The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-27

B. Henderson, speaker Of the house, who
free trade, but it would be free trade In
most aggravated form. Who would de-
termine, and how, which companies were
trusts and which were not? Confusion
worse confounded would reign.
Tariff Revision Advocated.
This does not mean that we are opposed
to any kind of change at any time in the
tariff schedules and rates. On the con-
trary, we believe in tariff revision from
time to time, as occasion may require, but
it must always be on protection lines.
In 1897 we enacted the Dingley tariff.
The rates then adopted had reference to
the conditions then: existing. The pros
perity that ensued and WHICH has contin-
ued until now without interruption vindi-
Gates the wisdom of that statute, and the
rates of duty it provided; but as time has
passed, the conditions: in view of which
we then legislated have greatly changed.
The rates Their. deemed necessary may not
in all cases be necessary now 1t would
be strange if they were. 1t may be that
some should be reduced, some made high
er, others afIltosethreerr abolished. g =
Reciprocity.
In the same spirits We shall make what
ever reciprocity arrangements may be en-
tered into If existing rates on certain
articles are higher than necessary to meet
the purposes Of revenue and protection,
and we can, by reducing, them, secure
compromising Reductions for our goods go
ing into foreign Countries there is ,nozrea-
son why we should not do SO; but so long
as the republican party controls it may
be accepted as settled that no reductions
| will be made on any account that will sac
| rifice any American industry, put in jeOp-
ardy the employment of American labor,
affect prejudicially American wages or
disparage the credit Of our government.
Porto Rico. - a.,
Almost the first declaration Of the last
democratic national platforms was a de-
nunciation Of the act that had then re-
Gently passed., providing revenues and a
| civil government for Porto Rico. Among
other harsh things they said, speaking Of
| this legislation, that "it dishonored the
American people and condemned Porto
Rico to poverty and Distress" Only two
years have passed, but this short period
has been sufficient u to demonstrate the
injustice Of this criticism and to fully
vindicate that work. The fact, is that
the legislation they so vigorously con-
demned was the most magnanfmous and
generous. of its kind that our government
| ever enacted. Nowhere within our juris-
diction are the burdens Of taxation so
| light. Nowhere else under our flag can
| you find, compared with prior conditions,
such prosperity or such happiness. No
where else is there more devoted loyalty
| to our sovereignty. Nowhere else Is there
a greater work being done for the eleva-
| ton Of humanity.
| The course of the democratic party with
respect to the Philippines has been even
worse. There was room for honest differ
ence Of opinion as to the wisdom Of an
nexing them but after annexation was an
| accomplished fact, and we had, In connec-
| ton Herewith as conditions of the treaty
of peace with Spain, assumed obligations
| that compelled us to establish govern
ment and discharge other important du-
| ties that required us to remain there and
enforce our authority, there was but one
course to pursue and that was to stay
| there and keep our promises. . t..
| 1t was heavy task at best. Democrats
| have vastly increased it's burdens. Instead
of treating it great American work in
which were involved the honor of our
government and the good name of the
American people, and standing loyalty by
the administration, they made of 1T a po-
litical party question and discredtted and
sought to disgrace all our efforts and all
our representatives and agencies both civil
and military.
Practically the whole archipelago is now
under civil government, and for the first
time in four hundred years the Filipinos
have chance to participate in the adj
ministration of their public affairs. Fol
the first time in all this long, dismal Pc
Rod have they had a government under
which their personal liberties and proper
I ty rights have been respected and pro-
tected. For the first time have they been
given the benefits Of public schools and
an opportunity to enjoy any of the bless
ings of our free institutions. ~,..:
Already a great change has been
wrought. Distrust and hatred are yield
| ing to confidence and loyalty. No con-
quering hero ever returned to his people
in greater triumph than Judge Taft re-
turned a few weeks ago to Manila.
Theodore Roosevelt is not only the po-
litical head Of the nation, but he is every
where recognized as the highest type OF
! American craftsmanship and American
citizenship. He came to his office under
\ the most embarrassing circumstances, but
he has shown the qualities of a great
leader and great executive. He has won
the confidence and the affectionate regard
| Of his countrynen. He Is president now
and in all probability will be president
! again. So far as his part is concerned
the expectations Of the American people
4 will be met, but he cannot successfully
execute the great policies he is pursuing
unless he is supported by appropriate
| legislation The senate Is safely repub-
/ lican and will continue so through the
4 remainder of this and the next term but
it depends upon the American people to
say whether or not he shall be upheld by
the next house of representatives. That
is the question we are to answer at our
4 approaching election. It is the duty OF
/ the republicans of the United States to
choose a republican house. It is the duty
of the republicans of Ohio to see to it that
] there IL no democratic gain In this state.