Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1903-02-18

EzA ae 90 IN discussing the trust question,
~ &zsGSefA and the relation it sustains to the
[M-o I81%yK general welfare of the nation, the
II SSf[ ~ following extract from the speech
K>7[C[p of Congressman ZeuOr, of Indiana,
delivered In the House June 1st, 190O makes good
reading matter. Among other things, Mr.. ZenOT
said:
The majority of this House and the leaders OF the
Republican party in their rash and incOnsiderate
zeal to lay the foundation of policy of European
colonization by fOrcible annexation here In this
country; to set the pace for subsequent Legislation
in relation to our possessions made the mistake
Of undertaking to convince the American people
that the Constitution did not extend to our Terri
tories of its own force: that this instrument only
went where Congress said or might say t should go
that the Constitution and flag inseparable
parts Of each other in the States but that the flag
was greater and possessed more vitality and ex
panding power than the Constitution; that it could
go to Porto Rico, the Philippines, or anywhere be-
yOnd the confines the States and remain there with
out Congressional aid or sanction, but that the Con
stitutiOn remained at home under the guardianship
of the Republican party and subject to its arbitrary
WILL to be projected here and there best subserVed
TO the political whims of partisan caprice of that
party that under the views now held by the leaders
of the Republican party-I say leaders adVisedly,
for do not believe that the great mass OF the rank
and file share these an American ideas-the supreme
and paramount law of the land, the great charter Oi
American liberty and constitutional government
has no permanent abiding place, no fixed and def
mite meaning, no well-defned and clearly drawn
mitatatiOn or restrictions upon the powers of the
Congress of the United States that under this fun
damental and hitherto supposedly alprevadinG
law OF the land, no obligations, no prohibitions Of
restrictions are imposed upon the right and power
OF Congress to legislate and govern territory ~
ing beyond or outside the limits OF the organized
States OF this Union, or restraining power to guide
and control the arbitrary will of Congress in the en-
of Ia vaf fOr fha NJ tho a
such possessions The assumption and exercise o
such power was for the first time in our history
employed in the Porto Rlcan tariff legislation, bu
recently enacted by this present Congress, by which
it was demonstrated that under this Republican the
ory of the Constitution Congress can levy and assess
tariff duties and taxes against our own people, i
they have the misfortune Of residing within Terri
or dependent possession, without their consent oil
representation.
Such theory and doctrine was so revolutionary
and revolving to the minds of men accustomed tC
reading the pathetic story Of heroic sacrifice from
Banker Hill to Yorktown that the Republican party
found itself in attitude of hostility to the amOs
universal sentiment of the people. Finding itsel
in this situation and realizing that something heroic
must be done in extremis to recOup some OF the ad
vantages they had lost and realin their party with
public sentiment, it is not and will not be grea
surprise to the country, and the country will thor
Oughly understand, that the alert and ever sagaci
GUS and masterful genius Of Republican leadership
should seize upon some favorable opportunity Il
create for their party some plausible excuse anC
justification for their course and failure to egisatC
for the relief of the country against trusts.
The apology they offer is the suggestion Of
remedy in which they have no confidence, and which
they we'll know will never pass, and was not so in
tended when it was FepOFted-a remedy by wayOf
constitutional amendment requiring a twO-thirdl
majority in both branches of Congress to propose
and three-fOurths Of the States to ratify before il
can in any event become part Of the organic law
When it is remembered that the ratification By
thirty States Of the Union is essential to make
effective the proposition now being considered
even admitting the possibility of its ultimate sue
cess everyone who is honest and sincere and earnest
" desires the immediate application OF some effect
i've and wholesome legislation against trusts mus
admit that the remote and farOf remedy by con
stitutional amendment is not the remedy sought by
the appeals Of the trust victims of the country /
there exists any other.
contend, that Congress now has ample power
under the Constitution to legslate effectively to de
strOy every trust, illegal combination, and monop
Oly that today menaces the public interests anC
threaten the public veal There scarcely an homes
pretense made and certainly no convincing argumen
advanced by the proponents Of this resolution tha
all power under the eintersate-eOmmerce clause Of th
Constitution has been exhausted by the Law enacted
July 2 1890, known as the Sherman antitrust law
q Law desire to remind our Republican friends tha
was supported by every Democrat Of the HOus
who voted, as the records show. This is the much
vaunted Republican Law thatis now claimed to hav
exhausted the power OF Congress to legislate agans
trusts SO frequently referred to in argument in th
discussion, as. the ground and the only excuse on