The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1904-10-01
}. manufactures. mining or com

hAO
The persistent refusal Of the repub-
lican majority In the federal senate to
ratify the reciprocity treaties negotiated
in pursuance Of the policy advocated
alike by Mr.. Blaine and Mr.. Mckinley.
and expressly sanctioned in the Dingley
act itself, is a discouraging exhibition of
bad faith. AS already mentioned by
me, the exorbitant duty imposed on
many an imported article by the Dingley
tariff was avowedly intended by its
author not to be permanent, but to serve
temporarily as a maximum, from which
the federal government was empowered
to offer a reduction, In return for an
equivalent concession on the part OF a
foreign country. President Mckinley
undertook honestly to carry out the pur-
pose of the act. A number OF %reciproci-
ty agreements were negotiated, which,
If ratified, would have had the twofold
result of c%heapening many imported
products for American consumers, nj
of opening and enlarging foreign mar
kets to American producers. Not n
Of those agreements has met with the
approval of the republican masters of
the senate. Indeed they did not even
permit their consideration. In view of
the attitude Of the present executive.
no new agreement need be expected
from him. Nor does the republican
platform contain a favorable reference
to one Of the suspended treaties. The
reciprocity clauses of the Dingley act
seem destined to remain a monument
Of legislative cozenage and political bad
faith, unless the people take the matter
In their OWE hands at the ballot box
and command a reduction Of duties in
return for reciprocal concessions.
Independence for the Filipinos.
In some quarters il has been assumed
that in the discussion of the Philippine
question In my response, the phrase
'self-government," was intended to
mean something less than independence.
It was not intended that it should be
used it does mean less than independ-
ence. However. to eliminate all posi-
bility for conjecture, l now state that
l am in hearty accord with that plank
in our platform that favors doing for
the FilipinOs what we have 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 rea-
sonably prepared for it. If indie
pendence, such as the Cubans enjoy,
cannot be p%rudenaly granted to the Fill
pinos at this time, the promise that 1t
come the moment they are capable
OF receiving 1t will tend to stimulate
than hinder their development.
And this should be done not only in
to the Filipinos, but to preserve
our W rights; for a free people can
not withhold freedom from another peo-
pie and themselves remain free. The
liberation of tyranny over Others will
soon breed contempt for freedom and
self-government, and weaken our power
resistance to insidious usurpation of
our constitutional rights.
The pledge Of the platform to secure
u citizens, without distinction of
or creed, whether native BORN or
n~aturalized, at home n abroad, the
equal protection of the laws and the en-
of all the rights and privileges
open to them under the covenants Of our
as their just due, should be
made good to them. In the accomplish
ment Of that result it is essential that
a passport issued by the government Of
United States to an American citi-
zen shall be accepted the world over
rs proof Of citizenship.
Civil Service.
The statute relating to civil service
IS the outcome of the efforts of thought
'ul, unselfsh and public-spirited citi-
,ens. Operation under it has frequently
'een OF such a character as to offend
the spirit of the statute. but the
'esults achieved, even under a partial
enforcement of the law, have been such
Is to both deserve and command the
Itterance of the democratic party that
t stands committed to the principle of
;lVil service reform and demands its
Iust and impartial enforcement.
Reclamation of Arid Lands.
A vast expanse of country in the
vest, portions of which are to be found
n each Of the 16 states and territories.
in the law, is directly af-
ected by the national statute-the
'utcome Of intelligent and persistent
OF leading citizens, providing
or the reclamation of the arid lands
or the benefit of home-seekers. Dur
ng the years Of the development of
he measure which finally received
he vote Of every member of the upper
of congress, it encountered 3D.
%osition, based to a large extent upon
he view that the aim of its promoters
Tas to secure the benefits of irrigation
o private at government ex-
ense. The aim of the statute is.
Iowever, to enable this vast territory
0 reclaim its arid lands withou. call.
ng upon the taxpayers of the country
t large to pay for 1t. Whether the
purposes Of the bill will be fully ac-
omplished must depend in large
MEASURE upon the ability, sobriety of
Judgment, independence and honesty
t the officers of the interior depart
lent having this great WORK in charge.
In 1902 the main canals and bitches