOU will see that they are
| divided among themselves. Even their
| leaders and their ablcst mon have been
! unable 10 agree with one another on any
Of these propositions. But that OF itself
| is enough to disqualify them for the
power they are seeking A party that
cannot agree with itself ought not to
expect any body else to agree with 1t.
or that the people will cntrust it with
any important commissions.
But if tho democrats are not opposed
to our policies why make n change.
Are they more capable Of executing them
than We are? If we are without issues
| it IS only because their leaders have
found it impossible to make them They
have tried hard enough. Their failures
have been great tribute to the wisdom
of our work
Not some examples: The, failed as to
reciprocity with Cuba they failed as to
the recognition of Panama. they failed
as to the treaty providing for the con-
struction of III" Isthmlan canal They