The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1904-08-11

added perhaps to others, ied to the forna-
tlon of a committee Of citizens that, with
: the support Of the military authority, de-
| ports from the state without trial persons
| suspected of belonging to the organza-
tion OF which the perpetrators of the dy-
Mantle outrages were supposed to be
| members. In both cases the reign of law
| gave way to the reign of force These
| illustrations present some evidence of
| the failure Of government to protect the
citizen and his property, which not only
| Justified the action OF your convention In
this regard, but made 1t " duty to call
attention to the fact that constitutional
| guarantees are violated whenever any
citizen ia denied the right to labor, to ac-
| quire and to enjoy property or to reside
| where his Interests or inclination may de-
| termne and the fulfilment of the assur-
| ance to rebuka and punish all denials of
| these rights, whether brought about by
| individuals or government agencies,
| should be enforced by every official and
| supported by every citizen. The essence
Of good government lies in strict OBJ
servance of constitutional limitations en-
| forcement of law and order and rugged
| opposition to all cncroachment upon the
Sovereignty of the people.
The foregoing suggestions but empha-
size the distinction which exists between
our own and many other forms of gov
| ernment. 1t has been well sald in sub
| stance that there are but two powers In
| government-one the power of the sword,
sustained by the hand that wields 1t, and
the other the power of the law, sustained
| by nm enlightened public sentiment. The
difference In these powers is the differ
| ence between n republic such as ours,
based on law and written constitution,
supported by intelligence, virtue and pa
triotism, and monarchy, sustained by
force exerted by an Individual. uncon-
| trolled by laws other than those made or
sanctioned by him. One represents con-
stitutionalism, the other Imperialism.
The present tariff law is unjust In Its
operation. excessive in many of its rates
and 80 framed In particular instances as
| to exact inordinate profits from the peo-
pie. So well understood has this view be-
come that many prominent members of
the Republican party and at least two OF
its state conventions have dared to voice
the general sentiment OH that subject.
That party seems, however. to be coll
lectively able to harmonize only upon
plank that admits that revision may from
time to time be necessary, but it Is 30
! phrRsed that II Is expected to be salts
factory to those, in favor Of an increase
of duty, to those who favor reduction
thereof and to those opposed to any
change whatever
| Judged by the record of performance
rather than that OF promise on the part
| Of that party in the past. 1t would seem as
| II the outcome In the event of Its success
would be to crafty the latter class With
absolute control Of both the legislative
and executive departments of the govern
| ment since March 4. 1897, there has been
| neither reduction nor an attempt at re-
duction in tariff duties. 1t Ia not unrea-
sonable to assume in the light of that rec
ord that n future congress of that party
| will not undertake revision of the tariff
downward in the event that 1t shall re-
| ceive an Endorsement of it's past course on
| that subject by the people 1t Is fact
| and should be frankly conceded that
should our party be successful In the COM
| ing contest we cannot hope to secure a
majority in the senate during the next
four years, and hence we shall be unable
to secure any modification in the tariff
save that to which the Republican ma
Jority In the senate may consent. While
| therefore we are unable to give assur-
ances OF relief to the people from such
excessive duties as burden them. 1t is due
to them that we should state our position
to be in favor Of a reasonable reduction of
the tariff, that we believe that 1t is de-
! manded by the best interests of both man.
ufacturer and consumer and that wise
| and benef1cent revision of the tariff can
| be accomplished as soon as both branches
| of congress and an executive in favor
| of 1t are elected without creating that
| eense OF uncertainty and instability that
has on other occasions manifested itself.
| This can be achieved by providing that
such a reasonable period shall Intervene
between the date Of the enactment of the
statute making q revision and the date of
its enforcement as shall be deemed suff
| Client for the industry or business affect
ed by such revision to adjust itself to the
| changes and new conditions imposed. 30
confident am in the belief that the de-
mand Of the people for a reform of the
| tariff Is just that indulge the hope that
should Democratic house of representa-
| tives and a Democratic executive be cho-
lN.,k ~ H.
ate may heed the warning and consent TO
give at least some measure of relief to the
people.
Tho combinations. popularity called
trusts. which aim to secure a monopoly
of trade in the necessaries Of life as we'll
as In those things that are employed upon
the farm, In the factory and in many 9TH
er fields OF industry have been encour-
aged and stimulated by excessive tariff
duties. These operate to furnish a sub
stantial market In the necessities of
eighty millions of people by practically
excluding competition. With 30 large n
market and highly -emunerative prices
continuing long after the line of possible
competition would naturally be reached.
the temptation OF all engaged in the same
business to combine so as to prevent COM
petition at home and resulting reduc-
tion OF prices has proved irresistible in n
number of cases. All men must agree
that the net result of enactng laws that
foster such inequitable conditions is most
unfortunate for the people as a whole
and 1t would seem II all ought to agree
that the effective remedy would be to ap-
propriately modify the offending law. The
growth of monopoly. of which complaint
Is justly made, cannot be laid at the
doors of the courts of this country. Tho
decisions of the supreme court Of the
United States, the court of appeals of
this st6te and the courts of last resort
in many other states warrant the asser-
tion that the common law as developed
affords a complete legal remedy against
monopolies. The fact that they have null
tiplied In number and increased in power
has been due not to the failure OF the
courts to apply the law when properly
moved by administrative officials or pri-
vate individuals. but to the failure of off,
Gals charged with the duty of enforcing
the law to take the necessary procedure
to procure the judgments of the courts in
the appropriate jurisdiction. coupled with
the fact that the legislative departments
OF some OF our state governments as well
as congress In the manner already re-
ferred to have by legislation encouraged
their propagation. What Is needed in
addition to the passage OF a statute revis-
ing the tariff duties to reasonable basis,
Is not so much other and different laws
as officials having both the disposition
and the courage to enforce existing law
While this is my view OF the scope OF the
common law. II II should be made to ap-
pear that 1t is a mistaken one then l IA
vor such further legislation within con-
stitutional limitations as will give the
people just and full measure of protec-
tion.
1t is difficult to understand how any
citizen OF the United States. much less