The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-12
Speaker Cites Fact to Warrant Him in
Pronouncing Them
Such
THEIR ARROGANT TREATMENT
OF PRESIDENT DENOUNCED
Public Officials as Well as Private Citi-
zens Deem Themselves Above the
Law-Mr. Olney Thinks the Demo-
cratic Party in Fair Way to Recover
Its Old Time Ascendancy.

DOOI YIN, N1dSS.J OCl. Il.-Olle VI Ilkc
features Of the state campaign was the
dinner which the Democratic club of
Massachusetts, rendered tonight to Col.
William A. CASTOR, the party candidate
for governor. Over 250 party followers
listened to speeches by Richard Olney,
former secretary Of state; Charles S.
Hamlin, Josiah Quincy, Congressman
John R. Thayer, Henry H. Hollis, DEM
ocratic candidate for governor in New
Hampshire, and Col. CASTOR. The
speech of the evening was that deliver
ed by Mr.. Olney who was cheered for
some minutes when he arose. Many
greeted him as the next president. Mr..
Olney spoke in part as follows:
'I welcome the opportunity to de-
clare my belief not only that the DEM
ocratic party is now heading in the
right direction, and is tolerably sure OF
ultimately recovering it's old-time as
tendance, but that that result is es-
sentia1 to the welfare of the American
people. There is one aspect of the
present situation to which I desire to
briefly call your attention.
Liberty Regulated by Law.
"The vital principle as well as dis
tinguishing merit of our political in
stttutions consists in liberty regulated
two Cleveland administrations, the
Republican party has been in control
of the national government more than
forty years Where 1t has landed us
as respects liberty will not now con-
slider. But where has 1t landed us as
respects law which has no right to the
name unless 1t Is the same for the
millionaire and for the beggar? ~
'The signs of the times are that un-
dei, the regime of the Republican party.
and through the national government,
forty years of partnership with the
protected industries, we have come to
a pass where public officials as well
as private citizens deem themselves
above the law.
Helping the Spectators.
witness the jealous haste with
which the treasury rushes to the re-
lief of Wall street spectators by a
novel and forced construction of the
national banking law. Witness the as
tonishing proceeding of the same de-
partment in its instructions to subordi-
nate offices respecting the duties to
be collected on coal. But the generally
lawless atmosphere in which protected
Republican reign has enveloped us is
even more strikingly illustrated by the
recent presidential demonstration upon
the coal strike. There are those who
say that, as the president disclaimed
any official duty or relation to the mat
ter he should not have interfered.
There is something to be said for that
view Though his Office is charged
with great functions and invested with
great powers. the president is con-
stitutional officer whose sphere of ac-
tion is strictly limited by law.
"Within that sphere he is well nigh
absolute without, he is legally impo-
tent. When, therefore, he goes without
T. I1A fnN III
be defied, and that his great office may
lose prestige and power and thus be
less capable Of performing its legiti-
mate duties.
Insult to the President.
"The president, for example, is our
representative with foreign powers.
Will it strengthen his hands that some
half dozen private citizens are found
swapping their fingers in his face? The
presidents overture to the coal oper-
ators was prompted by the best mo-
tives and should have been treated
with respectful consideration. 1t must
have been declined courteously, even
If firmly.
"But the opportunity to administer
a snub to the president was too tempt
| ing Accordingly, he was not only
| treated as rash intermeddler, he was
also lectured upon the law and facts
| titled that the cause of the troubles
was lawlessness, which he was sarcas-
| tically invited to suppress.
"For sheer audacity this attitude OF
| the coal operators could hardly be
| matched and nothing could moro
| strongly emphasize the disrepute into
which the law of the land has been
| brought by long-continued Republican
| domination.
! Operators Are Law. Breakers.
| "Yet who are they who were so In
| sistent upon the suppression of law
| lessness in the mining regions? Why,
| the most unblushing and persistent OF
| law-breakers. For years they have de-
| fed the law Of Pennsylvania which
| forbids common carriers engaging in
| the business of mining. For years
| they have Disseminated between GUS
| railroads in violation Of the interstate
| commerce law. For years they have
| unlawfully monopolized interstate
commerce in violation of the Sherman
! antitrust law.
Indeed, the very best excuse and
! explanation of their astonishing atti-
| tude at the Washington conference Is
| that, having violated so many laws
| for so long and so many times, they
might rightfully think they were
| wholly immune from either punish
| ment or reproach.
Blind to Salient Facts.
"It is sometimes urged In extenua-
| ton of the coal operators foolishly Of
| fellsive tone at the conference that
! they were enraged at the recognition
Of labor unions and the presence by
! invitation of their representative. II