The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-09-15

on the public debt. In 1899 we expended
for PENSIONS s129. 1874. 929. and for the fiscal
year 1900 our on TINS account
amounted TO slto.S'I,SlS; The net Increase
1899. required by the war loan. was s2oS,-
40S.25. While congress authorized the gov
eminent 20 make a war loan OF SioV,Vv;-
600 at the beginning OF the war Win
| Spain. only 800. Goo.O DO of bonds were is
sued. bearing three. per cent. interest.
which were promptly and patrloticalig
| taken by our citizens.
| Unless something unforeseen occurs to
reduce our revenueS or increase our ex-
| penditures. the congress at Its next Ses-
sion should reduce taxation very mate
rally.
Five years ago we were selling govern
ment bonds bearing as high as hve per
cent. interest. Now we are redeemlng
| thin with a bond at par bearing two per
| cent. interest. We are selling our sur
| plus products and lending our surplus
money to Europe. One result OF our sell
ing to other nations so much more imam
we nave bought from them during the
past three years is a radical improve
ment of our financial relations Inc great
amount of capital which has been Dor
rowed of Europe for our apid. mate
rial development have remained a con-
slant drain upon our resources Tor inter-
est and dividend and made our money
markets liable to constant disturbances
BY calls for payment or heavy sales OF
our securities whenever money StrinSen-
CieS or panic occurred abroad We nave
4 Ho" Dttl pa lAi6 ti'S' 49,
| ing home many of our securities and eS-
tablishinS countervailing credits abroad
by our loans and placing ourselves upon
! a sure foundation of financial independ-
ence.
Regarding the BOer War.
In the unfortunate contest between
Great Britain and the BOer states OF
South Africa. the United States has MAIN
tanned an attitude of neutrality in &C.
| cordarce with its w~eil-known traditional
| policy. 1t did not hesitate. however.
when requested by the governments of
the South African republics. to exercise
titles, 1t is to be observed that while the
South African republics made like re-
quest of other powers, the United states
was the only one which complied. The
British government declined to accept
the Intervention of any power.
Ninety-one per cent. of our exports n
imports are now carried by foreign ships.
For ocean Transportation we pay annual
Is to foreign ship owners over Sl6o. 900. 900.
We ought to own the ships for our car
rying trade with the world. and We ugh
man them with American sailors. Our
own citizens should receive the transport
tation charges now paid to foreigners.
HI Canal Question.
A subject of immediate importance to
our country Is the completion of a great
waterway of commerce between the At
lantic and acific. The construction of a
maritime canal is now more than ever
Indispensable to that intimate and ready
communication between our eastern and
western seaports demanded by the annex
alton of the Hawaiian islands and the
expansion of our influence and trade in
the Pacific.
Our national policy more imperatively
than ever calls for its completion and
control by this government; and II is
believed that the next session of congress.
after receiving the full report OF the COM
mission appointed under the act approved
March 3. 1929. will make provision for the
sure accomplishment of this great work.
Capital and Labor.
Combinations of capital which control
the market in commodities necessary to
pressing natural and ordinary COMPETE
ton, thus enhancing prices to the gen.
eral consumer. are obnoxious to the COM
mon law and the public welfare. They
are dangerous consoiracies against the
public good and should be made the sub
ject of prohibitory or penal legislation.
Publicity will be a helpful influence to
check this evil. Uniformity of legislation
in the several states should be secured.
Discrimination between what is injurious
and what is useful and necessary in bust
ness operations is essential to the wise
and effective treatment of this subject.
Honest cooperation of capital is necessary
to meet new business conditions and eX-
tend our apidl increasing foreign trade.
but conspiracies and combinations in
tended to restrict business, create mo-
nopolics and control prices should be
effectively restrained.
The best service which can be rendered
to labor is to afford it an opportunity for
steady and remunerative employment. and
give it every encouragement for advance
ment. The policy which subserves this end
is the true American policy The past
three years have been more satisfactory to
American workingmer than many preced-
ing years. Any change of the present in
dustrial or financial policy of the govern
ment would be disastrous to their highest
interests. With prosperity at home and
49,, f,,nrzartn- vt ~orlrA Co. 49,
lean products. employment should con-
tinue to wait upon labor. and with the
present gold standard the workinSman is
secured against payments for his labor in
Il deprecated CURRENCY. For labor, a short
day is better than a short dollar: one will
tighten the burdens. tine other lessen the
rewards of toll. The one Will promote con-
tentment and independence: the other pen
ury ami want. The wages of labor should
be ADEQUATE to keep the home in comfort.
educate the children and. with thrift and
of iniirmity and old age.
Practical civil service reform has al
ways had the support and encouragement
of the republican party. The future of the
merit system is safe in its hands.
The merit system. as far as practicable.
is made the basis Off appointments 10 office
in our rev territory
The irEay and Navy.
The American people are profoundly
grateful to the soldiers. sailors and ma
rines who have in every time of conflict
fought their country's battles and defended
its honor. The survivors and the wild
ows and orphans of those who have fallen
are justly entitled to receive the generous
and ConSiderate care OF the nation.
Referring IL what has been accomplished
in Cuba. the president says ii long step
has been taken in the fulfi!lment OF the
sacred guarantees 10 The people OF the is
land.
Notwithstanding tho many Pmbarrass-
mentS incident TO Il change Of national con-
ditions. Porto Rico is rapidly showing the
good effects OF her new relations to this
nation.
The Philippine Question.
TIE power of the government has been
used for the liberty. the peace and the
force has been employed only against force
which stood in the way OF the realization
of these ends.
After recitinS the events of Importance
leading up TO the present situation. to
show what has been done and is being
done to bring the benefits OF liberty and
good government to these wards of the
the letter continues:
Every effort has been directed to their
peace and prosperity. their advancement
ment nor for pride of might. not for trade
or commerce. not for exploitation. but for
humanity and civilization: and for the
protection of the vast majority of the
against the designing minority whose first
demand after the surrender of Manila by
the Spanish army was to enter the city
that they might loot it and destroy those
not in sympathy with their selfish and
t~reacherouS designs
Would not our adversaries have sent
Dewsy's rect TO Manila to capture and
destroy the Spanish sea power there, or,
dispatching 1t there. would they have with
drawn IL after the destruction Of
fSh f1aat- and ~ tho latter uhifhnr wnrIJ