Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1904-08-11

as well as OF its delays. Is becoming more
and more manifest from day to day.
Within the past few years many In
stances have been brought TO our atten-
ton. where In different parts OF our be-
loved country supposed criminals have
been seized and punished by mob, not
withstandlng the fact that the constitu-
ton of each state guarantees to every
person within its jurisdiction that his
life, his liberty or his property shall not
be taken from him without due process
| OF law.
In q struggle between employers and
employees dynamite Is said to have been
used by the latter. resulting In the loss
OF life and the destruction OF property.
| The perpetrators OF this offense against
the laws OF God and man. and all others
engaged In the conspiracy with them
should. after due trial and conviction.
have had meted out TO them the most
rigorous punishment known to the law.
This crime added perhaps to others led
to the formation OF a committee of citi-
gems that with the support of the mill
tary authority deports from the state.
without trial, persons suspected of be-
longing to the organization of which the
perpetrators Of the dynamite outrages
| were supposed to be members. In both
cases the reign OF law gave way to the
reign OF force. These illustrations pre-
| sent some evidence OF the failure OF gov
eminent to protect the citizen ana his
property. which not only justified the
action of your convention In this regard.
but made II its duty To call attention TO
| the fact that constitutional guarantees
| are violaed whenever any citizen is de-
MED the right to labor to acquire and TO
| enjoy property or to reside where his In
terests or inclination may determine: ard
the fulfillment OF the assurance TO re-
buke and punish all denials OF these
rights. whether brought about by indi-
viduals or government agencies. should
he enforced by every official and support
ed by every citizen. The essence of good
government lies In strict observance OF
constitutional limitations. enforcement
OF law and order and n rugged opposition
bto all encroachment 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
eminent. 1t has been we'll said, in sub
stance, that there are but two powers
in government. one the power OF the
sword, sustained by the hand that yields
II. and the other the power OF the law.
sustained by an enlightened public senti-
ment. The difference In these powers
Is the difference beween the republic
such as ours. based on law and written
constitution supported by intelligence.
virtue and patriotism-and a monarchy
sustained by force exerted by an indi-
vidual. uncontrolled by laws other than
those made or sanctioned by him: one
represents constitutionalism, the other
imperialism.
The present tariff law Is unjust in Its
operation. excessive In many of its rates
and so framed In particular instances as
to exact inordnate profits from the peo-
pie. So we'll 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 on that subject.
That party seems, however, TO be COL
lectively able To harmonZe only upon
plank that adm!s that revision may from
time To time be- necessary. but II Is so
phrased that II IL expected to be salts
factory 10 those In favor of an increase
of duty 10 those who favor n 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. II would seem
us II the outcome In the event Of Its
success would he 10 crafty the latter
class. With absolute control of both the
legislative and executive departments OF
the government since March 1, 1897, there
has been neither reduction nor an at
tempt ut reduction In tariff duties. II Is
not unreasonable to assume, In the light
of that record. that n future congress OF
that party will not undertake revision
of the tariff downward In the event that
II shall receive an Endorsement OF Its
past course on that subject by the peo-
pie Ii Is fact and should be frankly
conceded. that should our party be sue
cessful In the coming contest We cannot
hope to secure n majority In the senate
during the next four years. and hence
we shall be unable TO secure any modi-
fication In the tariff save that to which
the republican majority in the senate may
consent. While therefore. we are unable
to give assurances Of relief to the people
from such excessive duties as burden
them. IL Is due to them that We should
state our position TO be In favor OF n rea-
sonabe reduction OF the tariff: that We
believe that II Is demanded by the best
interests of both manufacturer and con-
sumner, and that wise and beneiicent re-
vision of the tariff can be accomplished
as soon as both branches Of congress
and nm executive In favor OF II are elect
cd. without creating that sense OF uncer-
tainty and instability that has or other
occasions manifested itself. This can be
achieved by providing that such ren-
sonablc period shall intervene. between
the date of the enactment OF the statute
making a revision and the date OF its
enforcement. as shall be- deemed sufii-
cient for the industry or business affect
ed by such revision TO adlrst itself To the
changes and new conditions imposed. So
confident am In the belief that the de-
mand of the people for reform Of the
tariff Is just that indulge In the hope
that should democratic house of rep
resentatives and n democratic executive
be chosen by the people. even repub-
lican senate may heed the warning and
consent TO give at least some measure OF
relief to the people.
The combinations. popularity called
trusts. which aim to secure a monopoly
of trade In the necessaries OF life as
well as in those things that are en-
ployed upon the farm. in the factory and
In many other fields of industry. have
been encouraged and stimulated by ex-
cesslve tariff duties. These operate to
furnish a substantial market In the ne
cally excluding competition. With so
large n market and highly remunerative
prices continuing long after the line OF