Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-06

suit of protection, or the protective
system.
The fact is that in these days of
rapidly increasing trade and manu-
facturers. the means of carrying on and
pushing forward this trade must be
multiplied and strengthened. A mere
aggregation of capital in legitimate
trade or business is not wrong, nor is
it necessarily harmful to the public.
1t is only when that increased power is
used to Cypress and sti1e that it be-
comes menace. Combinations Of
capital in legitimate business, when
properly employed, are not to be dis
couraged but encouraged. The remedy
for the oppressive use of power is not
destruction. but regulation, and to
whom shall we look for this regulation.
To the Democracy, which has never en-
acted any effective legislation on the
subject, nor ever attempted to enforce
such laws as now exist? Or to the Re
publican party, which has, at least,
made an attempt, through the Sherman
Antitrust Law, to reach illegal COM
binations in restraint of trade? 1t is
an interesting fact, in view of the
present Democratic clamor on the sub
iect, that every law on the federal
statute books, bearing on the subject.
has been placed there by Republican
administrations: and every successful
federal prosecution of a trust has been
made by Republican officials. Il
demonstrates the sincerity of the Re
publican party on this question to note
the promptncss and vigor with which
. "a ,ict rn hnS fol
to destroy the UBIQUITOUS beef trust,
and to test the validity of an attempted
merger of two great competing rail-
road systems. We may point with es-
pecial satisfaction to the fact that
the member of Congress from this dis
trict is winning rev laurels for himself
and his State by his introduction of
the best measure vet devised for the
regulation and control of these huge
aggregations of capital. The question
is most important and far-reaching. 1t
is not to be solved by hasty and ILL
considered legislation, but by tenn
perate discussion, a full consideration
Of the evils and the remedies, and the
enactment of such legislation as will
mos effectually conserve the interests
Of ali our people. without diSarrang-
ing trade. or gripping industry. | be-
lieve that when the remedy is found,
it Will be found to be in governmental
regulation, providing such publicity of
management as is consistent with
proper public understanding of the
business of all corporations owning pub
tic utilities. or dealing in the neces-
saries of life. 1t is not to be found in
the investment of capital merely be-
cause the enterprises are great. II
whose hands will you place the burden
of providing and applying this remedy?
In the hands of those who thus far
have accomplished nothing-Whose at
titrde has always been destructive,
and never constructive; always criti-
cal and never helpful; or in the hands
of those who have accomplished all
that has been accomplished, and is
earnestly and corscientiously striving
for the best solution of the evil.
And the Democratic attitude on the
question Of trust. is its attitude on all
others. 1t has no policy of its own.
II stands today for no positive, we'll
defined principle in foreign OF do
mestic affairs. 1t is simply on the Off
side, opposing when we propose:
negativing when we affirm; seeking a
little party capital out of a bribery
myth in connection with the purchase
of the Danish West India islands: or
tho payment of pension to Gomez,
smirching the honor of the army in the
Philippines; opposing relief to death
stricken Martinique. Simply "agir
. L. 1t,
Turning to our own State we find the
same condition. The Democrats de-
nounce the party i'll power, but do not
even stand up to be counted. They
preach disaster and close their ears to
the good news of wholesome progress
which any man. willing to listen, can
hear on every hand. Under our pres
ent State administration Maine finds
herself in better condition financially
than for many years. The recently
enacted law taxing foreign corporations
will yield to the State treasury this
year twenty-five thousand dollars
more than was derived from the same
source last year. and this sum means
a tightening Of State taxes in proper
ton. The Governor ard his fellow
workers are n'dlIlly Ill IdNOT Ol IuTJHtt
measures which will properly tax cor
porate interests and relieve the farmers
and other owners of real property in
the State of heavy taxes. The present
state administration has proved one Of
the best Maine ever had-conservatiVe
diGnfied and honest, and most business
like and progressive. Under it Maine
has attained degree of prosperity
never before reached in her history. A
continuance of our support to such an
administration and to its successors, is
demanded by our own interests and
those of the State at large. In her
present honored place and prosperous
condition Maine is but working out the
destiny shaped for her by the great
leaders and principles to which it has
given its allegiance in the past, Fessen-
den. Hamlin, Morrill,. Blaine, Frye,
Reed Dingley. Littlefield, all of them
leaders of men. have placed Maine in
the forefront of the Republican column
in the past. and to the same grand Old
party, dedicated to the protection and
extension Of popular liberty, to main
tanning unsullied the honor of the flag,