Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-23
4 y1RG111AN orponruN1rY.

v
Cincinnati speech those thick and thin
high protection organs which sought to
convince themselves and the public that
Speaker Hendersons declinaton was
mere cap-snapping performance, and ala
not mean the bringing on OF serious
intra-party fight on the tariff, are salts
fed to the contrary. It is also TAR
presumption that there is subdued weep
ing and waiting and crashing OF teeth,
not to say curses not loud but deep. IN
the fold Of those who hoped that as the
result of the last Oyster Bay conference
the President would find some way Of
fanking the issue, while on his Western
tour. At Cincinnati Mr.. Roosevelt sup
ported Henderson with all the artillery OF
the administration. He deliberately
trained it upon the revisionists of his own
party, and there was no suggestion CT
compromise in the ammunition he dis
charged. He distinctly accepted the chal-
lenge conveyed in the Iowa platform,
and proclaimed his intention of light
ing out the trust question on his consul
tutional amendment line. In effect ne
defied and fouted the large and rapidly
growing element in his own party which
is disaffected toward Dingleyism, and
sees in its modification the only possible
deliverance from the trust evil
No, after that Cincinnati speech, which
we take to have struck the key note of the
Presidents series of addresses. there IS
no possibility of obscuring the fact that
bitter struggle over the tariff issue is
on in the Republican party, and MT
Roosevelt's strenuous adherence to his
one idea and his disregard, nay, little less
than contemptuous treatment of the Re-
publican warnings that have come TO
him from all over the country cannot but
aggravate- the intra-party friction and
widen the breach.
We shall watch developments in Re-
publican circles with interest-with stead
lily increasing interest-as the President
approaches the storm center of the differ
ences in his party. But with more in
terest shall we await a disclosure Of the
policy of our own leaders touching the
situation and the opportunity it affords
the Democracy. Admitting for the sake
of argument that Mr. Roosevelt is sin
cere in his contention regarding the best
| way Of dealing with the trusts, his posi-
ton is exceedingly vulnerable, and in
| vites Democratic attack from two points.
| Mr.. Roosevelt's assertion that the trusts
cannot be reached through tariff reduc-
| ton is entirely logical, when subjected
| to the test of the law of competition, and
| flies in the face of the admission of the
| head of one of the greatest trusts In the
| country. It is opposed to the practical
experience of the masses, who, as to
numberless articles, are compelled by
reason of the existence of high protection
| to pay tribute to the trusts. In advocat-
| ing non-interference with Dlngleyisnn. the
| President is, whether Willingly or I'M
| Willingly lending himself to. a policy Of
| 1lching the pockets of the many for the
| benefit of the few. That is capable of abb
solute demonstration.
Again, at best, the Presidents constitu-
tional amendment proposition puts the
| matter Of regulating the trusts-of
breaking their power to Cypress and to
| throttle competition-in the dim and dis
| tant. future. Conceding that a constitution
al amendment such as he proposes would
be endorsed or ratified, the process of
| amending the constitution is a slow and
| tedious one. In the meantime the con-
| tinuance Of high protection would ell
| able the trusts to secure a more tenacious
and rapacious grip upon the threats OF
| the people. And in default Of agitation
| of the tariff issue the masses would be-
come more Indifferent to the great under
| lying principle Of low tariff, which is the
greatest good to the greatest number.
| But, more than that, such an amend
| ment to the constitution as the President
| champions is utterly repugnant to the
spirit of our institutions. 1t would mean
the concentration of dangerous power in
| the National government; it would be a
most advanced step in the direction Of
dignity of the States; it would encourage
/ Congressional usurpation of authority
vested in the constitution alone,
So, we repeat that the Presidents po-
| sition is exceedingly vulnerable, that it
| inyites-indeed should fnspire-Demo-
|
| we shall await with great interest Demo-
! cratic treatment of the situation and op-
| portunity it has brought about. And
with especial interest shall we watch de-
| velopments so far as the Democratic
! leaders of Virginia are concerned. Will
| they. be among the foremost to take up
| the gauntlet the President in antagoriz-
/ ing the revisonists in his own party. has
| thrown down to the National Democracy?
] Will they seize the occasion to vindicare
| the claim that but for the one absorbing
| question that held her in narrow. orbit
until the present constitution was
adopted Virginia could long since have
risen again to every demand of National
craftsmanship? The field is now clear for
| Virginia publicists to take such prom
inence in a national fight-a fight for the
| good Of the entire nationals will assure
/ the States regaining her ancient influ-
ence in directing the destinies Of the
country. Will they embrace the occasion
| and opportunity to perform that duty?
NEW YORK,s MURDER MYSTERY.
T. WILLIAM EJoopor ~, = :.