Show OMPERIALISMI V V Continued from page 2 V of government This is a complacent philosophy It obliterates the distinc tion between right and wrong and makes Individuals and nationV the help less victims of circumstances WHAT IS DESTINY V Destiny ia the subterfuge of the invertebrate in-vertebrate who lacking the courage to oppose error seeks some plausible excuse ex-cuse for supporting it Washington sold that the destiny of the republican form of government was deeply if not finally staked on the experiment In trusted to the American people How different Washingtons definition defini-tion of destiny from the Republican definition The Republicans say that this Nation Is in the hands of destiny Washington believed that not only the destiny of our own Nation but the destiny des-tiny of the republican form oC government govern-ment throughout the world wag In trusted to American hands Washing ton was right The destiny of this Republic Re-public is in the hands of its own pco pie upon the success of the experiment experi-ment hero reals the hope of humanity No exterior force can disturb this RePublic Re-public and no foreign Influence should be permitted to change its course What the future has in store for this Nation no one has authority to declare but each Individual has his own Idea of the Nations mission and he owes It to his country as well as to himself to contribute as best he may to the fulfillment ful-fillment of that mission Mr Chairman and gentlemen of the committee I can never fully discharge dis-charge the debt of gratitude which I owe to my countrymen for the honors which they have so generously bestowed be-stowed upon me but sirs whether it be my lot to occupy the high ofilce for which the convention has named me or to spend the remainder of my days In private life it shall be my constant ambition and my controlling purpose to aid in realizing the high ideals of those whose wisdom and courage and sacrifices brought this Republic into existence ex-istence I can conceive of a national destiny surpassing the glories of the present and the pasta destiny which meets the responsibilities of today and measures meas-ures up to the possibilities of the future fu-ture Behold a Republic resting securely se-curely upon the foundation stones quarried by Revolutionary patriots from the mountain of eternal truth a Republic applying In practice and proclaiming to the world the selfevident proposition proposi-tion that all men are created equal that they are endowed with inalienable rights that governments are instituted among men to secure these rights that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed Behold a Republic in which civil and religious liberty stimulate all to earnest earn-est endeavor and in which the law restrains re-strains every hand uplifted for a neighbors neigh-bors Injury a Republic in which every citizen is a sovereign but In which no one cares to wear a crown Behold a Ropijblic standing erect while empires all around are bowed beneath the weight of their own armaments Republic Re-public whose flag is loved while other flags are only feared Behold a Republic Repub-lic increasing in population In wealth Jn strength and in influence solving the problems of civilization and hastening the coining of a universal brotherhood a Republic which shakes thrones and dissolves aristocracies by its silent example ex-ample and gives light and inspiration to those who sit in darkness Behold a Republic gradually hut surely becoming the supreme moral factor in the worlds progress and the accepted arbiter of the worlds disputes Republic whose history like the path of the Just Is as the shining light that shincth more and more into the perfect day STEVENSON NOTIFIED Gov Thomas of Colorado Informs Illinois Il-linois Man of His Nomination Mr Bryan concluded at 110 and was promptly followed by Gov C S Thomas oC Colorado who notified Mr Stevenson Mr Thomas spoke for only ten minutes but he made a very effective ef-fective speech He received very general gen-eral attention and was given fniquent and generous applause Gov Thomas did not use notes His address ivas as follows GOV THOMASS ADDRESSS For a second time you have been chosen by the national Democracy as its VicePresidential candidate This signal honor is not unprecedented but it is none tho less exceptional Elected to that high ofilce eight years ago you discharged its duties faithfully and well retiring with the respect the love and confidence of all the people Thus endeared to your party its recent re-cent action was both merited and appropriate ap-propriate Long before the Kansas City convention conven-tion was called Its Presidential candidate candi-date had been selected Its platform had been foreshadowed by that of Chicago and by the events of the succeeding suc-ceeding years To complete tho ticket wisely and appropriately was a serious seri-ous and exigent duty Arrayed against money monopoly and militarism the associate of our great leader should he devoted to the same ideals equipped for the same duties Inspired by the same convictions and prepared to sustain sus-tain the same burden if Providence should so decree Conscious of this great responsibility but ready to meet it squarely our convention on the first ballot gave you its nomination The Democracy long ago Indorsed its action ac-tion The people will gloriously vindicate vindi-cate It in November LOYAL TO DEMOCRACY From the moment that your name was presented by the great State oC Illinois no doubt existed as to the result re-sult To the underlying principles of Democracy you had ever been steadfastly stead-fastly loyal You had traversed a lonjc and honorable career reaching from humble beginnings to the most ox alled position save one in the gift oC the people You have been equal to every responsibility to which your countrymen have called you You justly possess in unusual degree the affections < af-fections of men Upon the great questions ques-tions of the hour you stand forth square with Bryan antI the people and In your nomination is given the full assurance of our desire to make our pledges and our purposes effectual NO HOLIDAY AFFAIR The campaign of 1900 Is no holiday affair Like that of Jefferson it involves In-volves the great question whether the people or the classes shall rule whether wheth-er tIme principles of hio Immortal declaration decla-ration are transient or fundamental It holds before the publfc the gold and silver of the Constitution the freedom and the welfare of the citizen at home the duty of the Nation toward feeble communities struggling for liberty and independence in distant lands Democracy De-mocracy is everywhere the aggressor demands the restoration of the bimetallic bi-metallic coinage of the Constitution It denounces the surrender to private corporations of the sovereign power of note issue It protests against a currency cur-rency system based and grounded upon the national debt It would Interpose the mandate of the law between monopoly and the people It realizes that the trust and the Constitution cannot both endure and has wisely resolved I re-solved that the Constitution shall live It has sworn that the present und the j future of the people will renew its j struggle for liberty at our Instance and I shall not be measured by the sordid standard of avarice and greed It would lift the reproach that commercialism commer-cialism titus placed upon the honor of the Nation It declares that Justice is still the standing policy of our country coun-try It would rescue liberty from the atmosphere of the countingroom It would remove the dollar mark from the face of duty Tt would rin 10 tiu hPlehl of other and bettor days and make the Declaration Decla-ration of Independence the common heritage of the Cuban and the Filipino Fili-pino each lighted his torch at the al tar of the American Union We cannot can-not preserve the one if we shall ex tinguish the other Each welcomed UH as a common deliverer from a common tyrant We cannot bo true to one 1C vo shall prove false to the other We bid both to be tff gooil cheer The bow of promise that gilds the Cuban sky Is I behind tho thunder cloud of the Orient Its splendor shines through time solemn pledges of our July convention its ma jesty will be revealed in the elections In November V ATTITUDE OF REPUBLICANS The attitude of the Republican par ty of 1900 IH und must con Untie to be a strange anomaly It safely piloted the Nation through the awful perils of slavery yet It would conjure again into life that terrible evil whoso sepulcher Is sealed with the blood and the treasure of the Republic It Justly claims the statesmanship of Seward and Stunner while Its platform gives the lie to the loftiest precepts It cherishes the memory of Blaine but Democracy alone represents and asserts as-serts his vigorous Americanism It cheers MoKlnley but repudiates the wisdom of his utterances upon the na turo and essentials of free government It worships at the shrine of Abraham Lincoln but dares not ask his bene diction upon its unholy scheme of conquest con-quest In pleasing contrast Democracy invokes in-vokes in support of Its great cause the memory and the teachings of all our statesmen jurists and philosophers It marshals them all under the banner of freedom They live though they speak not Their presence consecrates the air around us though wo see them not With their example before and above us with Bryan and Stevenson to lead us with the Declaration and the Constitution to sustain us we shall overcome all the hosts of mighty STEVENSON IS HBABD i Like His Running luTate He Also V Btd His Answer Mr Stevenson apparently slightly slight-ly nervous as the time approached for him to take the stand but ho soon gained confidence as ho proceeded Mr Bryan led the liberal applause which greeted the appearance of his fellow candidate as he advanced to the front i and many points of tIme speech were liberally punctuated by a repetition oC I applause as he proceeded He read from manuscript His speech was as follows MR STEVENSONS SPJEECIT I am profoundly grateful for the honor conferred upon me by my selection selec-tion by the national Democratic convention con-vention as Its candidate for the high ofilce of VicePrcsident of the United States For the complimentary manner In which such action has been officially made known to me I impress lo you Mr Ohairmani and to your honored associates as-sociates of the commlttjc my sincere thanks Deeply impressed with a sense of the responsibility assumed by such candidacy candi-dacy I accept the nomination so generously gen-erously tendered me Should the action ac-tion of the convention iiiopr Ilio nnnrn val of the people in November it i will be my earnest endeavor to discharge vRh fidelity the duties of the great office of-fice It is wisely provided by the Constitution Consti-tution that at stated times political power shall return to the hands of the people The struggle for political supremacy su-premacy upon which we are now entering en-tering is one ot deep moment to the American people Its supreme importance im-portance to all conditions of our countrymen cannot be meamCl bywords by-words The ills resulting from unjust legislation and from unwise administration adminis-tration of the Government must find their remedy In the xllpolonb ballot To It we now make our solemn appeal PURPOSE OF THE CONVENTION The chief purpose of the great convention con-vention whose reprJStnrcillvca are before me was redress for existing wrongs and security ajntlnst perils yet greater which menace popular government govern-ment Your convention in language clear and unmistakable has presented the vital Issues upon whlrh the pending pend-ing contest Is to be deei mined To Its platform I give my earnest assent Clearly and unequivocally the Democratic Demo-cratic convention has expreaael its J sympathy with the burghers of the South African republics In their horplc attempt to maintain free government In thjs the convention not only voiced the sentiments of American Diinocrals but of those libertyloving men everywhere every-where It is not strange that thoire who have kept the political faIth of the author of the Declaration oC Independence Inde-pendence should express their abhorrence abhor-rence at the effort of a great 13no pean power to subjugate a people whose only crime is a deuh struggle to maintain their liberties The earnest earn-est utterances of the convention that our sympathies are with the Doers in their unequal struggle mccta a hearty response from all who venerate the principles of our fathers SYMPATHY FOR OPPRESSED Is it not true that in nil the past a belief In the inalienable rights of all peoples has been with us si living faith That our sympathy has ever been with the oppressed with thoso who are struggling for a larger measure mea-sure of freedom for selfgoeminent For this reason our Government was among the first to extend recognition to the republics of France and Mexico prompt to extend our sympatlo as well as olllcial recognition to the little South American States on their escape from the despotism of pain and upon their elforts to establish for themselves them-selves representative governments fashioned after our own History bar but repeated Itself and the struggle to maintain free government century and a quarter after the promulgation of the Declaration Independence has been transferred from the New World to the Old Is it to bo wondered then that the political dificlpes of Jef lemon should express their sympathy for the oppressed repubica of South Africa Only those who believe thnt our own country has outgrown iho doctrines of the fathers are in sympathy sympa-thy with Englands attempt to establish estab-lish monarchy upon time ruins of republics re-publics QUESTION OF TAXATION The lavish appropriations by the present Republican Congress should challence the attention of all thoughtful thought-ful men Subsidy bills and all unnecessary unne-cessary taxes are condemned by our platform The accumulation of surplus sur-plus revenues is too often the pretext for wasteful appropriations of th public pub-lic money The millions of surnlud now accumulating In the treasury should remain in the pockets of the people To this end the Democratic party demands a reduction of Avar taxea to the actual needs of the Government and a return to the policy of strict economy in all Governmental expenditures DINGLEY TARIFF LAW In apt words the Dlngley tariff law is condemned It is tersely characterised I as legislationskillfully devsj l in time Interest of n class and to impose upon the many burdens which they should not bear Adhering to the timehonored doctrine Of time Democratic party wo oppose all tariff legislation the necessary neces-sary consequence of which IB at the expense of the consumer to secure un Just advantage to the favored few Experience has demonstrated that unJust un-Just tariff laws have deprived the Government of needed revenues secured i se-cured to favored beneficiaries colossal fortunes and largely Inyrca el to the I people he cost of the necaytfarles of life AS TO TRUSTS The baleful but logical result of the tariff law condemned by l our platform Is seen In the sudden growth or giant monopolies combinations in restraint of lawful trade and trusts more threatening than foreign foe to the existence ex-istence of popular government Believing Be-lieving that wherever thero is a wrong there must be a roniody the Democratic paTty will favor such leg islation as Avlll curb the spirit of monopoly and place an effective barrier against the unlawful combinations of capital yvhlch now prove an insuperable obstacle to legitimate enUrpilie and I investment The deadly power of time1 mists is felt in all channels of tra le This is but time beginning is jt too much to ay that unless rcsnalntJ bv wholesome laws wisely and oilldontly administered the danger bocomen appalling ap-palling Fostered oy the Uinglcs tariff law time trusts during the present pres-ent Republican administration Iuvc enormously Increased in number and in power A determined effort for their suppression must now be made Delay would still further endanger isvery lawful business interest of time country coun-try QUESTION OF A REM iY The Imperative necessity for a remedy rem-edy being conceded the question arises Into whose hands shall be committed the work of formulating laws looking to the suppression of trusts To whom shall be Intrusted the execution of such I laws Shall It be to the victims or to j time beneficiaries of the overshadowing evil If to the latter then a further lease of power to the present Administration Adminis-tration is all that Is needed Can any sane man bellevp that the trust evil Is one that will cure Itself or that its destruction will be compassed by those to whom It has brought princely fortunes for-tunes If so let him point to a single honest attempt of Republican officials to enforce the law now upon our statute I books against the most stupondouo commercial evil known to any period of our history WHAT DEMOCRACY DEMANDS Time Democratic party stands pledged to an unceasing warfare against private pri-vate monopoly in every form it del de-l mands the enforcement of existing lawn against trusts and the enactment I of laws yet more stringent It wisely demands publicity as to the affairs of corporations engaged in Interstate commerce com-merce As one means to the Important end of curtailing the power of trusts we favor such amemidnmentu of our tariff laws as will place the products of trusts upon the free list and V thereby prevent monopoly under the plea of protection During almost four years of absolute Republican control of all departments I of the Government the trust evil has grown to its present overshadowing proportions What finger has been lifted for its suppression With Its friends again Intrenched In power what hope Is held out for the future MATTER OF REFORMS At this hour I can but allude in brief words to other needed reforms to which the attention of the country is called by the Democratic platform Prominent among these Is such enlargement en-largement of the scope of the Interstate Inter-state commerce law as will protect the public from unjust transportatIOn rates and Individuals from unfair discrimination dis-crimination As Is well known this law has failed to effect the wise purpose for which It was enacted In fact It is now little more than a dead letter upon the statute books Under weH consid Lered amendments the commission should be vested with ample power to prevent injustice both to individuals and to the public REFERS TO PLATFORM V Our platform favors the creation of a department of labor whose chief officers offi-cers shall take rank with other con stltttional advisers of the President This is in the interest of Justice and Will prove an Important step looking to the proper recognition and encouragement encour-agement of the producers of wealth In explicit terms It favors liberal pensions pen-sions to our soldiers arid sailors and to those dependent upon them With equal justice it reiterates tho demands of a former Democratic platform plat-form for blmetallsm the restoration of V silver to its proper function In our monetary wstcm For the protection of the home laborer la-borer it demands the enforcement of the Chinese exclusion act And In the interest of an enlarged commerce It favors the Immediate construction con-struction of the NIcaraguan canal This however with the provision that It shall remain forever under the exclusive ex-clusive ownership and1 control of the United States The pending Hay Pauncefote treaty is condemned as a surrender oC American rights not to be tolerated by the American people In the construction and control of this great work there cnn be no concession of right to any European power Commercial Com-mercial interest and national safety in time of war alike demand its perma meat ownership by our Government IMPERIALISM THE ISSUE A question is yet to be discussed to which all of these arc of secondary importance im-portance It is solemnly declared by our platform to be of paramount issue Questions of domestic policy however important may be but questions of the hour that of Imperialism is for time In the presence of this stupendous issue is-sue others seem but as the dust In tho balance In no sense paltering with words it is the supreme question of republic or empire The words of the eminent Republican Senator Mr Hoar challenge attention I believe that perseverance in this policy will be the abandonment of the principles upon which our Government Is founded that it will change our Government Into an empire that our methods of legislation legisla-tion of diplomacy of administration must hereafter be those which belong to empires and not those which belong to republics OPPOSE PORTO RICAN TARIFF Upon every phase of our foreign policy the language of time Democratic platform Is too clear to admit of misconstruction mis-construction It favors trade expansion by all peaceful and lawful means We believe that liberty as well as the Constitution Con-stitution follows the flag Democrats In common with many Republicans oppose the Porto Rican law as a violation vio-lation of the Constitution and a flagrant breach of good faith toward a dependent people It Imposes government govern-ment without the consent of the governed gov-erned It is in conflict with that provision pro-vision of the Constitution which declares de-clares that Duties imports and excises ex-cises shall be uniform throughout the United States Believing that this constitutional provision pro-vision applies to every part of the United States we condemn the tariff taxation Imposed by a Republican Congress Con-gress upon the helpless and distressed people of Porto Rico Such legislation inspired solely by greed Is indeed the harbinger of evil to the Republic The attempt to collect unjust taxes with one hand and with the other to return re-turn them in part to a plundered people peo-ple Is utterly without constitutional warrant or Justification We give our earnest assent to the declaration Our plain duty Is to abolish all custom tariffs between the United States and I Porto Rico and give her products uc = V cess to our markets No party exigency or1 pressure could justify a de pjirturc by time President from the plain pathway of duty he had here so clearly indicated The law imposing tariff duties upon the people of Porto Rico Is a palpable violation of Limo Constitution Constitu-tion and a flagrant breach of the pledged faith of the Nation PHILIPPINE POLICY The Democratic platform condemns the policy pursued by time present Administration Ad-ministration toward the Phlllppipne iaiandu This policy Inspired by the great spirit of commercialism embroiled em-broiled our Government In an unnecessary unneces-sary war sacrlflCccl valuable lives and placed time inmerican Republic In deadly anlagoniurii to our former allies In their efforts to secure their liberties For the first time in our history we are boldly confronted with the question of Imperialism Im-perialism the spirit of empire This is indeed the supreme question ques-tion to which all others are of secondary sec-ondary Importance Before we break Irrevocably with the past and abandoi the doctrines of the fathers It Is well that we ff > hrtrnte upon time oonce quences of a permanent departure from the settled Governmental policy of more than a cohtury The success of the Imperialistic policy foreshadows the empire empireASKS ASKS A QUESTION Shall the closing hours of the cen tury witness the American people abandoning the sure pathway in which past generations have found prosperi ty and happiness and embarking upon that of aggression and conquest againut which we are warned by the 1 wrecks that He along the entire path 1 way of history Standing out against the new policy of conquest with nil that It Involves of European complica tion are the warnings of the founders of the Republic Out of fashion as it may appear I quote the last worfla cf Washington to the oncoming genera tions of his countrymen The great rule of conduct for us iu regard to foreign nations is In extend ing our commercial relations to huvc with them as little political onnncctlon as possible It was the author ot the Declaration of Independence who said Our first and fundamental maxim should be never to entangle ourselves In the broils of Europe Is It not well to ponder these warnings before permanently embarking upon an untried un-tried pathway beset with foreign Jealousies complications and anapo V nlsnia jl WISE EXPANSION The Democratic parry has ever been the advocate of wise territorial expansion expan-sion It was in control oC the Government Govern-ment during forty years of the first half of the present century During i that period new States were admitted into Limo Federal Union and our western west-ern border extended boycnd the Mississippi Missis-sippi Out of the Louisiana country acquired under the first Democratic Administration have been carved fourteen four-teen magnificent States Under a later Democratic Administration and as the result of the treaty which terminated our war with Mexico we acquired California Cal-ifornia and neighboring States and Territories Ter-ritories thus bringing under our flag to remain forever the vast expanse stretching to the Pacific ocean AGGRESSIVE EXPANSION The policy of aggressive expansion of subjugation of distant islands pursued by the present Administration finds no precedent In the peaceable cession of the Louisiana country by Napoleon that of Florida by Spain nor that yet later of the vast western area by Mexico Mexi-co The territory acquired under Democratic Dem-ocratic Administration was with favorable fa-vorable climatic conditions the fit abode for men of our own race At the time of annexation it passed under the rule oC the AngloSaxon who carried with him our language and our laws It was territory contiguous to our own and acquired with the declared Intention Inten-tion when the conditions and population popula-tion would Justify of carving it Into States The result Id millions of American Amer-ican homes our national wealth Increased In-creased beyond time dream of avarice and the United States chief among the nations of the earth ANNEXATION OF ISLANDS Can It be that the new policy of forci ble annexation of distant Islands finds precedent in the historic events I have mentioned The answer is found In the bare statement of facts The territory terri-tory acquired under Democratic Administration Ad-ministration is contiguous the Philip lifle Islands 8000 miles distant The acquisition ac-quisition of territory upon our own continent con-tinent added little to the national expense ex-pense to maintain permanent sovereignty sover-eignty over the distant islandn necessitates necessi-tates immense expenditures upon our army and navy More than that it contemplates methods of administration administra-tion that pertain not to the republic but to the empire Can it bo doubted that the attempt to stifle the spirit of liberty abroad will imperil popular government gov-ernment at home MONROE DOCTRINE What is proposed by the party In power for the government of these Islands If It be intended to establish theme our political Institutions what then becomes of the Monroe doctrine This vital international policy announced an-nounced by the President of the United States seventyseven years ago was We owe it therefore to candor and to the amicable relations existing between be-tween the United States and those powers pow-ers to declare that we should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety This was supplemented by a disclaimer in substance upon our party of any Intention to force our Institutions In-stitutions upon the nations of Europe or their dependencies The Monroe doctrine Is wholesome and enduring It Is the faith of Americans Amer-icans of every creqd and party is of the very warp and woof of our political being It was promulgated at the critical crit-ical moment when the holy alliance was attempting to stifle the republican spirit and reestablish the despotism of Spain upon her revolted colonies In South America and In Mexico ESSENCE OF TID3 DOCTRINE The essence of the doctrine as then understood by the world was while we forbid tho establishment of despotic governments upon the American continents conti-nents we recognize the corresponding obligation to refrain from any attempt to force our political system upon any part of tho Old World This has been our settled rule of faith and practice for more than threequarters of a century cen-tury Us promulgation defeated the purpose of Limo holy alliance and destroyed de-stroyed forever the power of Spain upon this continent Under it Louis Napoleon a third of a century ago was compelled to withdraw the French army from Mexico and leave the Ill starred Maximilian to his fate Under It the umpire established by foreign bayonets disappeared and the republic was restored Are we now to say we still recognize the binding force of this doctrine upon other nations but not upon our own V GOVERNING BY FORCE If ultimate Statehood for these remote re-mote islands and others yet to be conquered con-quered be displayed how then are they to be held and governed The only allcrnatlvo Is by force by the power of the arms and of the navy and this not for a day or for a year but for time What then becomes of time bedrock principle that virnments derive their just powers from the consent con-sent of the governed If they are to be held permanently as conquered provinces it will bo not only outside of the Constitution but in direct antagonism antago-nism to the letter and spirit of our Declaration Dec-laration of Independence It is no less true now than In the days of our Revolution Revo-lution that Government by arbitrary power is still despotism Time attempt then either to give these people American Amer-ican citizenship or to hold them as subjects la to us fraught alike with poril There should be an immediate declaration by l our Government of its purpose toward them They should be given unmistakable assurance of Independence Inde-pendence Protection by our Government Govern-ment should not now be withheld against outside Interference The same protection should bo theirs heretofore extended to the little States of Central and South America Under existing conditions there should bo no hesitation upon our part in giving them protection protec-tion against the cupidity or aggressive spirit of other nations All this not to the end of subjugation or of conquest con-quest upon our part but to that of the full enjoyment by them of liberty and of the ultimate establishment of a stable sta-ble government fashioned by Uioh1 own Imands WHAT JIE FEARS Against this policy stands Imperial lam In American politics the word Is now fortunately the policy Is new Ware W-are today becoming familiar with its meaning with Its forebodings and the J end is not yet It moans a permanent departure from all the traditions of the I past from the high ideals of the founders found-ers of the Republic It abrogates the holding of our great court that the Declaration of Independence Is the spirit of the Government the Constitution Consti-tution but its form and letter Imperialism Im-perialism knows nothing of limitations of power Its rssle in I oisffdde the Con stllution It means the establishment by the American Republic of the cob nial methods of European monarchies It moans the right tn hold alien peoples as subjects It enthrones force ns the controlling agency In government It means the empire AFRAID OF MILITARISM AT a necessary corrollnry to Imperi alism will come the Immense standing army The dread hand of militarism will he felt In the New World as it is In the Old The strong arm of power will bo substituted for the peaceable agencies which for more than a eon tury have made our people contented and happy It was JefTer On who said A well disciplined mllltla our best re liance in Peace and for the first mo ments of war True at the beginning of the century with a few millions of population no less true at the close as we stand In the forefront of the na tions with a population of 80000000 The result of our recent conflict witli Spain gives emphasis to the prophetic words of Jefferson Existing conditions In continental Europe entailing taxa lion to the verge oC human endurance illustrate by and object lessons the Inevitable result of large standing armies In time of peace Shall we still give heed to the warn ing the great sage of the Revolution or enter upon a new century with Eu ropean monarchists as our model Without a large standing army but relying npou the patriotism and cour age or American manhood we were victorious In the second war with Great Britain with Mexico in the great clvii strIfe and with Spain In u 11 the light of history can It be poSsible that the American people will consent to I the permanent establishment of a large standing army and Us cease quent continuing and evcrlncreasfng burden of taxation A WORLD POWER V We are told that our Republic Is now to become a world power in the highest sense with the Declaration of Independence as its cornerstone has been In all its past a world power It has been the lofty ideal to all liberty loving people the model for all build ers of republics for more than a cen ury > In the sense used by imperial ists the expression Is one of terrible significance It necessitates the meth ods and equipments of monarchies It means the creation and maintenance by our Republic of standing armies equal to those or the world pov rs of Europe at no less cost can we hold place as a world power Study existing conditions Itt i European nations and know what all this means to us It means taxa tion to We verge of despair It means as has been truly said that every la borer must carry an armed soldier up on his back as he goes to his daily toll All history teaches that the corner stone of imperialism Is the force of the standing army We stand one hundred years from V the hour when the political forces were gathering which were to result in the election V of < time first Democratic Presi i m dent The anivcrsnry of the masterful day In our history wag wisely chosen for the assembling In convention of the representatives of the historic party whose founder was Jackson and whose platform Is the Declaration of Inde pendence In the great struggle now upon us we Invoke the cooperation ot all who revere the memory of our fathers and to whom this declaration is not unmeaning parchment but the unuunng CHart of our liberties Upon the supreme issue now In the forefront and to the end that republican gov ernment be perpetuated we appeal to the sober judgment and patriotism of time American people Mr Stevenson closed at twenty min utes of G oclock and Senator Jones Im mediately declared the meeting ad journed sine die Mr Stevenson was liberally applauded when he closed |