The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-08-18

warning and consent to give at least
| some measure Of reNef to the people.
THE TRUSTS.
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 en-
ployed upon the farm, in the factory
and in many other fields Of industry,
have been encouraged and stimulated
by excessive tariff duties. These op-
crate to furnish a substantial market
in the necessities Of eighty millions OF
people, by practically excluding COM
petition. With so large market and
highly remunerative prices continuing
long after the line Of possible compe-
tition would naturally be reached, the
temptation of all engaged In the
same business to combine so as to pre-
vent competition at home and a result
ing reduction of prices, has proved IT.
resistible in a number Of cases. All
men must agree that the net result
of enacting laws that foster such in
equitable conditions, is most unfortu-
nate for the people as whole, and it
would seem as II all ought to agree
that the effective remedy would be to
appropriately 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 Su-
preme Court Of the United States, the
Court of Appeals Of this State, and the
courts of last resort in many other
States, warrant the assertion that the
common law as developed affords a
complete legal remedy against mono
poles. The fact that they have multi
piled in number and increased in pow
er has been due, not to the failure OF
the courts to apply the law when prop
erly moved by administrative officials
or private individuals, but to the fail
ure OF officials charged with the duty
of enforcing the law to take the ne
cessary procedure to procure the judg-
ments of the courts in the appropriate
Jurisdiction, coupled with the fact that
the legislative departments Of some OF
our State governments, as well as Con-
gress in the manner already referred
to, have, by legislation, encouraged
their propagation What is needed-in
addition to the passage Of statute re-
vising the tariff duties to a reasonable
basis-is not so much other and differ
ent laws, as officials having both the
disposition and the courage to enforce
existing law. While this is my view OF
the scope of the common law, II 1t
should be made to appear that 1t is
mistaken one, then favor such further
legislation within constitutional limita-
tons as will give the people just and
full measure of protection.
SELF GOVERNMENT FOR FILL
PINOS.
"It is difficult to understand how any
citizen of the United States, much less
a descendant of Revolutionary stock,
can tolerate the thought of permanent
ly denying the right of self-government
TO the Filipinos. Can we hope to in
still into the minds Of our descendants
reverence and devotion for a govern
ment BY the people, while denying ulti-
mately that right to the inhabitants
of distant countries, whose territory
we have acquired either by purchase or
by force? Can we say to the Filipinos,
Your lives, your liberty and your prop
erty may be taken from you without
due process of law for all time and
expect we will long glory in that fea-
ture of Magma Charta, whicc has be-
come incorporated, in substance, and
effect, into the constitution Of every
State, as we'll as into the fourteenth
amendment to the constitution OF me
United States? Can we hope for the
respect Of the civilized world, while
proudly guaranteeing to every citizen
of the United States that no law STALL
be made or enforced which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities Of
citizens of the United States, or deny
to any person the equal protection Of
the laws, and at the same time not only
deny similar rights to the inhabitants
Of the Philippines. but take away from
them the right of trial by jury, and
place their lives and the disposition OF
their property in the keeping Of those
whom we sent to them to be their gov
! errors? We shall certainly rue it as
| a nation if we make any such attempt.
Viewing the question even from the
standpoint of national selfshness, there
is no prospect that the twenty millions
Of dollars expended in the purchase OF
the islands and the six hundred and
| fifty millions said to have been since
| disbursed will ever come back to US.
The accident OF war brought the Phil
ippines into our possession and we are
not at liberty to disregard the respon-
sibility which thus came to US, but that
responsibility will be best subseryed
by preparing the islanders as rapidly
as possible for self-government and
giving to them the assurances that u
will come as soon as they are reason
ably prepared for it. There need be
no fear that the assertion SO often
made Of late, that we have now becoms
a world power. will then be without
support. Ours is world power, and
as such 1t must be maintained, but
deny that it is at all recently that the
United States has attained that emin-
ence. Our country became a world pow
er over a century ago, when, having