The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-12-24

gers" But they do seem to have 'sclear
gone" daft, as | view their conclu-
sions. This same old ''rObber tariff"
is now, with honeyed words being ca
ressingly evangelical and baptized UNI
der the name of patriotism ergo
love of tariff, signifies love of
country. A new wrinkle for man to
learn that has not got his old lesson
0 the subject learned yet. Well,
well, the world do move'-but which
way?
| have not yet been converted to
believe in a high tariff scheme. | be-
lieve the so-called benefits are too
fiuctuating and temporary. | believe
the evils flowing from it in the end,
are greater than the good. When
see laws on the statute books TO pre-
vent and remove the intolerable diff
culties and the intolerable conditions
which beset a high tariff, enforced
against its "vices'-I may then have
more faith in its virtues.
The higher the tariff-other things
equal-the more rank the evils from it
grow, and the more impossible to pre-
vent unequal distribution. 1t is a
spur in itself of unconscionable lust
stimulating greed-which grows be-
yond control by what it feeds upon.
| 1t is loaded dice for chicanery and
corruption. 1t has been proved, time
and time again, impossible to hold 1t
amenable to the law. II this is said,
| out loud, you are pointed In sort OF
perfunctOry way to some perfunctory
old statute which is said to do this.
| But such laws are not for captains Of
! industry" to obey. They never hold
their printing" for shot against the
money power.
These laws read to the layman as
powerful as "columbiads that will,
in their effectiveness, sweep the Ego
as you please captains" in prison
like SO much chaff; but they never do
AS construed. when tested, they seem
to be as full of sieve holes as the
devils catechism, only affording a fine
cover for exploiting the old fly
blown policy of words without deeds
mere effigies of justice with which
to cajole and blind the common peo-
pie.
This is a competitive world" says
one, and there can't be any help for
! it" No, there cannot be any help,
from man, for it, SO long as man balks
at doing his duty. DUTY and des-
tiny" are used as interchangeable
chips by rulers in their big bunco
game of robbing each other, and Will
continue to be, SO long as the people
bow to 1t and say-Amen.
Each citizen is not only for him
self, but each nation must be for it.
self, or die" says one expounder of
the doctrine OF inexorable fate
In this we have protection in full
bloom"-protection of goods and in
cidentally-I take it-of man. This
means, man is to die"-not so much
for himself as for his goods"
AS man don't take these goods into
the world beyond-it must leave him
pretty poor over in the hereafter. =
Ii Rockefeller would teach that in MS
Sunday school he might do some
good.
Competition like that OF beasts
| Should be abhorrent to the sense OF
every man endowed with reason today
That it is not so, makes of this
world world of carnage and beast
ly strife. That it will not always be
SO, is my constant and happy faith
to believe. But men and brethren
We must stand stannch and not only
talk right-but vote 'er right to
i bring it to pass.
FRANCIS KEYES.
Longmeadow, Mass.