Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1904-10-07
To the Honorable Champ CLARK ana
Others, Committee, etc.:

Gentlemen-In my response 10 your
committee, at the formal notification
proceedings, / referred to some matters
not mentioned in this letter. l desire
that these be considered as incorpo-
rated herein, and regret that lack OF
space prevents specific reference 10
them all. l wish here, however, again
to refer to my views there expressed
as to the gold standard. to declare
again my unqualified belief in said
standard, and to express my apprecia-
ton of the action of the convention In
reply to my communication upon that
subject.
Grave public questions are pressing
for decision. The Democratic party
appeals to the people with confidence
that Its position on these questions
will be accepted and endorsed at the
polls. While the issues involved are
numerous, some stand forth pre-emi-
nent in the public mind. Among these
are tariff reform, imperialism, econom-
ical administration and honesty in the
public service. / shall briefly consider
these and some others within the nec-'
essarily prescribed limits of this letter.
EXECUTIVE ENCOURAGEMENT.
While / presented my views at the
notification proceedings concerning this
vital issue, the overshadowing impor-
lance of this question impels me to
refer to 1t again. The issue is often
times referred to as "Constitutionalism
VS.. Imperialism
If we would retain our liberties and
constitutional right unimpaired, we can
not permit or tolerate, at any time or
for any purpose, the arrogation OF I'M
constitutional powers by the executive
branch of our Government. We should
be ever mindful of the words of Web
ster, Liberty is only to be preserved
by maintaining constitutional re-
straints and just divisions Of political
powers"
Already the National Government
has become centralized beyond any
point contemplated or imagined by the
trainers of the Constitution. How ire
mendously all this has added to the
powers of the President! 1t has de-
velepod from year to year until it al
most equals that of many monarchs.
While the growth of our country and
the magnitude of interstate interests
may seem to furnish a plausible reason
for this Capitalization of power, yet
these same facts afford the most po-
tent reason why the Executive should
not be permitted to encroach upon the
other departments of the Government,
and assume legislative, or other pow
ers, not expressly conferred by the
Constitution.
The magnitude of the country and
its diversity of interests and popula-
ton would enable determined, ambi-
tiOus and able Executive, unmindful of
constitutional limitations and fired
with the lust of power, to go far in
the usurpation of authority and the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of personal power be-
fore the sitution could be fully appre-
ciated or the people be aroused.
The issue of Imperialism which has
been thrust upon the country involves
a decision whether the law of the land
or the rule of individual caprice shall
govern. The principle of Imperialism
may give rise to brilliant, startling,
dashing results, but the principle of
democracy holds in check the brilliant
Executive and subjects him to the
sober, conservative control of the peo-
pie.
The people of the United States
stand at the parting of the ways.
Shall we follow the footsteps of our
fathers along the paths of peace, pros
perity and contentment, guided by the
everything spirit of the Constitution,
which they framed for us, or shall we
go along other and untried paths, hith-
erto summed by all, following blindly
new ideals, which, though appealing
with brilliancy to the imagination and
ambition, may prove will o the wisp,
leading us into difficulties from which
it may be impossible to extricate our
selves without lasting injury to our
National character and institutions? q.
TARIFF REFORM AT ONCE.
Tariff reform is one of the cardinal
principles of the Democratic faith, and
the necessity for it was never greater
than at the present time. 1t should be
undertaken at once in the interest of
all our people.
The Dingley tariff is excessive in
many of its rates. and, as TO them at
least, unjustly and oppressively bur-
dens thepeople. 1t secures to domestic
manufacturers, singly or in combina-
| ton, the privilege of exactlng excessive
prices at home and prices far above the
level of sales made regularly by them
abroad with profit, thus giving q
~ az liS tApthot VI
our own people. Its unjust taxation
burdens the people generally, forcing
them to pay excessive prices for food,
fuel, clothing and other necessaries
of life. 1t levies duty on many articles
| not normally imported in any consider
able amount. which are made extern
sively at home, for which the most ex-
IRENE protectionist would hardly jus
tify protective taxes, and which in
large amounts are exported Such
duties have been and will continue to
be direct incentive to the formation
of huge industrial combinations, which,
secure from foreign competition, are
enabled to stifie domestic competition
and practically to monopolize the home
| market.
1t contains many duties imposed for
the express purpose only, as was openly
avowed, of furnishing basis for re-
duction by means of reciprocal trade
treaties, which .he Republican admin
istration, implicitly, at least, promised
| to negotiate. Having on this promise
! secured the increased duties the Re