We are not opposed to territorial expansion when it takes in desirable territory which can be erected into States in the Union and whose people are willing and fit to become American citizens. We favor expansion by every peaceful and legitimate means. But we are unalterably opposed to seizing or purchasing distant islands to be governed outside the Constitution and whose pwple can never become citizens.
We are in favor of extending the Republic's influence among the nations, but believe that influence should be extended, not by force and violence, but through the per suasive power of a high and honorable example. The importance of other questions now pending before the American people is no wise diminished, and the Democratic party takes no backward step from its position on them. but the burning issue of imperialism growing out of the Spanish war involves the very existence of the republic and the destruction of our free institutions. We regard it as the paramount issue of the campaign.
The declaration in the Reblicanplatform adopted at the Philadelphia convention, held in June 1900, that the Republican party_ " steadfastly adheres to the policy an nounced in the Monroe Doctrine," is manifestly deceptive. This profession is contradicted by the avowed policy of that party, in opposition to the spirit of the Monroe Doctrine, to acquire and hold sovereignty over large areas of territory i and large numbers of people in the eastern hemisphere. We insist on the strict maintenance of the Monroe Doctrine in all its integrity, both in letter and in spirit, as necessary to prevent the extension of European authority on this eontinent and as essential to our supremacy in American affairs. At the same time we declare that no American people shall ever.be held by force in unwilling subjection to European authority.
We oppose militarism. It means conquest abroad and intimidation and oppression at home. It means the strong arm which has ever been fatal to free institutions. It is what millions of our citizens have fled from in Europe. It• will impose upon our peace-loving people a large standing army and unnecessary burden of taxation, and will be a constant menace to their liberties. A small standing army and a •well-diaCiPhaed State, militia are amply sufficient in time of peace. This republic has no place for a vast military service and conscription.
In time of danger the volunteer soldier is his country's best defender. The National Guard of the United States should ever be cherished in the patriotic hearts of a free people. Such organizations are ever an element of strength and safety. For the first time in our history and coeval with the Philippine conquest has there been a wholesale departure from our time-honored and approved system of volunteer organization. We denounce it as un-American, un-Democratic and un-Republican and as a subversion of the ancient and fixed principles of a free people.
Private monopolies are indefensible and intolerable. They destroy Trace all material and of the finished product, thus robbing both producer and consumer. They lessen the employment of labor, and arbitrarily fix the terms and conditions thereof. And deprive individual enemy and small capital of their oi portunity, for betterment. They are the most efficient means yet devised for appropriating the fruits of industry to the benefit of the few at the expense of the many, and unless their insatiate greed is checked all wealth will be aggregated in • few bands and the republic destroyed.
The dishonest paltering with the trust evil by the Repub lican party in State and national platforms is conclusive proof of the truth of the charge that trusts are the legitimate product of Republican policies, that they are fostered by Republican laws, and that they are protected by the Repub lican adminiStration in return for campaign subscriptions and political support.
We pledge the Democratic party to an unceasing war fare in nation, State and city against private monopoly in every form. Existing laws against trusts must be enforced, and more stringent ones must be enacted providing for publicity as to the affairs of corporations engaged in inter state commerce, requiring all corporations to show, before doing business outside the State of their origin, that they have no water in their stock, and that they have not at tempted, and are not attempting, to monopolize any branch of business or the production of any articles of merchandise, and the whole constitutional power of Congress over inter state commerce, the mails and all modes of interstate coin, munication shall be exercised by the enactment of compre hensive laws upon the subject of trusts.