Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1904-09-29

ernmcnt was empowered to offer a reduc-
tlon, IN return for an equivalent concession
on the part OF foreign country, Presi-
o9a oun' nc ,Mhekinley undsrt2ok honestly 70 carry
OF RECIPROCITY AGREEMENTS were negotiated.
winch, " ratified, would have had the two
,osu ,s result OF cheapening many imported
oepening and enlarging foreign markets
70 American PRODUCERS Not one OF
rnose asrecmenis has met with the APP
senate. Indeed, they did not even permit
tneir consideration. In view OF the atti-
tude OF the present executive. no new
SNsreement NIT dne need se,, be expected from him.
favorable reference to one OF the sus-
pended treaties. The reciprocity clauses
o. the Dingley act seem destined to re-
main monument Of legislative cozenage
and political bad faith, unless the pep
pie take the matter In their own hands
at the ballot box and command reduction
Oh duties IN Return for reciprocity coh-
Independence for the Filipinos.
IN some quarters II has been assumed
that In the discussion OF the Philippine
question In my response, the, phrase
something less than Independence. II
was not Intended that II should be under
stood to mean. nor do ! think as used IL
tots itthft less tndn. independence. HOW
ever. to eliminate all possibility for con-
lecture, | now state that | am in hearty
accord with that plank In our platform
that, favors. doing for the Filipinos what
we. nave already done for the Cubans:
and l favor making the promise to them
now that We shall take such action as
soon as they are reasonably prepared for
1t. II Independence. such as the Cubans
enjoy. cannot be prudently aranted to
the Flllpinos at this time, the promise
that It shall come the moment they are
af
late rather than hinder their develop
ment And this should be done not only
IN Justice to the Fiipinos, but to pre-
cannot withhold freedom from another Mother
people and themselves remain free. The
liberation OF tyranny over others VIII
soon breed contempt for. freedom and
self-government. and weaken our power
of resistance to insid!ous usurpatioh OF
our constitutional rights.
The statute relating to civil service
is the outcome of the efforts of thought
full unselfish and publlc-sprited citi-
zens. Operation under 1t has frequently
been OF such a character as to offend
against the spirit of the statute, but the
results achieved. even under partial
enforcement of the law, have been such
as to both deserve and command the
It stands committed TO the principle OF
civil service reform and demands Its
just and impartial enforcement.
Panama Canal.
AN 1sthmian canal has long been the
hope OF our statesmen. and the avowed
aim Of the two great parties. as their
Panama route having been selected
the building Of the canal should be
pressed to !, completion with all reasoii-
'The methods by which the executive
acquired the Panama canal route and
rights are q, source OF regret to many
To them. the statement that thereby
great public work was assured to tht
profit of our people Is not a sufficient
answer s,x to & the ,si,ss charge Sf violation q
that the principles and healthy con
vctions which in their, working ou
have made us free and great. stant
tion that we shall be blind to the natur
OF the means employed to promote on
prncpe wheher Il woaks for our GOO
or Ill, will have a more beneficent infi,i
ence on our future destiny than all on
ener rsme%Ssr shsi the dea na of X aoins
wrong 70 O. q smaller: ab wsaker .y nation y tha
sipisss 9pch which our Eovssnmsnt =
Under the laws of the United STATE
the duty Is imposed on the executive
proceed with due, diligence in the wor
Of constructing the canal. That dut
Pensions for Our Soldiers and Sailors
1.-The national democracy favors liber'
pensions to the surviving soldiers an an
saSns ana Rs they Rey deserve
ment. 1t pledges by its platform adt
quate legislation to that end. But
denies the right Of the executive tive, !
on that subject. Such usurpation wa
attempted by pension order No. rs. an
effect has been given to 1t by congress
| that dared not resent the usurpation.
is said that this order was made in tn
performance of duty imposed upon IN
president by act of congress-. but tn
provision making the imposition Is no
pointed out. The act to which the orde
refers which is the one relating to pen
| sions to civil war veterans, does not au
| thoriZe pensions on the ground of age
1t does grant pensions to those .sufferin
| from any mental or physical disability
or disabilities. of a permanent character
| not the result of their own vicious hah
its. which so incapacitates them fron
| the performance of manual labor as I
render them unable to earn a support
| This specified requirement of incapacit.
is in effect set aside by order No. Is a
| to all persons over 62.
1.-The war closed nearly 40 years ago
In the meantime many OF our soldier
81. and passed away, without receiving
any pension. Skillful pension attorney
hunting through the statute failed T.
find there. a provision giving pen
sion to all who had reached g.. Man!
prominent veterans urged the Justice o
congressional action giving servic
|
effect were introduced In congress. An'
not until March of this year did any
one ever claim to have made the dis
covery that the president had power t.
treat the statute as If II read that whei
claimant had passed the age of 62 year.
he Is necessarily disabled one-half IL
| ability to perform manual labor ant
therefore entitled to a pension.
THE present pension commissioner In
dicated his. view of the order when ~
recent address he thanked the presi
Il Hant what he had done. and advised
his hearers to use their influence tina
law might be passed to the same eff
feet. Full confidence after all seems no
to have been placed on the defense. o
| justification. for II Is pleaded In mitiga
| tion that a former democratic presiden
did something looking in that direction
Even II that were so-which Is not ad
mitted-our present duty would be non'
the less plain and imperative. our peo
pie must never tolerate the citation o
one act of usurpation of power as M
| excuse for another. The first may pos
sibly be due to mistake. the second, be
| Ing based on the first. cannot be. II
| explanation, however. II should be sait
4 that the order relied on simply provided
/ that the age Of 10 years should be re
garded as evidence OF inability to per
to to- p perform manual labor at that age
but nearly all men are at g.. The frs
order Is based on fact that experience
teaches. the other Is based on the asser
tion OF that which is not true as gen
eral rule.
'''rhe old Inquiry: What are YOU go
| ing to do about it?' is now stated in {
new form. IL is said by the admlnistra
tion. In reply to the public criticism o
| this order. that II Is easy to test ou
| opponents sincerity In this matter Th'
order In question Is revOcable at tn
pleasure OF the executive. If our on
/ ponents come into power they can revok
| this order and announce that they Will
! treat the veterans OF ~ and 20 as pre-
sumably in fun bodily vigor and no
/ rr, W., m