The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-05
DEMOCRATIC OPPORTUNITY.
Comes from Republican subservience
 to Monopolies and Trusts.

Comes from Republican Subservience
 to Monopolies and Trusts. Mobile Register. The first session of the Fifty-second Congress has made record for hard work, big appropriations and personal all tercattons in the Senate. Aside from the appropriations, amounting to over a bil- lion dollars in money the Congress pass ed the following important leglslation:
 The isthmian canal bill.
 War tax repeal bill.
 Chinese exclusion extension bill.
 Philippine tariff bill.
 Philippine civil government bill.
 National bank charter extension bill.
 Permanent census office bill.
 Arid lands irrigation bill.
 Cleomargarine tax bill.
 Of these, the most important Is the ltthmian canal bill, authorizing the Pres anna canal, to unite the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This meas ure is of world interest. while it holds out the prospect of enormous commercial development of the United States. Next in importance. judged by the extent of the interests involved and its effect upon our own Government, Is the Philippines civil government bilE It is largely an hope that 1t will bring about results beneficial to the inhabitants of the isl- ands. If 1t does do so. we can afford to treat with little regard the objections bill is likely to take the question of hold ing the islands out of politics as a na- tional issue.
 The notable failure of the session was the Cuban reciprocity legislation. The President took issue with the Republican, Congress on this question of making con sessions to Cuban sugar growers. The Western or sugar beet men contended that the passage of the reciprocity bill would injure their industry and Republi- can protectionists generally agreed that reciprocity was a wedge that could be used to break down the protective tariff system. They recognized this when do- mestic sugar men tackled on a clause re- moving the differential from refined su- gar. The addition was made in order to bring the protectionists to an understand ing of their situation.
 The Republican high tariff men were lather inclined to let reciprocity have a chance to show it's utility, but they were pledged to let nothing be done to disturb the tariff. The President wrote a strong and patriotic message, urging Congress to remember that the late President Me Kinley had strongly favored the policy now advocated by him, but even the name or a beloved leader was not strong enough to prevail over the resolves of the pro- tectionists.
 The refusal to listen to the President and to adopt the reciprocity measure has Tad the effect of calling immediate atten- ton to the strength and domination ot
 
 follows naturally that the line Is sharply drawn for and against the continuance of the tariff system. There Is a division of opinion in the Republican ranks. one faction believes the time has come to take down part of the Chinese wall; the other faction believes that If a part is taken down. the whole wall will be quick ly torn away by those who want freer trade.
 The wisest of the Democrats see their opportunity in this. They are calling for campaign on the lines of 1884 and 1892 tarin reform; and purpose to make a wig orous fight in the fall for the return of enough Democratic Congressman to con trol the lower House. and begin the work the Republicans have refused to do. They count not only upon the solidity of Dem ocratic opposition to the high tariff- the Mother of Trusts-but upon the dis affection in the Republican ranks. There Is no one who can say in advance what will happen, but, at least, the Democrats have better chance of success than at any time in the past ten years.