The Irish standard., 1903-12-19
LIND HEARD FROM.

become at once a strong factor in the
House of Representatives that doubt
has already been set at rest. The Re-
publican speaker refused to give Lind
any important committee assignments.
Speaker Cannon knows Lind and his
ability and no doubt from party consid-
erations considered it best to keep him
back as much as possible. Last Mon
day John Lind made characteristical-
ly strong and vigorous speech on reci-
procity as the most effective method Of
reforming the tariff. He has been for
many years an advocate of reciprocity
and no one who knows him was sur
prised at his stand. The sentiments
expressed and the way they were ex-
pressed were such as to attract the
immediate attention of the whole
country. Congressman speak every
day, but it is seldom that any one
commands the attention of the people
and press of the entire country. For the
first time in many years Minneapolis
has representative who is capa-
BILE Of taking part in the intelligent dis
cussion Of national measures. The
change from former years when we
were accustomed to see in the Wash
ington dispatches notices to the effect
that our congressman had secured u
pension for someone or had made q
motion to adjourn, is really restful.
Lind is not only able to present and
discuss measures but he represents the
sentiment Of the people of the North
west. The Standard is in favor of any
measure which tends to modify the
present trust-breeding tariff. We do
not believe Lind goes far in his de-
mands for modification, but perhaps
he goes as far as there is any present
hope OF succeeding in. The Democrats
under such leaders as Williams and
Lind will be able to show to the coun-
try the insincerity of the Republicans
on the reciprocity issue. They will be
able to demonstrate to the people that
the stand-patters are in control in the
Republican party and that nothing in
the. way of relief can be hoped for
from that quarter. The whole pro-
tective tariff scheme is for the purpose
Of enabling Il favored few to enrich
themselves at the expense of the many
Reciprocity is only modification of
this scheme Of plunder, but it is
modification in the right direction. 1t
is better than nothing We need freer
trade relations with Canada and Cuba
We need freer trade with the world.
Reciprocity with Canada may he the
entering wedge by which the Ameri-
can people will eventually learn that
they cannot make themselves rich by
setting up artificial barriers to pre-
vent themselves from trading with
other nations. Once let the people un-
derstand the whole truth about the
selfish scheme Of plumber and the
whole fabric will be swept away for
all. Reciprocity is a step in the right
direction. Perhaps the best feature Of
the present policy Of the Democrats
in Congress is that it will expose Re-
publican insincerity. They have been
preaching reciprocity in those portions
Of tho country where the people de-
mand tariff reform, but never doing
anything. The instant approval and
commentator which the press Of the
country has accorded to Lind shows
which way the wind blows. 1t ia
many years since tho Democrats in
Congress have done anything which
would tead to attract people to the
party. The St. Paul Globe says:
"The speech Of John Lind on Ca
madam reciprocity and the tariff has
attracted attention no less for Its in
trinsic merit than because it follows
the line Of new and vigorous policies
laid down BY the Democratic leader
ship Of the day. For this reason it be-
comes a cause for congratulatien to all
Democrats. They have reason to he
proud of their present leaders, Of their
5present policy and Of the distinct I'M
spression which these are making upon
the people. Democracy revived will
: presently become Democracy triumph
I ant"
The Chicago Record Herald, indie
pendent, says:
Reciprocity has been for the last
two decades kind Of grudgingly rec
ogAized hanger-on of Republican party
policy. 1t has been during the great
er part Of that time opposed by the
Democrats, if not in principle at least
in the particular forms which the Re-