Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 July 1901 — POLITICS OF THE DAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

POLITICS OF THE DAY

Saqptgr Jonea Talks. i In a recent Interview Senator James K- Jones, Chairman of the Democratic Rational Committee, said: “In my judgment the neat session of Congress will devote a very large portion of its time to the question upon [which the next campaign will be fought. This win be thq Philippine question.” “Did not the Supreme Court settle that question'/” “Not by any manner of means. The Supreme Court, if I have read the decision rightly, simply said that Congress would have to deal with £he Philippines. As soon as Congress meets it must take up the whole problem and therein will be the opening skirmish of the campaign.” “Until the Supreme Court acted the question was, ‘Does the constitution follow the flag?’ The question now is, ‘Ought the constitution to follow the flag?’ “If the Republican majority in Congress, which will be responsible for all . tbat is done, by Its action shall declare that the constitution ought not to follow the flag, I think there will be a day of reckoning at the polls which will surprise the Republican leaders.” Asked what would be the Democratic position on the future of the Philippines, the Senator said: “I cannot assume to speak for the party, but I have a very clear Idea as to where I stand. Ido not believe that we have the right to hold any people aa vassals and subjects. I believe that •ay people coming under the control of the flag have the protection of the constitution and can enjoy all the rights and privileges which that document affords. Unless they have these rights, and privileges, we have no right to bring them under our subjection.” “You would allow them to exercise an Independent government?” “Certainly.' I think we ought to give the Filipinos our earnest, sympathetic •nd material support In their effort to establish a government of their own, and after they had become independent i think the United States ought to stand up for them against the whole world. We ought to glory in the establishment of an Independent government and let all the powers know tbat we .propose to see the experiment made a success. “And," continued the Senator, “1 want to see the Filipinos given their independence quickly. We lived for some years in the South under a car-pet-bag government and I do not want another people to suffer as we did. “I don’t believe, though, that the Republicans ever propose to let the Filipinos enjoy the possession of the islands, but will arrange to hold the country for the money that can be made out of it. “Against that program I shall enter my protest. And I believe that many men will vote their honest convictions in the next campaign who did not do so last year, because then they regarded the question of dollars and cents as uppermost Next year, not having to couslder whether upon their vote hinges the continuance of good times, they will speak their honest sentiments ■upon the Philippine question.” Discussing other matters to come be fore Congress, Senator Jones said th.it he supposed certain Republican leaders, indifferent to everything except their own selfish ends, would insist upon trying to resurrect the ship subsidy bill. “They will be met, however,” said the Senator, “by a strong, conservative portion of their party, who will say that the subsidy bill has had its <lay of hearing and that it will be unwise to force it upon Congress and the country on the eve of a campaign. Whatever is done, the position of the Democrats wli! not be changed. We will light U just as determinedly and heartily as we did In the last session.” Senator Jones predicts that the Bobcock bill striking at trusts will never he reported from the Ways and Means Committee, and is also very dubious as to the passage of the Nlcnrngua canal bill, asserting that the transcontinental railroads will Issue their orders to the Republican lenders to smother the bill and these orders will be obeyed. Asked if he thought the Republicans would persist In their effort, begun in the extra session of the Senate, to pass a cloture rule. Senator Jones simply laughed. “That performance,” he said, "was simply an exhibition of Senator Platt’s humor. We will uever hear "for it again.” On to Victory. “There is a tide in the affairs of men, If taken at its flood, lends on to fortune.” With equal truth, Shokspenre might have said the same thing of political parties. For the Republican par ty that tide set In when Orovcr Cleveland was elected President the second time. It was taken at Its flood, and the balance Is history. The people are beginning to tire of Hanna Ism, and this “tired feeling” will continue to augment, as his snbsldy •teals and Imperial plots are gradnally uncovered. At last, they see In Hannatsra impending ruin for the common people, the enthronement of trusts, repudiation of the cardinal principles upon which this republic was fouaded and tbs adoption of the policies of monarchies and empires. The disastrous

consequences that must inevitably fallow this radical and revolutionary departure from “right principles," as General Harrison called It, can only be avoided by the early triumph of true Demooracy iu State and nation. In 1896 and 1900 the Democratic parly .though led by the brave and brilliant Bryan, went down to glorious defeat. I call our defeat glorious because there Is more glory in being defeated by Hanna and the hellish forces behind him than to share" his victory over truth and right. I call that defeat glorious, because there is more glory in standing for the people, and by the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, ahd the Ten Commandments, in defeat, than standing against them in triumph. Though its founds breathed into the Democratic party the spirit of immortality. it cannot afford to be again defeated by the Imperial forces of piracy and plunder. For the republic’s safety, for Freedom’s sake, Democracy must win in 1904. To this end wise counsel must prevail. Minor differences must be forgotten, and every gun at our command must be shotted to the lips and turned upon the common enemy. The dominant forces in the Republican party openly defy the people and ruthlessly trample their rights in the dust. These forces must be confronted with a united Democracy and overthrown in the name of liberty and humanity. The Democratic tide Is setting in toward Washington, and upon every white crested wave is written the word “Victory!" Let every honest, earnest Democrat listen, and he will hear the wild waves calling for union, for enthusiasm, and above all, for an organization of the scattered and shattered legions of Democracy into an aggressive, invincible and irresistible army of the people, for the defense of all the sacred principles consecrated upon fields of death and glory, by the men who laid the foundations of this republic and dedicated the American continent to the proposition that all men are born equal with equal and inalienable rights. Every precinct committeeman should consider It an honor to be a part of an organization with such an exalted purpose. They should consider it a privl-' lege to contribute a mite of their time and means toward sustaining and extending the precinct organization to every county in every State of the Union. We want each representative who has stood so nobly by The Working Democracy, from the first, to know that the Democratic National Committee appreciates their work and sacrifice for this cause. Its success rests with them. Each precinct representative is requested to respond promptly to the call for July dues, as an evidence of their devotion to the principles of Democracy. The Congressional elections will be held next year, and the organization expectß to be of great service in capturing as many seats from the enemy as possible. The tariff issue bids fair to split the g. o. p. In twain. The element that has always been protectionists for the dollar’s sake realize that we must have free trade, or be shut out of the markets of the world, by retaliatory tariffs. Russia has already declared war and other nations are preparing to follow suit. The protectionists for “revenue only” will become free traders, while those who made protection a matter of principle will stick to It to the bitter end. Events have demonstrated the soundness of the Democratic doctrine of open markets, and victory is at our doors. The party Is sound on all the great questions of the hour, and it deserves, and will receive the support of all who love patriotism above pelf, and believe in theequal rights of man.—Working Democracy.

Amusing Innocence. McKinley has said he would not accept another nomination for tiie Presidency and all the big and little Republican papers are exclaiming, “Whbre’s your danger of an empire now?” Their very innocence is amusing. They seem to forget that McKinley tan say one tiling and do another easier than any other man In the country. They forget that McKinley talked in favor of silver and was elected President for tiie purpose of establishing tihe gold standard. They forget that be talked about the danger of Increased sliver coinage In the same length of time. They forget that he was horrified at the Idea of criminal aggression, but when the same thing was labeled benevolent assimilation he swallowed It like a little man. They forget that he Is In the bauds of the fellow* who hold that little mortgage and when they any “Change your rnlud, Willie,” It will be done before tho command Is uttered. What the President says at this time has nothing to do with his action three years lienee. If the plutocracy thinks It needs him for President agalu t© will be nominated and probably elected, and will amlllngly thank bl a dear conatltuenta •for tiie great honor, while be plans to repay the benefactors who will bar* bought high office for him agala.—Central City (Neb.) Democrat.