The leader., 1904-10-01

maximum, from which the federal soe-
eminent was empowered to offer q reduc-
/ ton. IN return for an equivalent concession
on the part Of 3 foreign country Presl-
/ dent Mckinley undertook honestly TO carry
i out the purpose OF the act A number
OF reciprocity agreements were negotiated,
which, II ratified. would have had the two
fold result OF cheapening many imported
| products for American consumers, and Of
opening and enlarging foreign markets
| 70 American producers. Not one Of
those agEeementh has met with the APP
/ proVal OF the republican masters OF the
SENATE. indeed, they aid not even permit
/ their consideration III view OF THE atti=
tude Of the present executive, no new
/ Nor does the republican platform contain
favnfabe reference to one of the Sus-
! pended treaties. The reciprocity clauses
q the pingley act seem destined 70 re-
/ and political bad faith unless the peO-
| pie take the matter In their. own hands
ct the ballet box and command reduction
] cessi0nso
Independence for the Filipin6s.
IN some quarters 1t has been assumed
that in the discussion of the. Philippine
n ny e sn ,{eAsd ne pnrase
something less than Independence 1t
was not Intended that it should be under-
stood to mean, nor do think as USED It
4
ever. TO eliminate all possibility for con-
i lecture; now, state that | am In hearty
accord with that plank In our platform
that favofs. doing for the Filipinos .whas
/ we. have already done for the CubaEs
and favor making the premise 70 them
now that, we shall take sucA action as
IT. II independence, such as the Cubars
enjoy, cannot be prudently granted to
the. FilipifQs at this time the promise
| that 1t shall come the moment they are
| capable Of receiving it will tend to stimu-
late rather than hinder their develop
ment. And this should be done not only
| in justice to the Filpinos, but to pre-
serve our own RIGHTS: for free people
cannot withhold freedom from another
people and themselves remain free. The
soon breed y coStamnt f OYER freede ana
elf-government, and weaken our power
of resistance to insidious usurpation of
our constitutional rights.
THE statute relating to civil service
is the outcome of the efforts Of thought
fuf, u1selfish, and public-spirited citi-
gems. Operation under It has frequently
been Of such a 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
as to both deserve and command the
uttefance of the democratic party that
Il IL stands committed to the principle of
civil service reform and demands its
just and impartial enforcement.
Panama Canal.
IAN Isthmian canal has long been the
aim of the two great parties, as their
platforms in the past show. The
Panama route having been selected,
pressed to completion with all reason
ssrhe methods by which the executive
acquired the Panama canal route and
rights are a source of regret to many.
i To them. the statement that thereby
j a great public work was assured to the
a2f ~ 4s... E1,41
answer to the charge Of violation Of
national good faith. They appreciate
that the principles and healthy con-
have made us free and great, stand
firmly against the argument or sugges-
ton that we shall be blind to the nature
welfare They hold that adherence to
principle, whether it works for our good
or i'll, will have more benehcent infu-
Ga 9I Snd fat na we al sbo od5
ever remember that the idea of doing q
wrong to smaller, weaker nation tfTit
resultant good is repugnant to the prin-
ciples upon which our government was
founded.
Under the laws of the United States
proceed with due diligence in the work
of constructing the canal. That duty
should be promptly. performed.
3 Pensions for Our Soldiers and Sailors.
!. 1nC udLlOUdl uGIllOCTdGy ldNOTS EllpGEdl
pensions to the surviving soldiers and
sailors and their dependents, on the
ground that. they deserve liberal treat
ment It pledges by its platform ade,
denies the right of the executive to
usurp the power of congress to legislate
attempted by pension order No. 70, and
effect has been given to it by congress
that dared not resent the usurpation. II
is said that this order was made in the
naFf0rnq of a dlItV mi
president by act of congress- but the
provision making the imposition is moi
pointed out. The act to which the order
refers. which is the one relating to pen.
sions to civil war veterans, does not au.
thorize pensions on the ground of age
It does grant pensions to those suffering
from any mental or physical disability
or disabilities, of a. permanent character
not the result of their own vicious hab.
its. which so incapacitates them from
the performance of manual labor as tt
render them unable to earn a support.
This specified requirement of incapacity
Is in effect set aside by order No. Is as
to all persons over 62.
'The war closed nearly 90 years ago
In the meantime many of our soldier.
and sailors long survived the age Of
any any pension. skiiiful pension attorney eag.
hunting through the statute failed t.
!. find there provision giving a pen
sion to al who had Teachesd g. Many
congressional action giving service
pension To all veterans. Bills to tha
! effect were introduced in congress. Anc
not until March of this year did any
one ever claim to have made the dis.
| covery that the president had power t
threat the statute as if it read that wher
claimant had passed the age Of 81 years
he is necessarily disabled one-half il
. ability to perform manual labor anC
therefore entitled to- pension.
The present pension commissioner in
dicated his view of the order when II
a recent address he thanked the pres
dent for what he had done, and advised
| his hearers to use their influence tina
a 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 it is pleaded in mitiga,
ton that former democratic presiden
did something looking in that direction
Even II that were so-which is not ad
mitted-our present duty would be nont
the less plain and imperative Our PEG
pie must never tolerate the citation o.
one act of usurpation of power as al
sibly be due to mistake; the second, be
ing based on the first. cannot be- II
explanation, however, 1t should be saiG
that the order relied on simply provided
garded as evidence of inability to per
form manual labor. Few men are abb
to perform manual labor at that age
but nearly all men are at ST. The frs
order is based on a fact that experience
teaches, the other is based on the asser
! Ition Of that which is not true as gen
aThe old inquiry: What are you go
ing to do about it?' is now stated In {
J ton, in reply to the public criticism q
this order. that 1t Is easy to test oul
opponents sincerity in this matter TIL,
order in question is revocable at tn,
} pleasure of the executive If our op
ponents come into power they can revok,
this order and announce that they viii
treat the veterans OF So and 20 as pre-
J sumably in full bodily vigor ana no
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