Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 June 1898 — POLICS OF THE DAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

POLICS OF THE DAY

THIS IS DEMOCRACY. A large number of people are asking what is the policy of the Democratic party on the Hawaiian, Philippine ahd Porto Rico annexation. It is Impossible to answer this question at this time. The Democratic party, unlike the Republican party, is-not operated by a junta. It makes its expressions known through the people in national convention assembled, every four years. What the party as a. whole believes about these questions will find expression in the platform of 1900. Until then every Individual Democrat is free to express his opinion and to endeavor to find expression for it in the next national platform. This is Democracy, free opinion, truth expressed by the majority. We are of the opinion that the great masses of Dei ocracy are favorable to the extension of the power of this republic. We want no colonies, but we do want coaling stations. We want the Nicaraguan Canal and the Democratic party will construct it We want to drive England and every foreign power out of the West Indies, and the Democratic party will do it. We do not want an alliance with England or any other foreign power. The Republican party favors an alliance with England, favors British partnership in the Nicaraguan Canal and British partnership in all our affairs—national and international. The next national convention of the Democratic party will draw the lines so plainly on these questions that every true American, whether adopted or native born, will rally to its purpose.—National Democrat.

Candidates for Congress. Democratic success in returning members to the House of Representatives this fall will go a long way toward securing Democratic victory in. the Presidential contest of 1900. But there is danger even in success. The danger will consist in sending unfit men to the lower house. If cranks and impractical enthusiasts are elected they will do the party incalculable harm. Democracy Is of the people and for the people. The party does not exist to further the ambitions of aspiring politicians. It has a prouder and more practical mission. There are plenty of wise, careful and brilliant men in the party who can do it and the people good service in Congress. Such men should be nominated and elected. Men with some one fixed idea to which all other things are secondary should not be given a place on any Democratic ticket. Wild speeches in Congress, Incendiary utterances on the part of sincere but mistaken fanatics can do no good and cannot fail to do much harm. Conditions point toward Democratic success at the polls this fall. That success should not be turned into defeat by a mistaken choice of Congressional candidates. Let the selection be made with extreme care, and the result in 1900 will fully repay the efforts of the present. Mark Hanna's Case. What is the United States Senate going to do with the bribery charges made against Mark Hanna? These charges, backed by the report of an investigation committee appointed by the Ohio State Senate, have been laid before the upper house, and now the people of this country demand that prompt action be taken thereon. Fortunately for Hanna there is a war, though he asserted there would be none, and that war has drawn attention from his disgraceful acts to matters of apparently larger moment. Apparently they are larger, but not so in reality. There can be nothing of more importance to the people of this country than in the honesty and patriotism of its lawmakers. Foes without can be met and conquered, but foes within are a constant and deadly menace to liberty. It should not be forgotten that the report of the investigating committee declares Mark Hanna, personally or through his agents, guilty of bribery. He is alleged to have bought his seat In the Uniter States Senate as he would buy a seat in the board of trade. Is the Senate going to pigeonhole this indictment against one of its members, or is it going to Investigate the charges, and if it finds them sustained by the facts, expel this man, who has corrupted man in order that he might be in a position to corrupt the laws? What is the Senate going to do, anyhow? The Dingley Fizzle. The Dingley law Is a failure. Custom receipts in May, 1897, under the Wilson law, $17,000,000; In May, 1898, under the Dingley law, $13,466,534. The new tax bill will serve to hide from general view the deficiencies of the Dingley law, but its failure is nevertheless obvious. The treasury deficit for May was $17,800,000. It arises In part, of course, from war expenditures. These aside, however, the ordinary expenditures would have been in excess of the ordinary receipts. Dingley’s lauded measure was a good thing for the monopolists whom it protected. As a revenue law it is a failure.—Chicago Chronicle. Source* of Wealth. There are two sources of wealthland and labor. Gold and silver in their natural states are land which labor reduces to element of wealth. Besides their natural adaptability as money metals, they represent the day’s works of labor in reducing them. But after all It is the open mint and government stamp that gives them currency in commerce as measures of value. Their “intrinsic value,” of which we hear so much, lies in the stroke of the government die which coins them, just the same as it does in the greenback or the government gold or silver certificate. —Fresno Watchman. Fat Places for Those with Pulls. Wanted immediately at the War Department: A few more sons, nephews and brothers-in-law of politicians with a pull, for commissaries of subsistence, quartermasters and Inspectors general of the volunteer forces of the United States. Knowledge and experience of military affairs not necessary. Officers of the regular army and veterans of the civil war need not apply. For further Information apply in person or by letter to Russell A. Alger, Secretary of War.—Phlaldelphia Recoord. Why Europe Is Uneasy. The reported uneasiness of the European nations over the prospect of the United States entering upon a career of territorial conquest is uncalled for, but perfectly natural. They have got it into their heads that Mark Hanna, Steve Elkins, Pierpont Morgan and such like scalawags are the whole thing over here, while as a matter of fact the American people are rising in their

might against the party that gives these individuals refuge. This war was started to free Cuba and to avenge the murderous deed of Feb. 15, 1898. The Philippines have fallen into our hands. Porto Rico may become ours, and we may take in Hawaii, but there it stops. God freed this nation from a land grabber and oppressor that its people might achieve a glorious destiny. Woe betide the political party that attempts to divert us from the cause which our All-wise Providence has laid before us. —National Democrat

Alger and Bryan. Secretary of War Alger has weakened on his scheme to keep William J. Bryan out of the army. Clever Secretary of War Alger. It was stupid politics and worse patriotism for him to prosecute the man who received 0,500,000 votes for President of the United States. McKinley, with a narrowness characteristic of the man, ignored Bryan’s offer for services, and when Bryan began to raise a regiment of soldiers Alger thought It would be a smart thing to prevent the acceptance of that regiment. All the antl-Democratlc papers were .filled with spiteful glee over Alger’s shrewd trick. But, It seems, a new light dawned on the Secretary of War. He has discovered that he made a monumental mistake when Missouri offered Bryan a regiment, and so he changed his plan. Now he proposes to accept Bryan’s regiment and send It to guard outlying Islands of. the Philippines. The Ladrones or Mariana Islands have been suggested. This banishment of Bryan to the other side of the world is really a brilliant idea. The only wonder is that it did not occur to Alger and McKinley sooner. How anxious Alger and Hanna and McKinley are “to be fair with the late Democratic candidate for President.”—Exchange. From an Honest Republican. It has at last come to be realized that the foreign policy of the United States could not be made a party issue, subject to abrupt changes, as it has been In the past, by whichever party happens to acquire power. It should not be a policy of aggression or of greed, or of unreasonable demands upon any other member of the family of nations, but it should be a policy always demanding that America shall be given what is her just due, that American opinions shall have just weight in all matters that concern her, and that America’s rights shall never be Ignored, trampled upon or contemptuously cast aside by any other power or combination of powers.—Cincinnati Commercial-Tribune.

Greenbacks. To the Editor: It seems strange to me at this day that there are found men advocating bank currency, for those that are old enough know that pext to the valor of our army and navy, the greenbacks were the means that put down the most gigantic rebellion In the world’s history. It must be that the press Is bought up by the money power, or they would not advocate a cause so detrimental to the best interests of the people. This war, if it continues long, will probably compel the government to issue some more of these same shin plasters that the bloated bondholders hate so much. May the time come soon that the only currency we have will have the stamp of the United States upon It Another Trust in Operation. The latest trust combination is that of the manufacturers of envelopes. It boasts a capital of $17,000,000, to control the business, compel uniformity of prices and break down undue competition. This Is the euphemistic way of saying that the new trust has organized to skin the public. The tariff assistance of the combination ranges from 20 to 35 per cent. Without this protective encouragement It would be a foredoomed failure.—Pittsburg Post. The Quicker the More Humane. It Is estimated that the expenses of one year of war will aggregate $379,000,000. Not only will we be called upon to make sacrifices of money, but of human life. Let the bill of costs, the expense account of blood and money, be cut down to the minimum. To strike hard and fast, to fight incessantly and remorselessly Is not only a wise national policy, but a policy of humanity for us, for Spain and the balance of the world.—Baltimore Herald. We Object. No Democrat or Pppullst voted against any bill the sole purpose of which was to provide revenues for the war. Populist and Democrats do object, however, to make the war an occasion for bleeding a patriotic people for the benefit of the Wall street gang of blood suckers, that always made the extremity and necessities of the nation their opportunity for the most outrageous swindling of the people.— Cleveland Recorder. Frownimr on Prospective Fraud. Let there be no pensions for widows, original or initiative, married subsequent to the mustering of their husbands Into the service of the United States in our war against Spain. The country has learned one very expensive lesson In this respect as the result of uncalculating liberality In benevolent patriotism. One such ought to be enough, however much the pension attorney may deprecate such stinginess. Philadelphia Press. . Room Preferable to His Company. Secretary Alger has not proven himself equal to the position he holds and the possibilities it comprehends. He should fall back upon the sickness which he was afflicted with last winter as an excuse and withdraw, allowing the President to fill his place with some one competent for the duties and who will retain the confidence of the people as has Secretary Long.—Manchester Union. Wolcott a Traitor, Wolcott of Colorado, alleged silver man and bimetallist, voted with the goldltes in the Senate Finance Committee to issue $500,000,000 of bonds. This action shows where Wolcott stands on the money question.—Silver Knight-W a tch man. Enemies of the People. The man who favors interest-bear-ing notes to pay the war expenses is no friend of the people. Bondage is slavery and he who favors bonds rather than greenbacks Is not a true, loyal citizen.— Chicago Express. Spoils System in the Army. z The. spoils system Is bad enough in the civil service, but when the military service is made a prey of the office hunting politicians It becomes a menace which ought not to be endured.—St Louis Post Dispatch.