Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-08-11

ports from the state without trial persons
suspected of belonging to the organiza-
ton of which the perpetrators of the dy-
Mantle outrages were supposed to be
members. In both cases the 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 convention 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 ac-
quire and to enjoy property or TO reside
where his interests or inclination may de-
ternline, and the fulfillment of the assur-
ance TO rebuke and punish all denials of
these rights whether brought about by
individuals or government agencies.
should be enforced by every official and
supported by every citizen. The essence
of good government lies in strict OBJ
servance of constitutional limitations, en-
foreement of law and order and rugged
opposition TO all eneroaehment upon the
sovereignty of the people
The foregoing suggestions but empha-
size the distinction which exists between
our own and many other forms of gov
eminent 1t has been well said in SUBJ
stance that there are but two powers in
government one the power of the sword,
sustained by the hand that Yields it, and
the other the power of the law, sustained
by an enlightened public sentiment The
difference in these powers is the differ
ence between a republic such as ours,
based on law and a written constitution,
supported by intelligence, virtue and pa
triotism, and a monarchy, sustained by
force exerted by an individual, uncon-
trolled by laws other than those made or
sanctioned by him. One represents COM
stitutionalism, the other Imperialism.
The present tariff law is unjust in its
operation, excessive in many of its rates
and SO framed in particular instances as
to exact inordinate profits from the peo-
pie. So well understood has this view be-
come that many prominent members of
the Republican party and at least two of
its state conventions have dared to voice
the general sentiment on that subject.
That party seems, however. to be coll
lectively able to harmonic only upon a
plank that admits that revision may from
time to time be necessary, but it is so
phrased that 1t is expected to be salts
factory to those in favor of an increase
of duty TO those who favor reduction
thereof and to those opposed to any
change whatever.
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 it's success
absolute control of both the legislative
and executive departments of the govern
ment since March A. 1897 there has been
neither reduction nor an attempt at re-
duction in tariff duties. 1t is not unreal
sonable to assume in the light of that rec
ord that future congress of that party
will not undertake revision of the tariff
downward in the event that it shall re-
ceive an Endorsement of its past course on
that subject by the people. 1t is a fact
and should be frankly conceded that
should our party be successful in the COM
ing contest we cannot hope to secure a
majority In the senate during the next
four years, and hence we shall be unable
to secure any modification in the tariff
save that to which the Republican ma
jority in the senate may consent. While
therefore we are unable to give assur-
ances of relief to the people from such
excessive duties as burden them, 1t is due
to them that we should state our position
to be IN favor of reasonable reduction of
the tariff, that we believe that it is de-
manded by the best interests of both man.
ufacturer and consumer, and that wise
and benefcent revision of the tariff can
be accomplished as soon as both branches
Of congress and an executive in favor
of it are elected without creating that
sense of uncertainty and instability that
has on other occasions manifested itself
This can be achieved by providing that
such reasonable period shall intervene
between the date of the enactment of the
statute making a revision and the date of
its enforcement as shall be deemed suffi-
cient for the industry or business affect
ed by such revision to adjust itself to the
changes and new conditions imposed So
confident am I in the belief that the de-
mand of the people for a reform of the
tariff is Just that I indulge the hope that
cE a ia of a.
tives and Democratic executive be eho-
sen by the people even a Republican sem
ate may heed the warning and consent to
give at least some measure of relief TO the
people
The combinations, popularity called
trusts, which aim to secure a monopoly
of trade in the necessaries of life as well
as in those things that are employed upon
the farm, in the factory and in many 9TH
er fields of industry have been encour-
aged and stimulated by excessive tariff
duties. These operate to furnish sub
stantial market in the necessities of
eighty millions of people. by practically
excluding competition. With SO large a
market and highly yemunerative prices
continuing long after the line of possible
competition would naturally be reached,
the temptation of all engaged in the same
business to combine so as to prevent COM
petition at home and a resulting reduc-
ton of prices has proved irresistible in a
number of cases. All men must agree
that the net result of enacting laws that
foster such inequitable conditions is most
unfortunate for the people as a whole.
and it would seem as if all ought to agree
that the effective remedy would be to APP
propriately modify the offending law. The
growth of monopoly, of which complaint
is justly made cannot be laid at the
doors of the courts of this country. The
decisions of the supreme court of the
United States the court of appeals of
this state and the courts of last resort
in many other states warrant the asser-
ton that the common law as developed
affords a complete legal remedy against
monopolies. The fact that they have null
tiplied in number and increased in power
has been due not to the failure of the
courts to apply the law when properly
moved by administrative officials or pri-
vate individuals but to the failure of Off
Gals charged with the duty of enforcing
the law to take the necessary procedure
to procure the judgments of the courts in
the appropriate jurisdiction coupled with
the fact that the legislative departments
of some of our state governments as we'll