The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1904-06-17

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1896 and 1900 feel that we wasted
our best efforts upon a selfish man
who schemes for the success of no
principle unless it carries with it the
weight of his personality.
THE MA TYONAL DEMOCRATIC CON-
VENTION.
| The National Democratic Conven-
ton will meet on July 6 at st. Louis
to select candidate for president
and vice-president of the United
States. Conventions are now being
held throughout the country in the
different states that have not already
chosen delegates, and arrangements
are being made to have this gather
ing one of the most representative OF
its kind during the past decade.
While about only two weeks off, the
action of the delegates cannot be
foretold with any certainty so far as
naming the candidate is concerned.
1t is absolutely certain that the
platform will be on conservative lines,
and that the principal issues will be
the tariff, necessary trust legislation
and an arrangement of the republi,
can party because of the recent gross
postal frauds.
The principal issue will be on the
one first-named, and it is more than
probable that the campaign will be
fought out on the line of tariff for
revenue only with incidental protec-
ton. 1t will be argued that this
change will not be made so as to
PROSTATE any of the present business
industries of the country. That a
gradual reduction only will be favor
ed to extend over a number of years
until an equitable basis between the
producer and the consumer is
reached.
On the question oftrust legislation,
the republicans have recently made
themselves more vulnerable by retir-
ing from the portfolio of Attorney
General the present official, who
brought about the proceedings de-
claring invalid the recent railroad
merger and has taken other steps
looking to partial enforcement of
the Sherman law.
The people of the country cannot
regard Metropolitan administration
as being entirely sincere in saying
that it opposed the trusts because it
has failed to pass legislation that
would come more nearly accomplish
ing the object. The law that we
have above referred to has been on
our statute books a number of years
and has become an antiquated meas
IRE. To keep step with the progress
siveness of the times better and more
effectual legislation is needed. Since
1896, the republican party has been
in control of all three branches ofour
government and it was easy at any
time to pass such legislation as was
desired. Non-action or neglect
up to the eve of the presidential
campaign, when some steps were
taken, cannot satisfy the voters of
this country that the party is not
winking at combinations of capital
that have for their object the annihi-
lation of competition. In this con-
nection, it is also easy to note that
the republicans quickly took advant-
age of the first opportunity of get
ting rid of the attorney general who
secured the few favorable decisions
that the people have won.
The action of the republican party
in not probing to the bottom the
postal frauds will also prove strong
argument with the voters. There
seems to be a well-grounded senti-
ment that others higher in authority
were concerned, but that the De.
partment found it convenient not to
go any further than was absolutely
necessary. Ofcourse, this is only a
rumor, but it would have hurt no
one to have carried the investigation
to its fullest extent.
1t will thus be seen that the CAM
paign of 1904 can be fought out on
live issues, sufficient to interest the
average voter and cause him to give
more than a cursory thought to the
great politial problems of the day.
The democratic party is at the be-
ginning of a new era in its history.
Back at its old moorings, it will
again represent the masses as against
the classes. A majority of the people
of the United States are democrats
and could always control elections
if the party would only act in unison.
Better times are ahead and victory
is practically within reach. The
political battle of 1904 will be a me-
morable one, and its outcome will
result in putting back into power the
party of the people who believe the
rule that the majority should always
govern. In every state of the union
the democrats are in good heart.
There is a ring Of certainty in every
utterance, and the preliminaries at
tending the great convention, that
will name the man who is to lead
our ticket to success, presage victory
in tones that cannot be questioned.
The future our party is now in the
hands of our leaders. If they will