The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-10
Financier Under Cleveland Talks
 at TiIden Dinner
MONROE DOCTRINE EXTENDED
He Says Present Administration Has Extended Doctrine Until Our Min isters In South America Are
 Bankruptcy Referees.

New York February "A banquet in celebration of the anniversary of the birth of Samuel J, Tilden was held at the Tiden club tonight. About 100 persons were present. Charles s. Hamlin of Bos- ton, assistant secretary treasury under President Cleveland, was the chief speak CT MT. Hamlln said in part: Tt is well to consider the great questions over which the coming fight for the presi- dency will be waged: First, the foreign policy of the administration; second, the treatment of trusts and monopolies, third, tariff reform; fourth, economy in government administration.
 "The great question whether the Phil. lpplnes are ultimately to be admitted as territories or states or whether they shall be given independence Is now be- fore us for settlement. I believe the vast majority of the democrats of the nation believe that constitutionally one or the other of these courses must ultimately be adopted, and in this they seem to be sustained by the Supreme court of the United States. I further believe that a majority are of the opinion that the Filipinos should be given complete inde- pendence at an early date.
 Monroe Doctrine Extended.
 Hitherto we have, as a nation, re- garded the Monroe doctrine as having re- lation solely to the attempt of an Flu ropean nation to force It's political in- stitution upon the South American re- publics, taking territory for that pur- pose, and our action has been guided by the instinct of self-preservation. The present administration, however, has ex- tended this doctrine so far that it has practically made our ministers judges or referees in bankruptcy for all South American republics, who are cheerfully encouraged by this means to evade the payment of any specific obligation which their citizens have incurred by putting forward so many obligations incurred to the citizens of other nations that the result would be that the individual na- | tions concerned could recover no divi- ] dend whatsoever.
 "The proper regulation of industrial combinations known as trusts is also be- fore the people, and many bills have been introduced, which, under the guise !, of regulation, would practically amount to such control over state corporations as to wipe out state lines and establish a centralized form of government not un- like that of France. We should there fore, be careful not to invoke the tremen-
  the national government in such a way as to destroy the autonomy of the states
 There is class comprising the con sumers of the country from whom the trusts seek to earn dividends on their wa tered capital To earn such dividends prices have to be maintained at such ab- normal level indicated by the cost of production. The members of this class are entitled to every protection which can aa af doA htr ctnt What is the best remedy?
 Favors Tariff Revision. 'r
 "I believe the first step should be radi- caly to review our system of tariff tax ation to the end that foreign competition may come in to take the place of that domestic competition which Is being de- stroyed. Then by examining the effect of foreign competition we soon shall find what additional legislation is needed to control monopolies. Meanwhile the federal government should enforce existing law and provide new legislation to secure in- formation to what those combina tions are doing.
 'tWe should certainly strive not to fall into the error, from the democratic point of view, of using the taxing power of the national government as an engine of de- struction of state property. as has been proposed in numerous bills. Nor can 1 view with much enthusiasm the theory advanced that all trust-controlled prod. ucts should be placed on the free list. I believe in the long run it would be better to calmly lay down certain broad general principles, in accordance with which the radical lowering of taxation may take place"
 Joseph w. Folk district attorney of st. Louis, discussed the question of offtchn corruption. and declared that if Samuel J. Tilden were now alive he would find situation vastly worse than that ne con tended against in the days of the Tweed ring. At that time, he said, it was only the city of New York which was affected. but since then corruption had spread like cancerous growth to all the great cities of the country. St. Louis and Min neapolis were included among a number of other cities which would prove eligible to this class if the real state of affairs was known.