The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1904-10-05

The persistent refusal Of the repub-
lican majority in the federal senate to
ratlfy 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 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 maximum, from which
the federal government was .empowered
to offer a reduction, in return for an
equivalent concession on the part Of a
... :.
undertook honestly to carry out the pur-
pose Of the act. number of reciproci-
ty agreements we're negotiated, which,
II ratified, would have had the twofold
result Of cheapening many imported
products for American consumers, and
of opening and charging foreign mar
kets to American producers. Not one
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 own hands at the ballot box
and command reduction Of duties in
return for reciprocal concessions.
Independence for the Filipinos.
In some quarters 1t 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.
1t was not intended that it should be
understood to mean, nor do think as
used it does mean less than independ-
ence. However, to eliminate all posi-
bility for conjecture, now state that
I 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 favor making the
promise to them now that we shall take
such action as soon as they are rea-
sonably prepared for it. II indie
pendence, such as the Cubans enjoy,
cannot be prudently granted TO the Fill
pinos at this time, the promise that It
shall come the moment they are capable
Of receiving It will tend to stimulate
rather than hinder their development
And this should be done not only in
Justice to the Filipinos, but to preserve
our own rights; for free people can
not withhold freedom from another peo-
pie and themselves remain free. The
liberation OF TYRANNY over others NIL!
soon breed contempt for freedom and
self-government, and weaken our power
Of resistance TO insidious usurpation Of
our constitutional rights.
The pledge Of the platform to secure
TO our citizens, without distinction of
race or creed. whether native born or
naturalized, at home and abroad. the
equal protection Of the laws and the en-
Ioyment OF all the rights and privileges
open to them under the covenants of our
treaties, as their just due, should be
made good to them. In the accomplish |
ment OF that result Il is essential that |
passport issued by the government OF |
The United States to an American citi-
zen shall be accepted the world over
Is 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
been of such character as to offend |
against the spirit of the statute. but the |
results achieved, even under a partial |
enforcement of the law, have been such
Is to both deserve and command the |
ltterance of the democratic party that |
I stands committed to the principle Of
,lVll service reform and demands its
lust 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.
mentioned in the law, is directly AT.
ected by the national statute-the
outcome OF intelligent and persistent |
Efforts 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
house of congress, 1t encountered op-
position, based to large extent upon
he view that the aim of it's promoters
vas to secure the benefits of irrigation
o private owners at government ex-
)ense. The aim of the statute is.
however, to enable this vast territory
o reclaim its arid lands without call
ng upon the taxpayers of the country
It large to pay for it, Whether the
purposes of the bill will be fully ac-
must depend in large
Measure upon the ability, sobriety Of
independence and honesty
If the officers Of the interior depart !
nent having this great WORK in charge.
In 1902 the main canals and bitches
N tho region affacfad agoraoatad ,,,ora