The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-20
One Result of the War.

TO the Editor Of The Post.
Mills Texas. August lg.--while am NOT
an advocate of expansion or Imperialism. and
therefore opposed to the war now being waged
against the Filipinos MS a departure from the
policies held ly the founders of the Republic
and violation OF the declaration OF the
rishts OF man. yet ! believe In the higher
power OF evolution-that the fittust must sur
viVe, NO one can deny this universal law OF
nature. hence We conclude that American
arms VIII finally prevail In the Philippines
a. the archipelago become an integral part
OF TINS government. whether right or wrong
Aud should the result be the opening OF the
great ports OF the Orient for the admission
OF American agriculture aud manufacture
we can see medium through which the
maj destruction of the protective tsrin sys-
TEN, the greatest foe to agricultural in
terests in this country can be ACCOMPLISHED
inc protective tariff question has been the
bone OF contention from the very foundation
Of this government and trusts and combines
the legitimate offspring OF protected interests
have succeeded in cornering nearly every
thins IN America, except air and poverty.
Law seems powerless TO relieve the people
from their unjust exactions. Legislation never
mas and. believe. never will destroy the
octopus ina, is eating out the life of the
Natlon slowly but surely. The numerous
bei,ehciaries Of the protective tariff and
trusts backed by almost unlimited capital,
with the machinery of the government md
the manipulation of the ballot In their hands
will continue to hold the balance of mower
and prevent any legislation beneficial 10 the
masses.
In the opening I'm of new fields and new
markets we thus divert their operations 10
Other countries. where probably the rights OF
corporations are not respected above the
rights OF the people.
The welfare OF the people should be the
supreme law. Of our land. Equal rights TO
all and speclal privileges to none is not a
doctrine sufhcientlv strong TO cope with a
corpcration already grown Through the et-
feet OF previous class legislation powerful
enough to corner the products Of nation
Something else Is wanted. Under our form
of government legislation ran not reach this
class The scope of constitutional law along
this line has never been defined by the higher
courts and when tested the people will find
that they can get no relief from that source
Previous decisions warrant the conclusion
TINT when any law designed BY tho state to
restrain the operation Of trusts. II sustained
by the State court will be apnoaled and en-.
Joined probably for wears nendlng decision
by the Federal court and finally go the way
of the income tax law,
This is probably pessimistic view taken
OF the power Of republican form Of govern
ment to urotect lts suhiec's yet nevertheless
the record of facts warrants such a conplu-
sion.
So. In the event that the war against the
philinpines should result In opening the ports
Of the old world the protective tariff system
viii be DESTROYED md with 4 its legitimate
free trade or reciprocity rs one II not tho
only medium through. which the power. Of
trusts can he destroyed Thus II Is that des-
leading this Notion "un-
awarrs" in war for the benefit Of the masseB
as well as the classes. jew.