The Savannah morning news., 1903-05-31

cal issues, and have not been in recent
campaigns" answered Col. Monroe. 1T
is no longer possible for an intelligent
man to give cogent reasons for alle-
glance to either of the leading parties.
Our elections are decided by appeals
to the commercial instinct of the com
munity or nation, and by the personal
popularity of the respective candidates.
Great principles of abstract justice are
no longer involved in political cam
paigns. 1t is impossible to name an
issue which fairly divides Republicans
and Democrats. The tariff question
comes as near as any to forming such
an issue, and yet each party contains
in it's ranks men of all shades of be-
lief on the subject of tariff regulation.
1t looks very much as If the next pres
idential campaign will be devoid of
anything worthy of the name of an Is
sue"
How about the trusts?" suggested
Judge Sawyer. Are there not indi-
cations that party lines will be drawn
on the question of the regulation or
suppression of these monopolies?'
Not the slightest indication" was
the prompt reply. Both platforms will
assert that the trusts must and shall
be suppressed but neither will contain
rational suggestions as to how this
suppression is to be brought about. The
so-called trusts are within the domain
of business and commerce, and modern
business men do not allow politicians
to seriously interfere in their affairs.
Do you suppose for one moment that
it is possible to utilize the machinery
of either party to elect and install ar
| administration seriously bent on the de-
| struction of the various combines which
are commonly classed as trusts?"
There certainly is a strong popular
sentiment in favor of some move
| against these combinations" asserted
Judge Sawyer.
Il don't believe it," declared Col.
Monroe. There is lively public curl
osty as to what will develop from the
present trust form of industry, but
the people are as much in the dark
and as little inclined to make a radi-
cal move against the trusts at the
present time as are the politicians.
The people don't like trusts, neither
do they like cyclones or droughts, and
they are as powerless to suggest RENE
dies for the latter as for the former.
The business interests will select the
candidates, their representatives will
write both platforms, and the people
will make their choice. The task of
! consolidating industries and eliminat-
ing competition will continue the same
after election as beore. The trust is
an issue. but the time has not come
when it can be made a political one.
II is an economic problem in process
of evolution. Political parties can
neither hasten nor retard the process
es of evolution. 1t is their province
! to carry into effect the results of evo-
luton, and the trust is not yet a fin
! ished product"
ut seems strange to me that the
| people take so little interest in matters
which years ago would have stirred
! the nation from ocean to ocean," said
Judge Sawyer after pause. II
thought the Philippine question would
arouse intense interest, but it did not
! No one seems to care very much about
! the alleged Observation-Disclosures of the
negro in the South. There is more
| genuine public interest in a city cleo
ton than in a national one. Why is
| this?"
cit is because manufacturing, finan-
cial and commercial interests are in
complete and undisturbed control of
the situation" was the reply. More
than at any time in the history of the
world it's inhabitants are engaged in
the pursuit of wealth. We have all
the liberty we seem to need so that
question does not worry us. A serious
question does not worry us. A serious
quarrel with a nation worthy of our
piowess is impossible. With peace as
sured at home and abroad, it is inev-
liable that everything becomes subor-
dinated to business. When our liber-
ties were menaced, patriots and states
men were selected by the people to rep
resent them. When sectional strife di-