Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1904-09-30
TENN, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 80, 1904.
maximum, from which the federal gov

OF reciprocity agreements were negotiated,
which. 4 ratified would have had the two;
products for American consumers, and Of
opening and ehlargins foreign markets
tp American producers. Not one Of
those agreemshts has met with the ap.
senate. Indeed, they ola not even permit
their consideration In view of the attls
tude OF the present executite, no new
agreement, need be expected from him.
Nor does the republican platform contain
pended treaties. The reciprocity clauses
OF the Dingley act seem destined to re-.
main monument Of legislative cozenaBe
and political bad faith, unless the peo-
pie take the matter In their, own hands
az the ballot box and command q reduction
OF duties In return for reciprocity con-
eesslons,"
Independence for the Tilipinos.
\, I'm some quarters II has been assumed
that in the discussion Of the Philippine
question a my response. the phrase
self.goyerhmefit,' was intended, to mean
was not Intended that II sSppuid be UNDER
stood to mean. nor do ! think as tsed 1t
does mean less than independence. How
ever, to eliminate all possibility for con
lecture, ! now state that I am in hearty
that favofs, 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 reasonably rsspatsa fSt
enjoy. .catinot be pfudentlS granted to
the Filipiros at this time, the promise
that It shall come the moment they are
capable Of receiving 1t will tend to stimu-
and tRs s sh 6nae be doe ssys os
in Justice to the Filpinos. bit to pre-
serve our own rights: for a free people
cannot withhold freedom from another
people and themselves remain free. The
soon breed contempt for freedom and
sclf-government, and weaken our power
of resistance to insidious usurpation of
our. constitutional rights.
!. The statute relating to civil service
full. unselfsh ana public.spirited citi-
zens. Operation under 1t has frequently
been of such a character as to offend
against the spirit Of the statute, but the
enforcement of the law, have been such
as to both deserve and command the
utterafice of the democratic party that
1t stands committed to the principle of
civil service reform and demands It's
lust and impartial enforcement.
Panama Canal.
IAN Isthmian canal has long been the
nope Of our statesmen and the avowed
VI tuc lWU great pdTtleb, Us THEIR
Panama route having been selected,
the building Of the canal should be
pressed to completion with all reason
''rhe methods by which the executive
| acquired the Panama canal route and
rights are a source of regret to many.
To them. the statement that thereby
great public work was assured to the
profit .., Of our people is not a !, sufficient
that the principles and healthy con-
victlons which In their working out
have made US, free and great, stand
ton that we shall be blind to the nature
of the means employed to promote our
welfare. They hold that adherence e
principle. whether 1t works for our good
ence on, our future destiny than all on,
material upbuliding, and that we should
ever remember that the idea of doing @
wrong TO a smaller. weaker nation thai
we, or even all mankind. may have 9
resultant good Is ,repugnant to the prin.
founded.
Under the laws Of the United State,
the duty is imposed on the executive t.
proceed with due. diligence In the worl
of constructing the canal. That duty
should be promptly performed
Pensions for Our Soldiers and Sailors
THE national democracy favors liberia
pensions to the surviving soldiers ant
sailors. and their dependents, on tn,
ground that they deserve liberal treat
quate legislation to that end. But i
denies the right Of the executive t
usurp the power OF congress to leglslat
on that subject Such usurpation wa
attempted by pension order No. rs, an,
effect has been given to 1t by congress
that dared not resent the usurpation.
Is said that this order was made In tn
performance OF duty imposed upon tn
president by act Of congress-. but tn
provision making the imposition is no
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 'sufferin
or disabilities, OF permanent character
not the result of their own vicious hab
Its. which so incapactates them fror
the performance Of manual labor as
This specified requirement of incapacit
is in effect set aside by order No. rs a
to all persons over 81.
1.-THE war closed nearly 40 years age
In the meantime many of our soldier
and sailors long survived the age @
any pension. Skillful pension attorney
hunting through the statute failed
J find there. a provision giving a per
sion to all who had reached 50. Man
congressional action giving a servic
pension TO all veterans. Bills to tina
effect were introduced In congress. An
not until March Of this year did any
covery that the president had power
treat the statute as II II read that whe
a claimant had passed the age Of 81 yeai
he is necessarily disabled one-haif |
, ability to perform manual labor an
therefore entitled to. a pension.
THE present pension commissioner IL
, dicated his view of the order when
recent address he thanked the pres
dent for what he had done, and advise
| his hearers to use their influence this
feet. Full confidence after all seems nj
to have been placed on the defense {
: Justification, for 1t Is pleaded In mitigs
ton that former democratic presider
did something looking in that direction
Even II that were so-which is not az
mitted-our present duty would be nor
/ the less plain and imperative. Our pei
pie must never tolerate the citation {
excuse for another. The first may POI
sibly be due to mistake: the second, b,
ing based on the first. cannot be.
explanation. however, 1t should be sal
: that the age of rs years should be r,
|, garded as evidence Of inability to pc
form manual labor. Few men are alb
: to perform manual labor at that ag
: but nearly all men are at 81. The fir
order Is based on fact that experient
teaches, the other Is based on the asse
tion of that which Is not true as a gel
eral rule.
ing to do about it?' is now stated in
new form. 1t is said by the administr,
} ton, In reply to the public criticism
this order. that 1t is easy to test OF
! order in question is revocabie at u
. pleasure of the executive. II our Of
: ponents come into power they can revol
5 this order and announce that they wi
treat the veterans. of 50 and 70 as pr