Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-10-13

YS JDGE Partners letter OF ac-
M ceptance will increase his stand
"A 81 ing with the great body of the
people 1t is clear, strong, lu-
minous document and furnishes addi-
tional evidence of the fact already pat
ent to everybody that he is a cour-
ageous, honest. capable man, we'll
worthy of the high position to which
he aspires. There is go beating about
the BUSH no paltering in Il double
sense, but in a plain, straightforward
manner he speaks what is in his mind
and takes all his fellow citizens into
his confidence. Certainly the objections
to Imperialism have never been more
truly or more succinctly stated than in
this paragraph from his letter.
While I presented my views at the noti-
hcation proceedings concerning this vital
issue, the overshadowing Importance OF
this question impels me to refer to it
again. The issue is oftentimes referred 10
as constitutionalsnl versus imperialism.
If we would retain our liberties and con-
sttutional rights unifnpaired we cannot
per init or tolerate at any time or for any
purpose the arrogation of unconstitutional
powers by the executive branch OF our
government We should be ever mindful
of the words of Webster, Liberty is only
to be preserved by maintaining constitu-
tional restraints and Just divisions of po-
litical powers
Already the national government has
become centralized beyond any point con-
templated or imagined by the trainers of
the constitution. How tremendously all
this has added to the power Of the pres
ident! It has developed from year to year
until it almost equals that of many mon
archs. While the growth of our country
and the magnitude of interstate interests
may seem to furnish a plausible reason
for this Capitalization of power, yet these
same facts afford the most potent reason
why the executive should not be permit
ted to encroach upon the other depart
ments of the government and assume leg
islative or other powers not expressly
conferred by the constitution.
The magnitude of the country and its
diversity of interests and population
would enable determined, ambitious and
able executive, unmindful of constitution
al limitations and fired with the lust OF
power, to go far in the usurpation of
authority and the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of per-
sonal power before the situation could be
fully appreciated or the people be arous-
ed.
The issue of Imperialism which has been
thrust upon the country involves a de-
cision whether the law of the land or the
rule of individual caprice shall govern
The principle of Imperialism may give
rise to brilliant, startling, dashing results,
but the principle OF Democracy holds in
check the brilliant executive and sub
jects him to the sober, conservative con-
troll of the people
The people of fhe United States stand
at the parting of the ways Shall we fol-
low the footsteps of our fathers along the
paths of peace, prosperity and content
nent, guided by the ever living spirit OF
the constitution which they framed for
us, or shall We go along other and untried
paths, hitherto Stunned by ALL following
blindly new ideals, which, though appeal
ing with brilliancy to the imagination and
ambition, may prove a -the-wisp.
leading us into difficulties from which it
may be impossible to extricate ourselves
without lasting injury to our national
character and institutions?
On the subject of the falling off in
our merchant marine he makes this
statement:
Our commerce in American bottoms
amounts to but 8 per cent of our total
exports and imports. For forty years
prior to 1861, when the Republican party
came into power our merchant marine
carried an average of 50 per cent Of our
foreign commerce. BY 1877 it had dwin-
died to q per cent Now we carry but q
contemptibly small fraction of our ex-
ports and imports.
american shipping in the foreign trade
was greater by almost 100000 tons in 1910
nearly 100 years ago-than it was last
year. In the face of the continuous de-
cline in the record of American shipping
during the last forty-three years the
promise Of the Republican party to re-
store il is without encoura cement The
record of the Democratic party gives as
surance that the task can be more wisely
intrusted to it.
1t is an arduous task to undo the eff
feet of forty years of decadence and re-
quires The study and investigation Of
those best fitted by experience to find the
remedy which surely does not lie i'll the
granting Of subsidies wrung from The
pockets Of all the taxpayers.