The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-06-06

CCD2 GEG Fears Verse LcE',eElieS
Ia t:,e Pk:1:ppineY-Vssr Taxes c.s;s
70 &c Get pc:Tas-Eeneuiact:c T;sse
stea1 Eeaten = Reception os Beer
DeIesates-Deceat EeDab;icsasss D;s-
gas:ed With tie Administrations.
[copyrisht, 1000, by Champ c.as2.l
AIessrs. Rathbone and Neely OF the
United States and OF Cuba are the two
Republicans now most thoroughly in
the public eye. suggest them as the
Republican presidential candidates with
the battlecry Tho old flag and Cuban
swag." The beauty Of such q ticket
would be that it would make no sort
OF difference which stood for first place
and which for second; it would be
very much Of whatness.
The G. O. 2. is clearly in bad way
when a Republican congress is COM
PEELED to pass a brand new law il or
der to punish Republican thieves who
have been plying their nefarious voca-
ton in <The Queen Of the Antilles"
This is one Of the fist fruits Of I'M
perialism. What hoarse hoot Cen
eral Weyler must emit when he reads
of the colossal sums stolen by the pets
Of this administration, which has been
supposed to stand especially for sweet
ness, purity, goodness, patriotism and
philanthropy.
Republican statesmen are not much
given to thinking religiously, but to
their minds in the present exisency OF
their affairs must Frequently occur the
question, ''If this is done in the green
tree, what viii be done in the dry
The Republicans are worried about the
exposures of thievely in Cuba and are
fearful lest worse news Of greater lar
cenies come from the faraway Philip
pines.
1t is not only the Democrats who are
hopping On to them. but honest Repub-
licans are taking up the cudgels against
them. General John B. Henderson, ex-
United States senator from Missouri,
&-chairman of national Republican
convention, ex-president Of the Pan
American congress. ex-brigadier in the
Union army, has been and is one OF
the most ardent opponents Of the I'M
perial policy. It is very doubtful If
there is a profounder lawyer in the
United States than General Henderson.
In a long and carefully considered ar
ticle on the huge thefts Of Messrs.
Rathbone and Neely he says inter ALA:
~ With all these guarantees OF honesty in the
handling of public funds. REINFORCED by the SAFE
guards of checks and balances suggested by re-
sponsible accounting officers in an experience OF
e hundred wears It has been difficult to secure that
fidelity and integrity sought and hoped for by the
founders OF our institutions.
Constitution ignored.
., yVhv should we be surprised, then, at the re-
cent cefalcations and e:rbezzlenents N Cuba
Are they not the legitimate consequences OF
sross and radical departure from the constitution.
on which cur institutions and hopes OF fidelity
and purity OF administration ere based? Look at
the order CT the president, made through the
postmaster general n July. 1889, under wnlch
Nr Rathbone's administration as director gen
eral OF posts in Cuba has been conducted. Upon
him alone is conferred unlimited authority to cs-
tablish postofnces and TO appoint postmasters and
FIX their compensation.
He has unrestrained authority to establish post
routes and fix the compensation ct all persons and
companies carrying the mail He is to make all
contracts touching the questions o: transportation
and distribution of the mail. And his power IS
equally unlimited to collect and disburse all mon
eys arising from that service in Cuba. Under this
order he combines in himself as regards this sub
iect all the functions of the legislative and ex-
executive departments OF our government on an is
land containing 100000 people His sole Will IS
the law He is made an absolute monarch. No such
autocracy exists on earth. lie is to collect mil
lions 9. dollars AID expend them as his own sweet
will nav dictate There is no one to inspect his
accounts He is authorized to collect and to hold
and dis5urse as his own treasurer. lie can dis
burse withou. an act CT appropriation. tie can
pay out without warrant. The lalnentable part
of this whole matter is that he who inroses con-
st;tutioaa limitations 10 restrain this wild de-
lirium is 10 better than traitor against his gov
erarent After awhile the traitors viii probably
be in the 2oritv. and then as heretofore In this
uncertain world o. ours. treason will again become
respectable
Now. please bear in mind whose
wort:s those ere: not those Of u ram
pant and ardent Democrat, seeking
some temporary political advantage.
not those Of q wild eyed Populist who
wants the government to take charge
Of all public utilities, not those Of an
anarchist. shaking his blood red flag
in the face Of organized society, but
the sober words Of an eminent Repub-
Hcan statesman. great lawyer and a
man Of affairs.
Spanish War Taxes.
People need not expect that this Re
publican congress Will cut down the
Spanish war taxes, which We're estab-
lished for temporary purposes. The
way things are running in Cuba the
Republicans need al the surplus on
hand and to be on hand or their ot1l-
cial thieves will produce an enormous
deficiency in the treasury. What Re
publicans want to do. and what they
probably will do, is to give the COM
mittee on ways and means leave to sit
during vacation under the pretense OF
considering reductions Of the Spanish
war taxes. but really to place the Re
publican majority Oh that committee