The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-09

merce. As one means to the important emu
Of curtaing the power of trusts, we Ia
vor such amendments of our tariff laws
as will place the products of trusts upon
the free list, and thereby prevent mono
poly under the plea of protection. During
almost four years of absolute Republican
control of all departments of the Govern
,oent, the trust evil has grown to its
present overshadowing proportions. WHAT
finger has been lifted for its suppression?
With lis friends again entrenched in pow
err what hope is held out for the future?
At this hour, I can but aliude IN brief
words to other needed reforms, to which
the attention of the country is called
by the Democratic platform. Prominent
among these is such enlargement of the
scope Of the interstate commerce law as
will protect the public from unjust trans
pertation rates and individuals from Tn
fair discrimination AS Is we'll known, this
law has failed to effect, the wise Pur-
pose for which It was enacted. In fact, 1t
is now little more that dead letter Upon
the statute books. Under well-considered
amendments. the commission should be
vested with ample power to prevent in
justice, both to individuals and to the
public.
Labor Department..
Our platform favors the creation OF
department of labor. whose chief officers
shall take rank with other constitutional
advisers of the President. This is in the
interest of Justice. and will prove an i'm
portant step looking to the proper recogni-
ton and encouragement of the producers
of wealth.
In explicit terms. it favors liberal pen
sions of our soldiers and sailors and to
those dependent upon them.
With equal Justice it reiterates the de-
mands of former Democratic plat
form for hirpot9 iiSyo-tha tiOp IF
silver to its proper functions in our none
tary system.
TOR the protection of the home lsoorer
it demands the enforcement of the Chinese
exclusion act.
And in the interest of an enlarged COM
merce 1t fayorS the immediate construct
ion of the Nicaraguan canal. This, how
ever, with the provision that it shall re-
main forever under the exclusive owner
ship and control of the United States. The
pending Hay-Pauncefote treaty is con-
demned as a surrender of American
rights. not TO be tolerated by the Ameri-
can people. In the construction and con-
troll of this great work there can be no
concession Of right to any European
Power. Commercial interest and national
safety in time Of war alike demand it's
permanent ownership by our Government.
Paramount Issue.
A question is yet to be discussed TO which
all OF these are OF secondary Importance.
1t Is solemny declared by our platform to
be of paramount issue Questions .of do
mestic policy. however important may be
but questions of the hour-that of imperial
ism Is for time In the presence of this
SitupendouS issue. others seem bc;. as The
dust in the balance. Il no sense palterng
with words, it is The supreme question OF
Repu5iic or Empire. The words Of the en-
inent Republican Senator. Mr.. Hoar, chal-
lenge attention: 81 believe that persever-
ance in this policy will be the aband-
onment Of the principles upon which our
Government is founded, that it will change
our Government into an empire: that our
methods of legislation. of diplomacy, of adj
mnistration must hereafter be those which
belong 10 empires. and not those which be-
long Ia republics.
Upon every phase of our foreign policy,
the language of the Democratic platform
IS too Gear 10 admit CT demonstration.
1t favors trade expansion by all peaceful
and lawful means We believe that lib
erty, as well as the Constitution, follows
the fag. Democrats, in common with
many Republicans. oppose the Porto RI
can law as a violation of the Constitution
and a fragrant breach of good faith toward
a dependent people. 1t imposes govern
ment without consent of the governed 1t
is in conflict with that provision OF the
Constitution which declares that: duties,
imports and excuses shall be UNIFORM
throughout the United States. Believing
that This constitutional provision applies
TO every part of the United States, we con-
denim III tariff taxation imposed by Re-
publican Congress upon the helpless and
distressed people of Porto Rico Such leg
isiation-nspred solely by sreeo-.s ihosen
thu harbircer of evil to the republic. The
attemp, to collect unjust taxes with one
hand and with the other to return them IN
part to plundered people is utterly With
ou. constitutional warrant or justification.
Porto Kican Customs
We give our earnest assen: to the dec
laraticn: "Our plain duty is 20 abolish all
custom tariff between the United States
and Porto Rico and give her products ac-
cess to our markets No party eHigency
or pressure could justify departure by
The President from the plain pathway of
duty he had here SO clearly indicated.
The Jaw imposing tariff duties upon the
;,eope of Porto Rico is a paipable violation
o. the Constitution and fasrant breach
,,s lie pledged faith of me nation