The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-09-29
:: Sept. %, 1904.
10 the Hon. Champ Clark and Others,
Committee, Etc:

'iSheh~in Hy response TO your
committee at the formal notification
proceedings l referred to some matters
not mentioned in this letter / desire
mat these be considered as Incorporate
ed herein, and regret that lack of space
prevents specific reference to them
all. l wish here however, again to refer
to my views there expressed as to the
gold standard, to declare again my I'M
qualified belief in said standard and to
express my appreciation Of the action
OF the convention in reply to my COM
munication upon that subject.
Grave public questions are pressing
for decision. The Democratic party
appeals to the people with confidence
that its position on these questions will
be accepted and Endorsed at the polls.
While the issues involved are numer-
Gus. some stand forth pre- eminent in
the public mind. Among these are
tariff reform, Imperialism, economical
administration and honesty In the pub
lie service. Shall briefly consider
these and some others within the nec-
essarily prescribed limits of this letter,
imperialism.
While l presented my views at the
notification proceedings concerning this
vital issue, the overshadowing impor-
lance of this question impels me to re-
fer to 1t again. The issue Is often
times referred to as constitutionaHsm
versus Imperialism.
II we would retain our liberties and
constitutional rights unimpaired we
cannot permit Or tolerate ut any time
or for any purpose the arrOgatiOn Of
unconstitutional powers by the execu-
tive branch Of our government We
should be ever mindful of the words
of Webster, Liberty Is only to be pre-
served by maintaining constitutional
restraints and 4 just division Of polit-
ical powers
Already the national government has
become centralized beyond any point
contemplated or imagined by the
founders Of the constitution. How ire
mendously all this has added to the
power Of TIE president! 1t has devel-
Oped from year to year until it almost
equals that of many monarchs. While
nitude of interstate interests may seem
to furnish 4 plausible reason for this
Capitalization Of power, yet these same
facts afford the most potent reason
why the executive should not be per
mittcd to encr9ach upon the other de-
partments of the government and as
| sumo Legislative or other powers not
expressly conferred by the constitu.
| ton.
The magnitude of the country and
| It's diversity of interests and popula-
| ton would enable 4 determined, ambi-
| tiOuS and able executive, unmindful of
| constitutional limitations and fired
with the lust of power, to go far in
| the usurpation of authority and the
| ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of personal power be-
| fore the situation could be fully appre-
ciated or the people be aroused.
The issue of Imperialism which has
been thrust upon the country involves
| decision whether the law of the land
| or the rule of individual caprice shall
govern. The principle Of Imperialism
may give rise to brilliant, startling,
dashing results. but the principle OF
| democracy holds in check the brilliant
executive and subjects him to the So
ber conservative contral of the people.
The people of the United States
stand at the parting of the ways.
Shall we follow the footsteps Of our
fathers along the paths Of peace, pros
perity and contentment, guided by the
| ever Twin. spirit of the constitution
| which they framed for us, or shall we
| so along other and untried paths hith-
ertO Stunned by all, following blindly
new ideals which, though appealing
with brilliancy to the Imagination and
ambition. may prove Il will-o' the-wisp,
leading us into difficulties frcin which
1t may be impossible to eXtricate our
selves without lasting injury to our
national character and institutions?
! The Tariff and Trusts:
Tariff reform is one Of tho cardinal
principles of the Democratic faith, and
| the necessity for it was never greater
than ut the present time, 1t should be
| undertaken at once In the interest OF
all our people.
The DinsIey tariff Is excessive in
many of its rates and, as to them at
| least, unjustly and Oppressively bur-
dens the people. 1t secures to domes-
tic manufacturers. singly or in combi'
nation, the privilege Of exacting sx-
cessive PRICES at home and PRICES far
above the level of sales made regular.
~ by them abroad with profit, thus
giving bounty to foreigners at the
expense of our own people. 1t iev1es
oppressive and unjust taxes upon
many articles forming In whole or part
the so called raw material Of many
of our manufactured products, not on.
~ burdening the consumer, hut also
| closing to the manufacturer the mar
kets he needs and seeks abroad. Its
unjust taxation burdens the people
generally, forcing them to pay excess
i've prices for food, fuel, clothing and
other necessaries Of life. 1t levies du
ties on many articles not normally i'm
ported in any considerable amount
which are made extensively at home
for which the most extreme protec
ZIONIST would hardly justify protective
taxes, and which in large amounts are
exported. Such duties have been anc
will continue to be a direct incentive
to the formation of huge industrial
combinations, which, secure from for
eign competition, are enabled to stiht
domestic competition and practically
to monopolize the home market
It contains many duties imposed fo
the express purpose only, as was open
" avowed, of furnishing basis TO
reduction by means of reciprocal trade
treaties, which the Republican admin
istratfon. implicitly at least. promised
to negotiate. Having on this promis'
secured the increased duties, the Re
publican party leaders. spurred on b!
protected interests, defeated tn
treaties negotiated by the executive