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| James K. McGuire. |
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, September 7, 1900.
THE PERILS OF IMPERIALISM.
Chairman James K. McGuire of the Democratic state executive committee writes of the perils of Imperialism as follows:
The statue of liberty in the great harbor of New York had better be veiled while this mad craze of Imperialism is running out.
Foreigners who enter that port, as well as a large section of our own people, will deny that America is any longer the guardian of liberty, or believe that the declaration of independence is any more than a great tradition of a once free republic; that immortal document of liberty which declared unto all men the sacred and inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We must not talk of liberty when we are depriving the Filipino Republicans of a priceless heritage which they had wrung from the cruel Spaniards. The continuation of the war in those islands is a war of aggression in the name of commercialism, in which name bloody and terrible crimes are being committed, civilizing and christianizing the natives with a shot-gun in one hand, the Bible in the other. The Democratic party justly characterizes the war as one of criminal aggression.
We paid $2.50 apiece for 8,000,000 people who had their freedom nearly wrung from Spain when the cannon of Dewey thundered across the bay of Manila. We ought to give the people freedom and let them alone, simply establishing a coal station for our navy there and an American protectorate to prevent the interference of foreigners. Give unto the Filipinos the same form of independence that we promised the Cubans. The natives of both islands are fighting for the triumph of those same eternal principles of liberty, formerly so dear to the hearts of the average American, and now temporarily forgotten in the mad world-race for power and gold. Greed is substituted for liberty on our banners in Asia. The once revered teachings of Washington and Lincoln, the two foremost patriots of our country, are derided in the desire to acquire quickly (it matters not how or where) the almighty dollars. And the Philippine islands will and have cost thousands of lives and many millions of dollars—more has been lost already in the attempt to acquire these far-off and unnecessary and unprofitable lands than we could ever expect to get out of them for a century to come.
Stretching out for colonies all over the world in strange latitude insures a vast military system which means a standing army. Our country was made and our fields tilled and our cities built by Teutons and Scandinavians, by the sons and daughters of the Celt, and the Gael, most of whom left the old lands in dread of enforced military service. No boy in America, who can earn a living any other way, joins the army unless our country is attacked or threatened. The regular army is the last desperate resort to live. I have never seen a boy on his way to the government barracks for the first time but who felt that he was nearly on his way to prison life. The people who come to this country dread war, and especially do they fear a war of conquest. Well do they know that such a war means conscription, and they will warn their boys of that fate. The spirit of Imperialism has nearly spent in force, and the day is not far distant when the spirit of anti-militarism will defeat the Republican party. The laboring people will rise and rebel under the burdens of war taxes, and young men refuse to throw away their lives in the army, for there is no glory to be obtained in a war for money and greed. Many patriots fear a great standing army, lest the guns be turned on the people of our own country through internal strife. If ten men control the millions of dollars of organized capital they might succeed, one of these days, in controlling the army.
Peanuts Raised in Cortland.
It will be news to many that peanuts are being raised in this city but such is the fact. Marcus McGraw and his son George W. McGraw, of the firm of McGraw & Osgood, each have a crop well under way at their homes on James-st. They are not as yet the size of the "great California, double jointed, humpback peanuts" sold at the circus but if the Presbyterian church people should give a supper before long we would advise them to ask the Messrs. McGraw to donate peanuts.
Funeral of Ira Knickerbocker.
The funeral of Ira Knickerbocher was held on Tuesday of last week, with a prayer at the house by Rev. J. C. Auringer and sermon at the church by Rev. Auringer, assisted by Rev. R. L. Palmerton of the Baptist church and Rev. Kenney of the M. E. church. Burial was at Marathon.
The text was from I Samuel 20:18. The church was beautifully decorated with flowers. Mr. Knickerbocher will be greatly missed among us. He was a good Christian and always ready to lend a helping hand and to give a word of cheer to those who were in trouble. The family have the sympathy of all in their sorrow. He leaves a wife and two sons and an aged mother, two sisters and three brothers. Friends were present from Syracuse, Binghamton, Nanticoke, Lisle and Whitney Point.
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| D. L. & W. R. R. Depot, Cortland, N. Y. |
THE LAZY REPORTER.
What He Has Observed While Wandering About the City.
Maple-ave. is rightly named for sure. There is more sweetness confined in the long row of trees on either side of the avenue than the entire remainder of the city.
I notice that the smooth pavement and broad sidewalks of Main-st have partially revived the nearly lost art of roller skating. I frequently see some young miss gliding gracefully along the street, and I am of the opinion that she looks prettier than if she were on a bicycle.
I have a note of warning for the young men of Cortland. A young man out West developed signs of insanity within two hours after his marriage. And still young men will continue to take these risks.
How natural it is for many people to gather about a railroad station at about the time for a train to pass through town. Scores of men, and women too, may be seen on the platform, not only at Cortland but in every hamlet of any size, and if you ask them if they are to leave town they will say they just came to see the train. Having seen the novel spectacle of locomotive and cars a dozen or twenty times one would naturally suppose the appetite for excitement in that direction would be satisfied, but the visits are kept up indefinitely. Why is it?
PAGE FOUR—SHORT EDITORIALS.
Bryan and Roosevelt addressed the labor day gathering at Chicago.
Owego and Earlville have Bryan and Stevenson clubs. Where is Cortland?
Attorney O. M. Congdon of Ithaca, who delivered a leading speech at the opening of Republican headquarters in that city, is out for Bryan.
It is now stated that Hannah has twenty-five millions dollars, contributed by the tariff protected trusts, with which to endeavor to buy the election of McKinley.
Chenango county Republicans had a great time at the convention last week. Of course the machine, headed by Hon. George W. Ray won out, but some hard feelings are left by the policy of ring rule which was like unto that adopted by the Cortland Republicans at their last convention.
Chairman Frank Campbell of the Democratic state committee has announced that William Jennings Bryan will speak in New York city October 16, Albany October 17, and Rochester October 18. Former Senator Hill will preside at the Albany meeting and make an address of welcome.
Odell and Woodruff, that is the Republican state ticket nominated by Platt at Saratoga, together with the nomination of all the present state officers. The convention was really all over long before the delegates got together, for Platt had given his orders, but they had to go through the usual formalities just for the looks of things.
The Republican state platform is a dandy for evasions. If asks a little more publicity into the affairs of the trusts, and don't dare ask for much at that; the canal question is dodged altogether, the appropriation of $200,000 for a preliminary survey before spending, $60,000,000 on canals being commended; Republicans and Republican policy everywhere are endorsed; to sum it all up, what Platt says, goes.
The Democratic state convention will be held at Saratoga next Tuesday and no man can predict the ticket that will be nominated. Bird S. Coler of New York, Senator Mackey of Buffalo and James K. McGuire of Syracuse and John B. Stanchfield of Elmira are among the possibilities for the gubernatorial nomination but no Platt in our party can say which it will be. Strife for control of the convention there certainly is and at the same time certainty that the ticket nominated will receive the united support of the party.
Benjamin B. Odell, Jr.
POLITICAL NOTES.
If a machine man is to be chosen, Odell is the best of the lot. Odell will not appeal to the great body of independent voters, who have repeatedly shown that they hold the balance in New York elections. He may, however, impress most of them more favorably than will the Democrat nominee. That will depend who the Democratic candidate is. Odell's nomination will make it harder to carry this State for the Republican ticket instead of easier, as a gubernatorial nomination should.—Buffalo Express, (Rep.)
The taming of Roosevelt will be complete when he appears in the Republican State convention as a supporter of the nomination of Odell for Governor. That great broncho-breaker, Thomas C. Platt, has taken this wild colt and made him the most docile pack animal in his caravan. With nose to the tail of the feed cart, Roosevelt plods patiently in line, bearing any burden that is placed upon him.—Elmira Gazette.
HERE AND THERE.
A few pints of rain fell Monday and were thankfully received.
The Cortland Conservatory opens next Monday.
Registration in the city schools exceeds that of any former year.
The Prohibitionists are the first to swing out a campaign banner. It is across Main-st. in front of the Collins block.
"Jep" Gillette has rebuilt his burned barn on Orchard-st. and now has a large hitching barn with boarding stables.
George C. Hubbard was the "tickledest" man we have seen when he went around last Saturday and told his friends "it's a girl."
The Traction company are making a hit by continuing their excursion rates of one fare round trip to Homer and McGrawville on all cars after 9 p. m.
Edward Dowd, who has been a popular grocery clerk here for years, being lately manager of the Elm-st. store of Palmer & Co., may now be found with E. H. Medes at the city grocery.
Mrs. C. S. Bull, who has been an invalid, died at her home on Owego-st., Tuesday, aged 29 years. The funeral was held Wednesday afternoon and the remains taken to Marathon for burial.
The Gillette Skirt company's employees picnicked at Little York Monday. And, by the way, we have not before mentioned the token Mr. Gillette brought each employee from the Paris exposition. Each was in the form of a purse but all were distinctively different.
The past week two heavy traction engines went over the Main-st. asphalt. Just after they passed, the print of the great wheels was plainly visible in the surface of the asphalt, but at the end of two days it was all gone, showing the elasticity of the material.
Not being able to attend, we will have to take the word of the Tioga County Herald about the Newark Valley fair. It must have been a big success judging by their report and much of that success is due to the efforts of Editor Purple, who is secretary of the association.
Clarion, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen S. Reynolds of No. 81 Clinton-ave., died Wednesday afternoon aged 5 months and 6 days. The funeral will be held this afternoon with burial in the Rural cemetery. Funeral private.
The death on Friday of Velorus D. Crandall takes one of Cortland county's most thorough, painstaking and honorable farmers from our midst. For many years he has resided on his farm just up the hill, across the bridge from the Wickwire roller mills and he was almost daily in town. He was 65 years of age and a bachelor and one of the most genial people it has ever been our privilege to meet. One sister, Mrs. Marcia Smith of Buffalo, survives him.
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