The Saint Paul globe., 1901-02-16
MEME, MEME. TEKEL UPHARsIN


"a Daniel has come to judgment" Con-
gresham Babcock, of Wisconsin, al
though one of the most prominent Re-
publicans in the country, has not only
seen the handwriting on the wall but has
boldly declared it's meaning to the mod
ern Belshazzar as he sits at the feast, by
introducing a bill to remove the tariff
from the principal articles of steel and
iron manufacture
Congressman Babcock, by this action
confesses judgment against the Repub-
lican party and its policy of protection.
He admits the allegations made by the
Democratic party last fall that the trusts
were the greatest evil that threatened
the country and that the Dingley tariff
was the prime cause of the trusts
What is true of the iron and steel in
dustry is true of every other industry
which has been pampered by high pro-
tective tariff. BY clearing the field Of
foreign competition, the tariff has en-
abled the promoters of combinations to
crush out all domestic competition in
nearly all important lines of industry.
The solemn assertion made by this
twentieth century Belshazzar, that there
were no trusts was believed by many of
his retainers despite the evidences of
their own senses and the cry, Long live
Belshazzar," drowned the voice of warn
ing. Now, however, while he sits at the
feast with his companions, drunk with
the pride of success, the invisible hand
of fate is writing as of old, "Mene, meme
tekel upharsin' The wise men of the
senate seem unable to interpret the
warning. Daniel alone has the wis
dem to decipher the meaning and the
courage to make it known
It may be too late to save the party
that has been weighed in the balance and
found wanting, but Mr.. Babcock may do
a service to his country by pressing his
measure. This insurrection within the
Republican party is the only hopeful sign
OF the present time. Whether enough Re
publicans can be brought to see the light
as it is seen by Mr.. Babcock to insure
the success Of his measure remains to
be seen.
Trusts are multiplying like microbes.
New Jersey alone received $1,0OO,OOO in
fees for the organization Of trusts and
the various mills are steadily grinding
on.
VIII the Republican party take posi-
tion in opposition to the interests Of
trusts? That is impossible. The party
owes its success to the very interests
which it has fostered and which now
threaten the country with ruin. All that
can be looked for is a break in the solid
party ranks, a break sufficient to destroy
the party majority and render antitrust
legislation possible with the help of the
Democratic minority
The Republican party has run it's
tcngth and is doomed to meet defeat in
its very hour of triumph 1t has sown
broadcast the dragons teeth from which
forces have sprung which it is either un-
able or unwilling to control and which
are bound in the natural course. of events
tc work it's ruin. The Republican party
has developed into a party of the few
hacked by millions of capital; the party
of the opposition must of needs be the
party of the many, backed by the men
who vote
All talk of party reorganization on the
part of the Democrats is futile-evepts
reorganize parties The fortunes of in
dividuals sink before the rising impor-
! tance of principles and the countrys
good
The warning has been given at Belshaz-
zar's feast. Congressman Babcock has
pointed out way by which the Repub-
lican party may avoid the fate of the
Chaldean king. Have the warning and
its Interpretation both come too late?
1t will take one wiser than Daniel to de-
terTnine.