Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-03-12

, trat1OnS, TO raise the bulk OF revenue from
taxes upon foreign productions entering the
| United states for sale and consumption
and avoiding for the most part every form
of direct taxation, except in time of war.
THE country Is clearly opposed to any
| needless additions to the subjects of inter-
| nal taxation, and Is committed by its latest
popular utterance to the system of tariff
taxation There can be no misunderstand-
ing, either, about the principle upon which
| this tariff taxation shall be levied Nothing
| has ever been made palmer at a general
| election than that the controlling principle
in the raising of revenue on imports is al
GUS care for American interests and Amer
lean labor The people have declared that
such legislation should be had as will give
| ample protection and encouragement TO
the industries and the development of our
country
Reciprocity Strongly Urged
In the revision of the tariff especial at
tention should be given to the re-enactment
and extention of the reciprocity principle
| of the law of 1890, under which so great a
stimulus was given to our foreign trade in
new and advantageous markets, for our
surplus agricultural and manufactured
products. The depression of the last our
years has fallen with especial severity upon
the great body of the country and upon none
more than the holders of small farms. Ag-
The revival of manufacturing will be
relief to both. No portion of our people Is
more devoted to the institutions of free
government, nor more loyal in their sup
port, while none bears more cheerfully or
fully its proper share in the maintenance
of the government or is better entitled to
its wise and liberal care and protection.
Legislation helpful to the producer is bene-
fetal to all. The depressed condition of in
dustry on the farm and in the mandatory
has lessened the ability of the people to
meet the demands upon them, and they
rightfully expect that not only a system of
revenue shall be established that will Sc
cure the largest income with the least bur-
den, but that every means will be taken to
decrease, rather than increase, our public
expenditures.
Much Dependent ON Congress.
Business conditions are not the most
promising. 1t will take time to restore the
prosperity of former years. If we cannot
promptly attain it we can resolutely turn
our faces in that direction and aid its re-
turn by friendly legislation. However
troublesome the situation may appear, Con-
gress will not, am sure, be found lacking
in disposition or ability to relieve 1t, as far
as legislation can do so The restorati on of
confidence and the revival of business,
which men of all parties so much desire de-
pend more largely upon the prompt, en-
ergetc and intelligent action of Congress
than upon any other single agency to affect
the situation.
UNFOLDING Every Right
1--WE may have failed in the discharge of
our full duty as citizens of the great repub-
lio, but it is consOling and encouraging to
realize that the free speech, free press, free
thought, free schools free and unlimited
right of religious liberty and worship ana
free and fair elections are dearer and more
universally enjoyed to-day than ever before.
The guarantees must be sacredly preserved
and wisely strengthened. The constituted
authority must be cheerfully and vigorously
upheld Lynchings must not be tolerated,
and, in 4 great and civilized country like
the United STAGES, courts, not mobs, must
execute the penalties of the law. The pres
ervation of public order, the right of dis
cussion, the integrity of courts and the or
derry mnistration of justice must con-
tinue forever the rock of safety upon which
our government securely rests.
Against g ration.
'The declaration OF the party now re-
stored to power has been in the past that of
opposition to all combinations of capital or
ganized in trusts, or otherwise, to control
arbitrarily the condition of trade among
our citizens, and it has supported In such
legislation as well to prevent the execution
of all schemes to Cypress the people, by I'M
due charges on their supplies, as by unjust
rates for the transportation of their pro-
ducts to market This purpose will be
steadily pursued, both by the enforcement
of the laws now in existence and the recon-
mendation and support of such new statutes
as may be necessary to carry it into effect.
Our naturalization and immigration
laws, should be further improved to the
constant promotion OF safer better and
a higher citizenship Nor must we be I'M
mindful of the need of improve ment among
our own citizens but with the zeal of our
forefathers encourage the spread of knowl-
edge and free education Illiteracy must
be banished from the landif we shall attain
that high destiny as the foremost of the en-
lightened nations of the world which, under
Providence, we ought to achieve.
For Civil Service Reform.
Reforms in the civil service must go on,
but the change should be real and genuine,
not perfunctory, nor prompted by zeal in
behalf OF any party simply because it hap
pens to be in power. Asa member of Con-
gress voted and spoke in favor of the pres
ent law, and l shall attempt its enforcement
in the spirit in which it was enacted.
Congress should give prompt attention
to the restoration of our American mer
chant marine. once the pride of the seas
in all the great ocean highways of com
merce. To my mind few more important
so imperatively demand its intel
ligent consideration Commendable prog
ress has been made of late years in the up
building of the American navy, but we must
supplement these efforts by providing as a
proper consort for it merchant marine
amply sufficient for our own carrying trade
to foreign countries The question is one
that appeals both to our business necessi-
ties and the patriotic aspir atoms o. gre at
people.
The Foreign Policy Outlined
ut has been the policy o. the United
States. since the foundation of the govern
ment to cultivate relations of peace and
amity with all the nations of the world,
and this accords with my conception of
our duty now We have cherished the pol
lev of non interference with the affairs of
foreign governments. wisely inaugurated
by Washington keeping ourselves free
from entangle ment either as allies or foes,
content to leave undisturbed with them the
settlement of their own domestic concerns.
1t will be our aim to pursue firm and dig
nified foreign policy, which shall be just,
impa rtfal ever watchful of national honor
and always insisting upon the enforcement
of the lawful rights of American citizens
everywhere. Our diplomacy should seek
nothing more and accept nothing less than
is due us. We want no wars of conquest;
we must avoid the tempest of territorial ag-
erosion. War should never be entered up
on until every agency of peace has failed;
peace Is preferable to war in almost every
contingency