Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1904-08-19

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benefit Of those who shall succeed us, We
must ever be on our guard against the
danger of usurpation of that authority
which resides in the whole people,
whether the usurpation be by officials
representing one of the three great de-
partments of government, or by body
of men acting without a commission
from the people.
as weil as OF its delays, is becoming
more and more manifest from day to
day. Within the past few years many
instances have been brought TO our at
tention, where in different parts of our
beloved country supposed criminals
have been seized and punished by a
mob, Notwithstanding the fact that the
constitution of each state guarantees
to every person within its jurisdiction
that his life, his liberty or his prop.
erty shall not be taken from him with.
out due process of law.
In struggle between employers and
employees, dynamite is said to have
been used by the latter, resulting in
the loss of life and the destruction Of
property. The perpetrators of this of
Tense against the laws of God an.9 man,
and all others engaged in the con-
spiracy with them, should. after due
trial and conviction, have had meted
out to them the most rigorous punish
ment known to the law. This crime,
added perhaps to others, led to the
formation of committee Of citizens
that, with the support Of the military
authority, deports from the state,
without trial, persons suspected of be-.
longing to the organization of which
the perpetrators of the dynamite out
RACES were supposed to be members.
In both cases athe reign OF law gave
way to the reign of force. These
illustrations present some evidence Of
the failure Of government to protect
the citizen and his property, which not
only justified the action of your con-
vention in this regard, but made it its
duty to call attention to the fact that
constitutional guarantees are violated
whenever any citizen is denied the
right to labor, to acquire and to enjoy
property, or to reside where his inter
ests or inclination may determine: and
the fulfillment Of the assurance to re-
Duke and punish all denials Of these
rights, whether brought about by indi-
viduals or government agencies, should
be enforced by every official and sup
ported by every citizen. The essence
Of good government lies in strict OBJ
seryance of constitutional limitations,
enforcement Of law and order and
rugged opposition to all encroachment
upon the sovereignty of the people.
The foregoing suggestions but en-
phasize the distinction which exists
between our own ard many other
forms of government. 1t has been we'll
said, in substance, that there are but
two powers in government, one the
power of the sword, sustained by the
hand that Yields 1t, and the other the
power of the law, sustained by an en-
| lightened public sentiment. The diff
ference in these powers is the differ.
ence between republic--such as ours,
based on law and written constitu-
ton, supported by intelligence, virtue
and patriotism and monarchy--sus-
tanned by force exerted by an individ.
ual, uncontrolled by laws other than
those made or sanctioned by him; one
represents constitutionalism the other
imperialism.
The present tariff law is unjust In
its operation, excessive, in many of its
rates and 30 framed in particular in
stances as to exact inordinate profits
from the people. So well understood
has this view become that many prom
inent members of the republican party
and at least two of its state conven
lions, have dared to voice the general
J sentiment on that subject. That party
seems, however, to be collectively able
to harmonic only upon a plank that
admits that revision may from time
to time be necessary, but 1t lis SC
phrased that 1t is expected to be salts
factory to those in favor of an increase
of duty, to those who favor a reduction
thereof, and to those opposed to any
/ change whatever. E
Judged by the record of performance
rather than that of promise, on the
part OF that party in the past it would
seem as If the outcome, in the event Of
its success, would be to crafty the lat
! ter class. With absolute control Of
both the legislative and executive de
partments Of the government since
March 4, 1897, there has been neither
reduction nor an attempt at reduction
in tariff duties. 1t Is not unreasonable
to assume, in the light of that record
that future congress Of that party
will not undertake a revision OF tn,
tariff downward in the event that i
shall receive an endorsement of its pas
course on that subject by the people
1t is fact and should be frankly con
ceded that should our party be success
full in the coming contest We canno
hope to secure majority in the sen
ate during the next four years, ant
hence we shall be unable to secure an,
modification in the tariff save that I,
which the republican majority in tn,
senate may consent While, therefore
1--we are unable to give assurances o
lreiief to the people from such excessiv,
4 duties as burden them, 1t Is due /,
them that we should state our posi-
ton to be in favor of reasonable re
duction of the tariff; that we believ
that it is demanded by the best inter
ests of both manufacturer and con
sumer, and that wise and beneficen
revision of the tariff can be accom-