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| Bryan-Stevenson portraits on metal tray, Cornell University Digital Library. |
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, July 13, 1900.
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Contains Specific 16 to 1 Plank But Imperialism Is the Paramount Issue.
KANSAS CITY, July 6.—Following is the official text of the platform as agreed upon by the committee on resolutions and presented to the convention:
We, the representatives of the Democratic party of the United States, assembled in convention on the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, do reaffirm our faith in that immortal proclamation of the inalienable rights of man, and our allegiance to the constitution framed in harmony therewith by the fathers of the republic. We hold with the United States supreme court that the declaration of independence is the spirit of our government, of which the constitution is the form and letter. We declare again that all governments instituted among men derive their just powers from the consent of the governed; that any government not based upon the consent of the governed is a tyranny and that to impose upon any people a government of force is to substitute the methods of imperialism for those of a republic. We hold that the constitution follows the flag and denounce the doctrine that an executive or congress deriving their existence and their powers from the constitution can exercise lawful authority beyond it, or in violation of it. We assert that no nation can long endure half republic and half empire, and we warn the American people that imperialism abroad will lead quickly and inevitably to despotism at home.
Believing in these fundamental principles, we denounce the Porto Rico law enacted by a Republican congress against the protest and opposition of the Democratic minority, as a bold and open violation of the nation's organic law and a flagrant breach of the national good faith. It imposes upon the people of Porto Rico a government without their consent and taxation without representation. It dishonors the American people by repudiating a solemn pledge made in their behalf by the commanding general of our army, which the Porto Ricans welcomed to a peaceful and unresisted occupation of their land. It doomed to poverty and distress a people whose helplessness appeals with peculiar force to our justice and magnamity. In this, the first act of its imperialistic program, the Republican party seeks to commit the United States to a colonial policy inconsistent with Republican institutions and condemned by the supreme court in numerous decisions.
We demand the prompt and honest fulfillment of our pledge to the Cuban people to show the world that the United States has no disposition nor intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction or control over the island of Cuba except for its pacification. The war ended nearly two years ago, profound peace reigns over all this land and still the administration keeps the government of the island from its people while Republican carpetbag officials plunder its revenues and exploit the colonial theory to the disgrace of the American people.
Philippine Policy.
We condemn and denounce the Philippine policy of the present administration. It has involved the republic in unnecessary war, sacrificed the lives of many of our noblest sons and placed the United States, previously known and applauded throughout the world as the champion of freedom, in the false and un-American position of crushing with military force the efforts of our former allies to achieve liberty and self-government. The Filipinos cannot be citizens without endangering our civilization; they cannot be subjects without imperiling our form of government, and as we are not willing to surrender our civilization or to convert the republic into an empire we favor an immediate declaration of the nation's purpose to give to the Filipinos first a stable form of government; second, independence; and, third, protection from outside interference, such as has been given for nearly a century to the republics of Central and South America.
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 the seizing or purchasing of distant islands to be governed outside the constitution and whose people 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 persuasive power of a high and honorable example.
The importance of other questions now pending before the American people is in nowise 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 Republican platform adopted at the Philadelphia convention held in June, 1900, that the Republican party "steadfastly adheres to the policy announced in the Monroe doctrine," is manifestly insincere and 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 and large numbers of people in the eastern hemisphere.
Monroe Doctrine.
We insist on the strict maintenance of the Monroe doctrine in all its integrity, both in letter and in spirit, so as not to prevent the extension of European authority on this continent 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.
Militarism Opposed.
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 burdens of taxation and a constant, menace to their liberties. A small standing army and a well disciplined state militia are amply sufficient in time of peace. This republic has no place for a vast military service and conscription.
When the nation is in 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 co-evil 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 ancient and fixed principles of a free people.
Trusts and Monopolies.
Private monopolies are indefensible and intolerable. They destroy competition, control the price of all material and of the finished product, thus robbing both producer and consumer. They lessen employment of labor, and arbitrarily fix the terms and conditions thereof and deprive individual energy and small capital of their opportunity for betterment.
The dishonest paltering with the trust evil by the Republican 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 Republican administration in return for campaign subscriptions and political support.
We pledge the Democratic party to an unceasing warfare 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 encased in interstate commerce and requiring all corporations to show before doing business outside of the state of their origin, that they have no water in their stock, and that they have not attempted and are not attempting to monopolize any branch of business or the production of any articles of merchandise.
Corporations should be protected in all their rights and their legitimate interests should be respected, but any attempt by corporations to interfere with the public affairs of the people or to control the sovereignty which creates them should be forbidden under such penalties as will make such attempts impossible.
We condemn the Dingley tariff law as a trust breeding measure, skillfully devised to give the few favors which they do not deserve and to place upon the many burdens which they should not bear.
16 to 1 Plank.
We reaffirm and endorse the principles of the national Democratic platform adopted at Chicago in 1896, and we reiterate the demand of that platform for an American financial system made by the American people themselves which shall restore and maintain a bimetallic price level, and as part of such system the immediate restoration of the free and unlimited coinage of silver and gold at the present legal ratio of 16 to 1 without waiting for the consent of any other nation.
We denounce the currency bill enacted at the last session of congress as a step forward in the Republican policy which aims to discredit the sovereignty right of the national government to issue all money, whether coin or paper, and to bestow upon national banks the power to issue and control the volume of paper money for their own benefit. The Republican currency scheme is a scheme for fastening upon the taxpayers a perpetual and growing debt. We are opposed to this private corporation paper circulated as money, but without legal tender qualities, and demand the retirement of the national bank notes as fast as this government's paper or silver certificates can be substituted for them.
New Cabinet Office.
We favor an amendment to the federal legislation providing for the selection of United States senators by direct vote of the people, and we favor direct legislation wherever practicable.
We are opposed to government by injunction; we denounce the blacklist and favor arbitration as a means of settling disputes between corporations and their employees.
In the interest of American labor and the uplifting of the workingman as the cornerstone of the prosperity of our country, we recommend that congress create a department of labor in charge of a secretary, with a seat in the cabinet, believing that the elevation of the American laborer will bring with it increased production and increased prosperity to our country at home and our commerce abroad.
We are proud of the courage and fidelity of the American soldiers and sailors in all our wars; we favor liberal pensions to them and their dependents, and we reiterate the position taken in the Chicago platform in 1896, that the fact of enlistment and service shall be deemed conclusive evidence against disease and disability before enlistment.
Nicaragua Canal.
We favor the immediate construction, ownership and control of the Nicaraguan canal by the United States, and we denounce the insincerity of the plank in the Republican platform for an isthmian canal in face of the failure of the Republican majority to pass the bill pending in congress.
We condemn the Hay-Pauncefote treaty as a surrender of American rights and interests, not to be tolerated by the American people.
We denounce the failure of the Republican party to carry out its pledges to grant statehood to the territories of Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma, and we promise the people of those territories immediate statehood and home rule during their condition as territories, and we favor home rule and a territorial form of government for Alaska and Porto Rico.
We favor the continuance and strict enforcement of the Chinese exclusion law and its application to the same classes of all Asiatic races.
Jefferson said: "Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations; entangling alliances with none." We approve this wholesome doctrine and earnestly protest against the Republican departure which has involved us in so-called world politics, including the diplomacy of Europe and the intrigue and land-grabbing of Asia, and we especially condemn the ill-concealed Republican alliance with England, which must mean discrimination against other friendly nations and which has already stifled the nation's voice, while liberty is being strangled in Africa.
Believing in the principles of self-government and rejecting as did our forefathers, the claim of monarchy, we view with indignation the purpose of England to overwhelm with force the South African republics. Speaking as we do for all free men everywhere, we extend our sympathies to the heroic burghers in their unequal struggle to maintain their liberty and independence.
About War Taxes.
We denounce the lavish appropriations of recent Republican congresses which have kept taxes high and which threaten trade [with] perpetuation of the oppressive war levies. We oppose the accumulation of a surplus to be squandered in such barefaced frauds upon the taxpayers as the shipping subsidy bill which, under the false pretense of prospering American ship building would put unearned millions into the pockets of favorite contributors to the Republican campaign fund. We favor the reduction and speedy repeal of the war taxes and a return to the time-honored Democratic policy of strict economy of government expenditures.
Believing that our most cherished institutions are in great peril, that the existence of our constitutional republic is at stake, and that the decision now to be rendered will determine whether or not our children are to enjoy those blessed privileges of free government which have made the United States great, prosperous and honored, we earnestly ask for the foregoing declaration of principles the hearty support of the liberty loving American people, regardless of previous party affiliations.
SUPERVISORS IN 1864.
Many Interesting Matters Gathered from the Printed Proceedings.
Through the courtesy of Dell McKinney of the town of Virgil we are favored with a copy of the printed proceedings of the board of supervisors in annual session in 1864, and many gleanings of an interesting nature are taken from its pages, which will form an excellent addenda to our recent series of historical sketches.
The gentlemen composing the the [Cortland County] board that year were as follows: Cincinnatus, Monroe E. Smith; Cortlandville, Deloss McGraw; Cuyler, Silas Blanchard; Freetown, William Mantanye; Harford, Erving Taintor; Homer, George W. Phelps; Lapeer, David O. Surdam; Marathon, Patrick Mallery; Preble, Matthias Van Hoesen; Scott, Cyrus S. Kellogg; Solon, David I. Brownell; Taylor, Oramel F. Forbes; Truxton, Solomon Goddard; Virgil, Roswell M. Price; Willet, Benjamin S. Coe.
In perfecting an organization several ballots were taken to select a chairman and clerk, and Mr. Blanchard of Cuyler was finally chosen as presiding officer, and J. H. Munger clerk.
The [liquor] license question seems to have been controlled at that time by a board of commissioners of excise for the entire county, these commissioners being H. Putman, Samuel Plumb and Thomas Keator. They reported the receipts for licenses during the year to the amount of $930, and fines for violation of the excise law in the sum of $170.
The year of 1864 being in the civil war period, the supervisors were engaged several days in arranging for the filling of town quotas under several calls for troops, and for the payment of the bounties.
The county treasurer at that time was D. H. Burr, and A. Stone held the office of superintendent of the poor.
On the 2nd day of December Mr. Taintor of Harford offered the following in poetic form:
The amount of accounts allowed by the town board of Cortlandville was $866.61; last year [1899] the board audited claims amounting to $14,059.46, this great increase in 34 years indicating either a great growth in population or a more liberal policy on the part of the town board of last year.
William Mantanye, who was supervisor of the town of Freetown, was the father of Attorney Wm. J. Mantanye of Cortland.
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| Wickwire Bros. Factory, Cortland, N. Y. |
WILL DRAW RODS.
WICKWIRE BROS. BUILDING LARGE ADDITION TO THEIR PLANT.
New Building for Rod Mill—New Wire Room—Two New Engines with Aggregate of 1,500 Horse Power—Nearly Ten Acres Covered.
When looking at the large plant of Wickwire Brothers near the Lehigh Valley depot, it is hard to realize that the old wooden building adjoining the Democrat block on Railroad-st. ever held the Wickwire business. When their first brick building was built on the present site, they had about three acres of land, partly occupied. When the new buildings now under way are completed, nearly ten acres will be covered.
These new buildings are required in order to make the firm entirely independent and to enable it to make the finished wire cloth and netting complete from the rough ingots. Heretofore the rods from which the wire is drawn were purchased, thousands of tons at a time, but the trusts, strikes, etc., make this too precarious a method.
Hereafter the rough ingots of metal will be purchased and the rods manufactured here. The rod mill is driven by a 1,000 horse power, triple condensing engine. Another new engine of 500 horse power will drive the machinery in the new wire mill which is 90x350 feet in size.
To furnish water for power and adequate fire protection, an immense pond, four feet deep has been built. The pumps will keep it filled from the six large wells, of which three have recently been drilled.
Selling so much wire, they naturally have some call for staples and to meet this demand they have a machine which will produce some sixty kegs a day. And doing so much building, they require many nails, so a nail machine adds its clatter to that of the many looms.
The city of Cortland is proud that among its many industries it can boast of having the largest and best equipped wire cloth and netting mill in the United States, that of Wickwire Brothers.
OBITUARIES.
Four Aged Cortland People Pass Away Within Five Days.
During the past week Cortland has lost by death four citizens whose combined ages were 310 years, or an average of nearly 80 years, each of whom had been closely identified with the business or social interests of Cortland until advancing age caused retirement to private life.
On Friday last John Livingston, whose home was at No. 12 Grace-st., was stricken with paralysis on North Main-st. while on his way to his work. He was taken to his home, where he died Saturday afternoon at 6 o'clock, at the age of 67 years. Mr. Livingston had lived in Cortland about thirty years, and was latterly engaged in the harness business. Besides his wife, he leaves one son Eugene Livingston of Freetown.
Mrs. William S. Copeland.
Sunday evening at about 7 o'clock Mrs. Harriet E. Copeland, widow of the late William S. Copeland, died at her home, No. 134 Homer-ave., of apoplexy at the advanced age of 83 years. Mrs. Copeland's acquaintance was probably as extended as that of any person in Cortland county. She was born in the town of Solon, and was married to William S. Copeland in September, 1849; after which they came to Cortland and conducted the Port Watson hotel. They later managed the Central Hotel at Tully Center, the [old] Cortland House and the Messenger House in this city. The funeral was held on Tuesday.
James Blodgett.
Another aged citizen to pass away was James Blodgett, who died Monday afternoon at his home, No. 66 Railroad-st. Mr. Blodgett was born in Brimfield. Mass., early in the year 1815, and in 1822 he came to Cortland county, residing near McGrawville until 1850, when he moved to Cortland where he has since resided. He was a very pleasant, courteous gentleman, and was highly respected by all who knew him. He leaves one daughter, Mrs. Delia Cole, to mourn his death. The funeral was held at the house Wednesday afternoon, burial at McGrawville.
Daniel Van Hoesen.
Daniel Van Hoesen, another veteran resident of Cortland, died at his home, 126 Homer-ave., Wednesday night at 11 o'clock at the age of 75 years. Mr. Van Hoesen was born in Cortland county and has resided in this city all his life-time. In politics he was a Democrat and always took great interest in political campaigns. He leaves a brother, Israel Van Hoesen, who lives near the brick school house, and two sisters, Mrs. John Barry of Groton and Mrs. Catharine Foster of Dryden. The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock.
Base Ball Notes.
The Cortland State league ball team has won four of the five games played the past week, and now stands in third place, with Utica and Rome but little in the lead. The boys are playing good ball, and if the people of Cortland will give the management substantial support the team will stand excellent chance to win the pennant. The attendance has been far from satisfactory this season, and the result has been that the reserve fund has beau encroached upon to such an extent that the management has felt it necessary to solicit aid, which has been responded to quite cheerfully by the business men. Cortland wants a ball team and the only way to sustain it is by liberal attendance. Let all give the team encouragement by an increased attendance.
On Friday last Cortland won from Utica, 4 to 3; Saturday, Cortland 3, Utica 2; Sunday, Cortland 1, Utica 2; Tuesday, Cortland 8, Schenectady 1; Wednesday, Cortland 11, Utica 9. No game Monday on account of rain. The standing of the clubs is as follows:
Vertical Handwriting.
The abandonment of the vertical system of handwriting in the Norwich Public schools gives local interest to the following comment from the New York Sun:
"While the resolution recently adopted by the Board of School Superintendents of the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx recommending that the system of vertical penmanship be abandoned in the school does not formally do away with that system in this neighborhood, it does so practically. It is probable that similar action will be taken in all the boroughs of the city. The vertical handwriting, so far as our public schools are concerned, will soon be a thing of the past.
"Few people, except professional educators or parents who have had occasion to scan the handwriting books which their children have brought home from school, know what the system of vertical handwriting is. It has been well described as the formation of letters as if the idea of the writer was to make each letter fill out as nearly as possible the sides of an imaginary square. This, when it is done with neatness, gives the letters the appearance of print. Such writing is, however, so eccentric and peculiar that it is greatly disliked by business men, and students from our schools who have been trained in this style have had to unlearn it and adopt the handwriting with the old-fashioned slant to the right if they desired to retain their places in business houses. The test of experience showed that it was good enough in libraries and in certain distinct classes of professional occupation, but not in commercial life and for general use. A further difficulty was that the vertical system was slow in execution. It is said that the average pupil using the slant system can write forty-five words a minute to the vertical writing pupil's thirty words.
"Superintendent Jasper of our town borough of Manhattan is authority for the statement that the vertical system is, in fact, merely a hobby, for which certain school principals who are always hunting new things and certain textbook publishers who are ingenious purveyors of educational novelties are responsible. We think that the public sentiment will cordially approve the abolition of the vertical system of writing in our public schools."
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| Adlai E. Stevenson. |
Washington Letter.
(From Our Regular Correspondent.)
Washington, July 9.—Imperialism has received a blow from an unexpected quarter. When the administration began to order troops sent from the Philippines to China, Gen. MacArthur promptly filed a protest, saying that if the troops were taken away from the Philippines, the Filipino revolt would at once be renewed. Secretary Root telegraphed for Gen. Otis to come to Washington at once. He came and declared that MacArthur was right, and after a two days conference, Secretary Root announced that no more troops would be sent from the Philippines to China. The plain meaning of this is that it is necessary to keep the big army we now have in the Philippines permanently there, in order to maintain our authority over the Filipinos. That is little more than the most rabid imperialism bargained for, and is certainly more than the people of this country will stand for. What possible benefit can derive from the Philippines that will compensate us for the expense in money and American lives that will be necessary to keep an army of 50,000 soldiers over there?
It seems the world is about to witness the revival of the era of the mercenary invading army, which was familiar to Europe a few centuries ago. The other great civilized governments, including our own, have hired an army of Japan, to go to China and fight the Chinese, and after the Chinese are licked into humbleness, they are to be made to pay back the money it will cost to lick them, with usurious interest. It is not considered honorable for an individual to hire professional thugs to obtain vicarious revenge upon his personal enemies. What then makes such a thing honorable on the part of nations?
Hon. Adlai E. Stevenson is the only man ever nominated vice president who had previously demonstrated his fitness for the office by serving one term therein, and it can be truthfully said that no vice president was ever more popular than he was. True, Mr. Stevenson didn't have such influence with the president under whom he served, but nobody else had either. Mr. Cleveland was not a president to recognize influence, and he seemed to make a specialty of getting at outs with leaders of the Democratic party. But during those four years, Mr. Stevenson had and deserved the confidence of the Democrats in congress, and lost no opportunity to push party interests that he could with propriety have taken advantage of. Adlai Stevenson is a whole-souled good fellow, a good Democrat, and in every respect a worthy running mate to Col. Bryan, and Bryan and Stevenson is a ticket to win with.
If the civil service commission had sand enough it could make a whole lot of trouble for the administration on account of numerous and glaring violations of the civil service law in the interests of Republican political workers. A case in point is that of H. K. Chenowith, formerly of Cleveland, Ohio. While he was internal revenue collector in Arizona, he opened sealed envelopes containing questions for civil service examination, in advance of the examination in order that his wife, his brother-in-law and his cousin, who were to take the examination, might post themselves and pass which they subsequently did. The case was so clear, that Chenowith was removed from the position of internal revenue collector and a prosecution instituted against him by the department of justice. Although the prosecution is still supposed to be pending, pigeon-holed in reality, Chenowith was put back on the government pay rolls as a special agent of the treasury department, and he is still there, and the civil service commission is afraid to do more than mildly protest and ask what is to be done about the prosecution of Chenowith for violating the law.
If getting the other fellows half scared to death be good, then the Kansas City convention must be credited with much good politics, for the Republicans are a badly frightened lot. They figured on a big Democratic fuss at Kansas City, but found that instead of a row, the regular Democrats, those who called themselves gold Democrats in 1896, the silver Republicans and the Populists are all enthusiastically supporting Bryan and Stevenson, and the Kansas City platform. These elements working harmoniously together are believed, even by Republicans, to be strong enough to carry the country.
HERE AND THERE.
P. O. Tato Bug is in the vicinity again this season, and has an army of relatives with him.
And now it is said that women, with their long skirls sweeping the streets, carry germs into the household.
The O. U. A. M. [Order of United American Mechanics] are the champion excursion promoters, nearly 700 visiting Ithaca from this city and locality last Friday.
What's the use of having a coaster brake on your bike if you don't take occasion now and then to stop pedaling so people will know you have the latest style wheel?
It should be borne in mind by property owners that the season is now at hand when the law requires the cutting of all noxious weeds along the highway. This law applies to villages as well as the country, and is a very reasonable one.
Several of our exchanges are complimenting the ladies of the First Baptist church of Cortland for taking the initiative in removing their hats during service. The ladies of Cortland may always be depended upon to do the right thing.
The Sunday school connected with Grace church enjoyed a picnic at Little York Tuesday.
"Jep'' Gillett is remodeling his barns in Orchard-st. and will hereafter conduct a hitching barn with no livery.
Was it hot enough last Friday and Saturday, or was it not hot enough? If it was not hot enough, why was it not hot enough?
Watermelons have arrived in Cortland and are of fine quality.
Mrs. C. F. Wickwire entertained small companies of ladies Wednesday and Thursday in honor of her guest Mrs. Harriet R. Mosher.
The eighteenth annual picnic of the Johnson family will be held at Jay S. Johnson's, one mile west of Marathon village, Wednesday, August 22.
The Cortland & Homer Traction company is giving trolley rides to Homer and McGrawville for half fare four evenings this week, the last being this evening.
W. D. Tuttle, the barber, has bought out a shop at McGrawville and has already taken possession. His chair at Dick O'Brien's is now in charge of Arthur Vroman of Whitney Point.
One of the finest freight cars ever seen in Cortland was one used in the transportation of fruit on the Savannah, Florida & Western railroad, which arrived in this city last week with a load of watermelons.
Wm. A. Wallace & Co have opened at 97 Main-st. the only saloon in the city of Cortland. The interior of the Martin block has been fitted up in elegant shape, several very pretty lunch rooms being nicely furnished.
Orris Hose company will send Myron Crane as a delegate to the state firemen's convention, with J. W. Angell alternate. Wm A. Wallace will represent the same company at the Central New York convention, with A. W. Stevens alternate.
The large number of ice cream and soda water fountains in Cortland is a matter of much concern with the young men, as it is extremely unpleasant to withstand the mute appeals from their lady friends when passing one of these tempting places of business.
The Smith & Chase music store at 103 Main-st. is open and already the managers, Messrs F. A. Bates and R. J. McElheny, have made unexpected sales, which leads them to confidently anticipate a satisfactory trade. The store contains every variety of musical instruments, some of the pianos and organs being finished in elegant style.
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