The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-08-07
POSSIBLE NATIONAL ISSUES.

In recent interview, Representa-
tive Livingstone, of Georgia, senior
Democratic member Of the Committee
on Appropriations and a leader upor
the floor Of the House, outlined what
in his Judgment will be the most
feasible points of attack on the Re
publicans by the Democrats at Tho
coming session of Congress. These
questions if put in plain straight
forward way and properly fought
for will force the Republicans to either
surrender or definitely place them
selves on record.
These issues are:
"First-A demand for the enact
ment of an elastic currency bill.
"Second-A demand for the abolish
ment or reduction of rates in tarif
schedules protecting trust-made
goods.
"Third-A demand that the Repub.
licans either avow their intention to
stand by the President upon his negro
policy or admit that they repudiate
it."
Following plan of action along
these lines" said Mr.. Livingstone.
1--WE can conduct our fight not entire.
ly on political grounds, but upon the
more liberal basis of patriotism, and
can command that the people be
definitely informed as to the attitude
of the two parties towards questions
which they desire to have settled.
"Take the question of relieving tie
present currency conditions, for in
stance. think there is a general de-
mand that something shall be done.
They want an elastic currency and
plenty of it. We can say to the Re-
publicans: We, the Democrats, are
not in power, but we desire to enact
legislation designed to alleviate
strained currency conditions, Get
together and give us your bill. Give
US a good bill and wewill vote for
it, Thus they will be placed in the
position of doing something or ig-
noring the plea for help. They must
therefore go on record.
"Again, we can put them on record
upon the tariff question" continued
Mr.. Livingstone. Owe ofthc minority
demand that there shall be some sort
of revision. We do not ask the Re.
publicans to take their whole fabric
of the tariff and tear it to pieces. All
we ask is that the schedules of the
present law affecting and protecting
the trusts be revised so that pro-
lection to these organizations shall
be withheld. Can any reasonable
person object to that? 1 think not.
"Thus we can soon determine
whether the Republican party is
sincere in its protested policy of hos
tilities to trusts. 1t can be shown
whether that party desires to serve
the people rather than the industrial
combinations having monopolies in
various lines oftrade. Thepoint can
be clearly developed.
'Iast ofthe three, and probably the
most important, is to define the atti-
tude of the party generally upon the
negro question. The President has
outlined his creed as to that problem.
He has filled the negroes of the coun-
try with conceit and false pride. He
has give them a sad case of swell
headedness, as might say. 1t is
getting so that there is no holding the
black man. He is rapidly outgrow-
ing the clothes which were intended
for him by nature. Now let US ask
the Republicans of Congress; The
policy of your President on thenegro
question is plain. Do you intend to
stick by it, or do you intend to re-
nounce it?' They must answer.
"The negro issue is an import
ant one before the people. That cam
not be denied. And especially is it of
vital Importance to the people of the
South. The South depends upon the
negro for its labor. But what can
the South do? Mr.. Roosevelt has con-
veyed to the black man false impress
sions of the negro's Importance. 1t
has caused insolence and crime.
Shall this go on? Isay that if it does
it will follow with war with the
knife and there will be many deaths.
1t cannot continue. Now that is the
question which must be put to the
Do you desire such
developments, or will they repudiate
the Presidents attitude upon the
qnegro uestion?
"The question can be bluntly put,
and it can be answered categorically.
With one answer or the other, we
can go before the people of the next
campaign. believe that the negro
problem will be of the utmost import
ance in that campaign.
Recently and since the Presidents
policy has been inaugurated the
blacks of the South have been getting
together and shaking hands with
They have been given
inflated notions oftheir standing, So
cial and otherwise. Why, in my