Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-08-03

pluS. Inc result Is mat nArulN ever De-
tore have the expenditures and income
of the government so closely correspond
ed In he fiscal year that has just
closed the excess of income over the or
binary EXPENDITURES wPs nine millions Of
dollars. This does not take account of
the $50,000,000 expended out of the ae-
euinuiated surplus for the purchase of
the isthmian canal. 1t is an extraordi-
nary proof of the sound financial condi-
ton of the nation that instead of fol-
lowing the usual course in such matters
and throwing the burden upon postefity
by an issue of bonds. we were able to
make the payment outright and yet after
it to have in the treasury a surplus of
Sl60,000.000. Moreover, we were able
to pay this $50,000,000 out of hand with
out causing tie slightest disturbance TO
business conditions.
Tariff and Wage.
1--WE have enacted tariff law under
which during the last few years the coun-
try has attained a height OF material
well-hcing never before reached. Wages
are higher than eve, before. That when
ever the need arises there should be a
REIMBURSEMENT of the tariff schedules is I'M
ty be made only 10y those whose devotion
to the principle Of protective tariff is
beyond question. for otherwise the
changes would amount not to readjust-
ment, but to repeal. The reimbursement
when made must maintain and not de-
stroy the protective principle. 70 the
farmer, the merchant, the manufacturer,
this is vital; but perhaps no other man
is so much interested as the wage work
er in the maintenance of our present
economic system, both as regards the
finances and the tariff. The standard of
living of our wage workers is higher
than that of any other country, and it
cannot so remain unless we have pro-
tectiye tariff which shall always keep
at a minimum a rate of duty sufficient to
cover the difference between the labor
cost here and abroad.
Those who, like our opponents, de
nounce protection as a robbery thereby
explicitly commit themselves to the prop
osition that if they were to revise the
tariff no heed would be paid to the nee
essity of meeting this difference between
the standards of living for wage workers
here and in other countries: and there
fore on this point their antagonism to our
position is fundamental. Here again we
ask that their promises and ours be judg
ed by what has been done in the immedi-
ate past. We ask that sober and sensi-
bic men compare the workings of the
present tariff law, and the conditions
which obtain under it. with the workings
OF the preceding tariff law of 1894 and
the conditions which that tariff Of 1894
helped to bring about.
Believe in Reciprocity.
I'VE believe in reciprocity with foreign
nations on the terms outlined in Presi-
dent McKinleys last speech, which urg
ed the extension OF our foreign markets
by reciprocal agreements whenever they
could be made without injury to Ameri-
can industry and tabor 1t is a singular
fact that the only great reciprocity
treaty recently adopte1-that with Cuba
was finally opposed almost alone by
the representatives of me very party
which now states that it favors reciproc-
ity.
And here again we ask that the
worth of our words be judged by com
pairing their deeds with ours. On this
Cuban reciprocity treaty there were at
the outset grave differences of opinion
in the negotiation and ratification of the
treaty, and in the legislation which car
ried it into effect, was the highly pirac-
teal manner in which without sacrifice
OF principle these differences of opinion
were reconciied. There was no rupture
of great part. but an excellent practi-
cal outecr.e. the result of the harmonious
co-operatiol OF Two successive Presidents
an Illustration OF the governing capacity
which entities US to the confidence of the
people not only in our purposes but in
our practical ability to achieve those
purposes. Judging by the history of the
last twelve years, down to this very
month. is there justification for believing
that under similar circumstances and
with similar initial differences Of opinion.
our opponents would have achieved any
practical result?
I'VE have already shown in actual
fact that our policy is to do fair and
equal justice to all men, paying no heed
to whether a man is rich or poor; paving
no heed to his race his creed or his birth
place.
Labor and Capital Unions.
I'VE recognize the organization of can
ital and the organization of labor as nat
ural outcomes of our industrial system.
Each kind of organization is to be fav-
ored so long as it acts in a spirit of
justice and of regard for the rights of
others. Each is to be granted the full
protection of the law and each in turn
is to be held to a strict obedience to the
law; for no man is above it and no man
below it. The humblest Individual is ia
have his rights safeguarded as serupu-
lousy as those of the strongest organ
izatiOn, for each is to receive JUS. ,e.
no more and no less. The problems with
which we have TO deal in our modern
industrial and social life are manifold.
but the spirit In which it IS necessar, to
approach their solution is simply the
spirit of honesty, of courage and OF com
mon sense.
I'm inaugurating the great work of If
rigation in the West the administration
has been enabled by Congress TO take one
of the longest strides ever taken under
our government toward utilizing our vast
domain for the settler, the actual
Ever since this continent was discov-
cred the need of an isthmi3n canal to
connect the Pacific and the Atlantic has
been recognized, and ever since the birth
of our nation such canal has been
planned. At last the dream has become
a reality. The isthmian canal Is now be-
ing huilt by the government of the Unit |
ed States We conducted the negosia-
ton for its construction with the incest
and most scrupulous honor, and in a
spirit of the largest generosity toward