The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-01-02

given the same privileges vi Ci"uo
that we enjoyed here between the
States, and that the real secret OF the
greatness of this country was on &C
count OF free and untrammeled trade
between the States. The Democratic
position has not changed.
The republican position has changed.
That party is essentially a party OF
opportunists. 1t shifts with the wind
of public clamor and opinion. 1t has
no fixed principles. 1t has policies
only.
The Republican majority of the
House Committee on Ways and Means
has brought in a bill to reduce the
tariff on all imports into the Philip
pines seventy-tive per cent. from the
rates, imposed by the Dingley tariff
bill, instead of twenty-five per cent.
which is the present law passed by
thems Ives two years ago. They now
think those islands would be bene-
flied by this reduction. If twenty
five per cent. was good for them why
not seventy-five per cent? Ii that IS
d good thing why not absolute free
trade as contended by the Democrats?
The Democrats will make the fight
for free trade with those islands and
will put the Republicans on record
and there will be much of good read
ing on the tariff question which viii
be the bone of contention in the next
great battle before the people.
Let us hope that the eyes of the
good people will have been opened by
that time and That they will know
their own interests whcu they go to
the polls. Hypocrisy cannot triumph
always.
Politics aside for the moment, the
readers Of the Democrat may like to
know something Of the kind of people
who make the laws of the country in
the National capital. They really are
very different from the popular con
ception of them.
The personal and individual char
acteristics of our National legislative
body is fast transforming itself: at
present it is in a chryoalis state. put
off the old and putting on the new.
The time Was. and not so long ago,
when eloquence and highspun theories
were considered the supreme qual,fi-
cations andlchief requisites of states
man. To-day efficiency and industry
guided by wisdom and common sense
is the sure and certain road to politi-
cal success. The star of academic
craftsmanship is fading from the
National view. just as the learned
rheotrlc of the demagogue has given
place to business methods in affairs Of
state. Some OF the old-time partisans
deplore the change. while lei of ac-
ton who are in tune with the spirit
tt the times recognize it as the logic
OF events and a result of the natural
law of evolution. Blind partisan
speeches, even though cOuched in fas-
cinating diction, comwand hut little
attention and less respect. There
are still a few Of the Roscoe Conk-
iings and Calab Cushings left in both
branches OF Congress but their power
is diminished and their influence
greatly minimiZed.
The real characters who govern and
affairs are what may be
termed the "draft horses'' of both the
Senate and the House. Take for in
stance Allison, Aldridge, Hale and
Frye in the Senate, not one of whom
have ever been accused of ''playing to
the galleries. or indulging in classical
essays for the editication of the public:
yet, under a Republic administration
no legislation could pass the Senate
without their sanction. If the Senate
were Democratic the same class Of
men, with different political views,
would still control. In the House of
Representatives such men as Payne.
Dalzel, Joe Cannon and their type
rule the roost. 1t any one of these
ever laid claim to oratorical powers
they have never unaffected it during
their long careers in public life.
Few men of unusual eloquence, and
With a tendency toward word paint
ing and phrase making, remain long
in public life. This class of men do
not as a rule take kindly to the labor
and hard work of the committee room
and their temperament is not pro-
ductive of the type Of man who is a
constant attendant at the sessions of
Congress, watching closely the details
OF legislation. Hence, they accom-
plish but little Of practical good for
their constituents or their
country. They are like the comets
that illuminate the empyraum Of
and bedazzle the benighted
Tor a short space of time.
Some of the strongest men in pub
Tic life are not the product of the
colleges, but have acquired their wis