Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-12-22

enc Of the cardinal tsnets Of that great
party, for when Thomas Jefferson was
sworn in as the first Democratic prszi-
dent, in stating the Democratic creed
inter ALA. he declared in favor Of
''peace. commerce and honest friend
ship with all nations. entangling aIli-
ances with none" And while Demo-
Gratis on the tariff question have ranged
all the way from rank proteotDmizts TO
rank free traders they have unanimous
" at all times. at all places and under
all circumstances been In favor Of 3
great merchant marine.
Merchant Marine.
In tho spring Of 1851, under Dem
ocratio auspices, the American mer-
chant marine was the second largest in
the world, and for nearly 40 years we
have been denouncing in season ana
out Of season the abominable and nm
patriotic Republican navigation laws,
watch have swept our magnificent mer-
chant marine from the high seas. So
thoroughly did they accomplish this
that in 1897 Of all the ships, boats and
craft that went through the Suez canal
not one bore at lis masthead tho Amer
lean flag except q few warships.
Now, however. under the impulse Of
expansion, our Republican friends lift
mp their voices in favor Of a larger mer-
chant marine. They appear 10 think Il
a brand new theory which they have
evolved from their own inner conscious
ness, utterly oblivious Of the fact that
il is an ancient doctrine Of Democracy
which Democrats not only advocated
but which they enforced successfully
in the days when they controlled the
destinies Of the republic. 1t has taken
the Republicans AZ years to see the
light. hut let as rejoice that they have
seen il at last.
Truth is mighty and will prevail. It
~peroolates slowly but surely even
through the thiokest skulls and the
dullest minds. James Gillespie Blaine
was the first eminent Republican who
possessed the prescience 70 see that pro-
lection was an anachronism and was
doomed on this continent; consequently
he forced his doctrine Of reciprocity in
TO the Mckinley bill. In this he was
unquestionably ten years ahead of his
time, but the wisest among living Re-
publioans now say that Blaine was
right, and in so doing admit that Detn-
ocrats are right, for Blaine's much
Wanted and widely exploited theory
was only a splinter from the Democrat
10 platform.
Indicted Senator'S ~
II is an astnundina-
--slg and humiliatine
sSG u al commentary on current poll
aucs, that at this moment two senator's
Of the United States-Kenney of Della
ware and Quay Of Pennsylvania-and
one governor of a great state, John r.
Tanner Of Illinois, are under indictment
for ~felonies. Kenney and Quay are being
prosecuted for certain financial transac-
tions, while Governor Tanner is in trou-
BILE for failing to discharge some execu-
tive duty. l rejoice in the fact that no
member of the house Of representatives
is being prosecuted for felony. Occa-
sionally some Of ne are harnessed up
for assault and battery, a minor ofense,
usually the result Of q hot temper
or a hot Scotch, but so far the shadow
Of the penitentiary has not crossed the
path Of any Of the 800 lawmakers in
the south end Of the capitol. A great
many people believe religiously that
senator's are far superior to representa-
tives, but il must be taken as on amaz-
ing fact that it is In the senate that the
bewildaring ignorance of the difference
between meum Ut tuum gets men into
the criminal courts on charges Of felony.
Public opinion should be suspended
as to these illustrious culprits until
their trials are had. The presump-
tion of innocence abides with them as
with all other citizens Of the republic
until they are proved guilty, and for
the honor Of the republic let us all hope
that they are innocent.
Extra Session Of Congress.
To have OF not to have an extra ses-
sion Of the new congress Is the question
that is now worrying the heads Of the
Republicans. The trnth is, o that
they will have possession Of the whole
government after the 4th Of next March,
they are frantically asking each other,
What shall we do with iti'' There's
the rub," for in that extra session what
times they'll have wooling each other
must give them pause. AS long as they
did not control the senate they could
talk splendiferonsiy about what they
would do if they could. They appear TO
be perfectly united. So soon, however,
as they have full swing 1t will be de-
veloped that they are as badly split up
the back as were the Democrats in even
their worst estate Already a close OBJ
server can mark the signs of rows and
wars and feuds impending. Some want
federal interference In the race troubles
Of the south; others don't Some desire
to enter upon a universal land grabbing
scheme; others don't, particularly the
venerable and eherubic Hoar. Some are
itching to amend the Dingley bill,
which both as a revenue producer and a
home industry protector has proved a
fat failure; others protest against fur
ther tariff tinkering, notably the believed
Dingley. Some want the gold standard
fastened on the country; others don't,
especially Senator William e Chan
dler. Some want Mckinley renominat-
cd; others don't, and thess latter viii
rally round Thomas Brackett Reed, the
leviathar among Republicans. And SC
on to the end-the bitter end. From the
day the Fifty-sixth congress is organ
lied it will be pull Dick Tdii devil,
among the Republicans and with tbs
chances decidedly favorable to Old
Horny
IN ~