The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1904-09-30

\ maximum, from which the federal gov
ernment was empowered to offer reduc.
on the part of foreign country. Presi-
| dent Mckinley undertook honestly to carry
out the purpose of the act. number
OF reciprocity agreements were negotiated,
which, If ratified, would have had the two
fold result OF cheapening many imported
opening and and eniarsins foFeign ! markets ark Is
| to American producers. Not one of
those agreements has met with the ap-
senate: Indeed. they did not even permit
| their consideration. In view of the atti-
tude Of the present executive, no new
Nor does the republican platform contain
favorable reference to one of the sus-
| of the Dingley act seem destined to re-
main monument OF legislative cozenase
and political bad faith. unless the peo-
| at the ballot box and command reduction
OF duties In return for reciprocity con-
Independence for the Filipinos.
I'm some quarters 1t has been assumed
that in the discussion of the. Philippine
qegTft0n in my response the phrase
something less than Independence. 1t
was not intended that it should be under
does mean less than tH in independenee. e S ifo How
ever, to eliminate all possibility. for con-
lecture, L now state that am IN nearly
accord with that plank in our platform
that favors doing for the Filipinos what
we have already done for the Cubans;
now that we shalt take such action as
soon as they are reasonably prepared for
IT. If independence, such as the Cubans
enjoy. cannot be prudently granted to
the tflipinos at this time, the promise
that It shall come the moment they are
capable of receiving 1t will tend to stimu-
ment. And this should be done done not ete5DRf only
n net ffon b. I1N,k a.
serve our own rights: for a free people
cannot withhold freedom from another
people ,a and themselves remain free: The
soon breed contempt for freedom and
self-government, and weaken our power
our constitutional rights
THE statute relating to civil service
is the outcome of the efforts of thought
full. unselfsh and public-spirited citi-
zens. Operation under it has frequently
been of such character as to offend
against the spirit of the statute, but the
results achieved. even under a partial
enforcement of the law, have been such
utterance of the democratic party that
IL ni,i, stands ,,c committed to the principle OF
just and impartial enforcement.
Panama Canal.
AN Isthmian canal has long been the
hope of our statesmen, and the avowed
aim of the two, great parties. as their
route IN the savBs past besh show esS T5t
the building of the canal should be
pressed to completion with all reason
The methods by which the executive
acquired the Panama canal route and
rights are a source of regret to many.
a great public work was assured to the
profit profit Of our G5 pe9oleis not sufficient
national good faith. They appreciate
that the principles tSa, and healthy con,
frna TON
firmly. against the argument or sugges-
ton that we shall be blind to the nature
welfare. They hold that adherence to
principle, whether 1T works for our good
or Ill, will have a more benefcent inf1u-
ence on our future destiny than all our
material upbuliding. and that we should
ever remember that the idea of doing a
we, Or even ali mankind. may have a
resultant good is repugnant to the prin-
ciples upon which our government was
Under the laws of the United States
the duty Is imposed on the executive to
of constructing the canal. That duty
should be promptly performed.
Pensions for Our Soldiers and Sailors.
THE national democracy favors liberal
sailors and their dependents, on the
ground that. they deserve liberal treat
Pfdges to by s5 R ad +
denies the right of the executive to
usurp the power of congress to legislate
attempted by pension order No. rs. and
effect has been given to 1t by congress
is said that this order was made in the
performance of duty imposed upon the !
president by act of congress-, but the |
pointed out. The act to which the order |
refers, which Is the one relating to pen
% fhorize e. PENSIONS ON the Ground f' of age
1t does grant pensions to those suffering |
from any mental or physical disability, |
not the result of their own vicious hab-
its. which so incapacitates them from |
the performance of manual labor as to |
render them unable to earn a support |
This specified requirement of incapacity !
Is in in, effect set aside by order No. 7S as
The war closed nearly 40 years ago. |
In the meantime many of our soldiers |
a. and sailors long survived the age of
any pension. skilifuI pension attorneys |
hunting through the statute failed to |
sion to all who had reached 81. Many |
prominent veterans urged the Justice of |
action giving a service
effect were introduced in congress. And |
not until March OF this year did any
,overy that the president had power to
reat the statute as if 1t read that when
ae IS necessarily @ R''H disabled oDe-Saif ne s in
ability to perform manual labor and
therefore entitled to a pension.
THE present pension commissioner in
Heated his view of the order when In
recent address he thanked the presi-
lent for what he had done. and advised
lis hearers to use their influence that
law might be passed to the same eff
ect Full confidence after all seems not
o have been placed on the defense of
for IL is pleaded in mitiga-
ion that a former democratic president
lid something looking in that direction.
even II that were so-which is not ad-
present duty would be none
he less plain and imperative. Our peo-
ne act of usurpation of power as an
xcuse for another. The first may pos
IDLY be due to mistake; the second, be-
ng based on the first. cannot be. In
xplanation, however, it should be said
hat the order relied on simply provided
hat the age of Is years should be re-
arded as evidence OF inability to per-
orm manual labor: Few men are able
. perform manual labor at that age,
rder is based on fact that experience |
caches, the other is based on the asser-
on of that which is not true as a gem
raj rule.
'sThe old inquiry: What are you go
lg to do about it?' is now stated in a
ew form. It is said by the administra,
on, in reply to the public criticism of
his order. that 1T is easy to test our
pponents' sincerity in this matter. The
leasure of the executive If our op-
onents come into power they can revoke
lis order and announce that they will |
eat the veterans of So and 20 as pre- I
lmably in full bodily vigor and not