Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-12-18
". ]. Bryan on the Presidents
Message.
fCONTRTBUTED. J

Porto Rico is disposed OF Ia less than
fifty words-an evidence of the small
space that a colony not in revolt holds
10 the minds of those who administer
an empire.
While he nowhere discusses the
principles involved in imperialism be
uses the phrasology Of those who re-
gard government from the monarchial
STANDPOINT. To him the government
instead Of being a thing created by
the people for themselves, is a strong
and commanding entity, entirely apart
from the people, which grants
privileges and wen rights 10 those
whom IL desires 70 favor.
The message gave him an excellent
opportunity to announce and defend
the theory upon which Imperialism is
based, but that would have required a
moral courage and a political daring
which neither Mr.. Roosevelt nor any
othe prominent imperialist, with the
possible exception Of Senator Beyer.
ige, has thus far exhibited. II people
are in favor OF the adoption OF the
doctrine Of forces as the true basis Of
government, why should there be
hesitancy on the part of imperalists
in clearly setting forth the fact? > y
II any further evidence was neces-
sary TO prove that he is not in the
least tinctured with tariff reform it is
to be found in a recommendation Of a
tariff commission composed of ''prae-
tical experts who could approach
the subject from a business stand.
point, having in view both the par
ticular interests affected and the com
mercial well being OF the people as a
whole" Tariff revision by experts is
only another name for no tariff
revision, because the experts are men
who profit BY high tariff, not those
who suffer from it.
In the opinion of protectionistS a
mar car not become a tariff expert BY
purchasing protected articles, no mat
ter how long he may continue at it,
but be car become a tariff expert in a
very short time By going into the
manufacture of some article. the price
of which is enhanced by an import
duty. > =
His advocacy Of reciprocity, when
taken in connection with bis high
tariff views, means that we will not
have reciprocity where it will do a
foreign nation any good, and, that
consequently, we can not get reci-
procity ourselves where it viii be OF
any advantage to us. There must be
mutuaiity in every trade, and II We
unly give a concession where that con-
ceSsion will be Of no advantage to 9TH
ers, we cannot expect in return a con-
cession that win be profitable to US,
= >
The Presidents position on the
money question is all that the tinan-
ciers could ask. He does not recon.
mend any specific legislation, but
carefully confines himself TO broad
and general statements which can be
construed hy the fnanclers into an
endorsement OF anything they may
desire to spring upon an u~nsusrecting
public. Backed hv a blaukat
endorsement from the administration
the 6nanciers may now proceed to.
force th ough Congress any measure
which they mas desire and which
they think they d compel the PEG
pie 10 submit to.
The significant and disappointing
feature Of this 1.-THE trusts part Of the
message is that, except a brief refer
ence 70 publicity, he makes no def
mite SUGGESTION; ne points cut no spe-
eidc method; he outlines no positive
plan. He leaves the subject just where
his predecessors left. He gives no
rallying cry to the people and says
nothing that will alarm the trusts.
He makes no reference to the criminal
section Of the Sherman law, a section
which he negleets TO enforce.
His message, taken as a whole,
would indicate that he neglects prl-
vate monopolies as a necessary part Of
our industrial development: that he
sees no real harm in the contract Of
industry By q corporation, but that
he thinks that a monopoly may develop
offensive traits and that attention
ought to be given these offensive
traits. His solicitude for the mana
gers of great enterprises: his fear, lest
legislative business may be i~nterfered
with; his repeated cautions against
hasty acti0n;his elaboration of the diff
heulties 10 the way Of wise action
all these indicate that he is more con-
cerned lest the people may hurt the
trusts than be is lest the trusts may
hurt the people.
His attitude recalls the story Of the
mother, who, in order to impress
upon her son the s~uferlngs Of the
Christian martyrs called his atten-
ton 70 a picture in which the Chris
tlans were being deyOured by lions In
the arena. The boy looked at the
scene for a while and then, his face
lighting up as be thought he caught
the lesson taught by the picture, be
said 10 his mother, pointing 10 one
lonesome beast: There is one poor
little lion that isn't getting a btu
The President seems more concerned
lest some Of the lions may not get
their share than be is to prevent any
If the lions from tasting human blood
Mexico Miner Killed in Colorado.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo, Deeem-
Der I5.-L0ckland Cullen, aged s., and
HaHn HH