New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-21
TIE HLLL-PARKER PLATFORM.

The Hill-Parker platform goes back 10 JeI-
ferson That is proper and polite enough
Sanction can be found in Jeifersons teaching
ar I'm his pracfica. COR almost any conceivable
Democratic programme: hut the Alnah! pat
form. from among al Of JefferSon's party dog
mas. chooses one for special exploitation. 1t
rpSurrccts the doctrine Of State rights. and al
vertises K as the very cornerstone OF Judge
Parkcr's political philosophy. With Jefferson
the doctrine Of state rights was a means not
an end. In his day power was concentri' i
everywhere i'm strong central govcrnmeA'-. |eI-
ferson wished 10 protect the individual against
governmental aggression. lie therefore sought
il our American experiment 10 hedge and mint
The federal authority His followers found the
State rights doctrine 4 convenience in defend
nS slavery They carried il to the logical ex-
IRENE OF notification and secession. Then inc
doctrine collapsed. Since 1860 it has shlmbered
ia 'fnnocuous lcs,letudc." II had ceased to be
"a practical issue i'm American politics.
Now It j. put forward rs n paramount ISSUE
by the managers OF Judge Paraer's Presidential
canvass. What do these managers mean by eN-
plotting "thn maintenance If state rights and
demanding that Corporations chartered by the
state must he subject r" just regulation ny the
state in the Interest of thc people: IL such
declarations mean anythin. nj all. they must
mean that Judge Parker intends TO stand for
a
Crnment any power 10 regulate "corpDiat;cnS
chartered nv State 10 matter what uulll-,-
tons Of federal statutes and federal policy nay
be aimed ut by such corporations In current
politics only ono application OF The doctrine OF
State rights Is possible. II 'an he turned TO
single political uSe: ana Thar use is 10 free the
great trusts which take out State charters from
the regulating grip of tho federal power. TO
GiScredit the governmental policy which forced
the Northern Securities Company into court,
and TO challenge the decision hr which the SUI
preme Court a month ago declared tho Northern
Securities incorporation illegal and decreed its
dissolution in the public interest.
The managers Of the TTill-Parkcr canvass lack
the courage 10 say exactly what they mean.
They take refuge in vague phrases. Though
apparently they follow and accept the reason
ing Of Justice White and the other Democratic
justices Of the supreme Court in the merger de-
cision. they are not candid enough 10 confess
that Indebtedness. They will not saw as JUS
tice White does. that the courts decision that
the federal government can intervene 10 pre-
vent consultations, under State authority. tend
ing 10 restrain Interstate commerce us deStruc-
tive OF This government. destructive If human
liberty and destructive of every principle upon
which organized society depends. No; though
they may think that in their hearts they know
they would ruin Judge Parker's candidacy bv
admitting ii. So they fall hack 10 the glittering
ccneralitics OF jefferson written for a vastly
different age with vastly different problems.
and echo the opinion attributed 10 him that
corporations chartered bv the State must he
subject 10 Just regulation by tho State"-and,
inferentially. by The State only.
If the makers of the Albany platform had
been honest and outspokeu, they would have
denounced the administration Of Theodore
Roosevelt for daring TO trample on State rights
ny entering suit against the Northern Securities
Company. They would have condemned the de-
clsion Of the Supreme Court as unconstitutional
and pernicious doctrine. They would have
held it destructive OF the government and de-
structive Of human liberty But, however
fearful they may be OF expressing too much Of
their deeper sentiment, they vet say enough 70
show the real drift Of Judge Parker's candi-
dacy. It is candidacy which whispers 70 the
trusts: Operate under the shadow Of State au-
thOrity and we will never bother YOU" But 10
the voter IL says: I'VE hate and abhor trusts;
yet let US always in dealing with them he
faithful to the teachings of jefferson"