Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-09-26

with clearness n situation and pro-
posed remedy that prompted the proVi-
sion In our platform which declares
that I'VE favor liberal trade arrange
ments with Canada and with peoples
of other countries where they can be
entered into with benefit to American
agriculture. manufactures, mining or
commerce"
The persistent refusal Of the Repuo-
lican majority in the federal senate 10
ratify the reciprocity treaties neso
tlated in pursuance Of the pohcy au
yocated alike by Mr.. Blaine ana mi
Mckinley, and expressly sanctioned III
the Dingley act itself, is a discourse
ing exhibition Of bad faith. AS alreauy
mentioned by me, the exor0itant duty
imposed on many an Imported ar'iclc
by the Dingley tariff was avowedIy in-
tended by its author not TO be perlna-
pent but TO serve temporarily as
maximum. from which the federal gov
eminent was empowered to o1er re-
duction I'm return for an equivalent
concession on the part or Foreign
country. President Mckinley under
took honestly to carry out the purpose
of the act. A number OF reciprocity
agreements were negotiated, which, II
ratified. would have had the twofold
result of cheapenlng many imported
products for American consumers and
OF opening and enlarging foreign mar
kets 10 American producers. Not one
of those agreements has met with tne
approval of the Republican masters OF
the senate. Indeed they did not even
permit their consideration. In view
OF the attitude of the present execu-
tive. no new agreement need be ex-
pected from him. Nor does the Re
publican platform contain a favorable
reference to one OF the suspended
treaties. The reciprocity clauses, OF
the Dingley act seem destined to re-
main q monument OF legislative cozen-
age and political bad faith unless the
people take the matter In their own
hands at the ballot box and command
a reduction of duties in return for
reciprocal concessions.
Independence For the Filipinos.
In some quarters 1t has been assum-
ed that in the discussion of the Philip
pine question in my response the
phrase self government was intend
ed TO mean something less than indie
nendence. Ii was not intended that 1t
should be understood to mean nor do
l think as used II does mean less than
independence. However, to eliminate
all possibility for conjecture l now
state that l am In hearty accord with
that plank in our platform that favors
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 prepared for It,
II independence such as the Cubans
enjoy cannot be prudently granted to
the Fiipinos at this time, the promise
that 1t shall come the moment they
are capable of receiving 1t will tend to
stimulate rather than hinder their de-
yelopment. And this should be done
not only in justice to the Filipinos, but
TO preserve our own rights, for a free
peopie cannot withhold freedom from
another people and themselves remain
free. The liberation Of tyranny over
others will soon eedcontempt for free
dom and self government and weaken
our power OF resistance to insidious
usurpation of our constitutional rights
American citizenship.
The pledge of the platform to secure
to our citizens, without distinction OF
race or creed whether native born or
naturalized, at home and abroad, the
equal protection of the laws and the
enjoyment of all the rights and priyl-
leges open to them under the covenants
of our treaties, as their just due, should
be made good to them. In the accom-
plishment of that result 1t Is essential
that a passport issued by the govern
ment Of the United States to an Amer
lean citizen shall be accepted the world
over as proof Of citizenship.
Civil Service.
The statute relating to civil service
IN the outcome Of the efforts Of thought
full, unselfish and public spirited citi'
Eens. Operation under it has frequent
Iy been OF such q character as to OF
fend against the spirit Of the statute
but the results achieved, even under
partial enforcement Of the law, have
been such as to both deserve and com
mand the utterance of the Democratic
marty that 1t stands committed to the
principle of civil service reform and
demands its just and impartial en-
forcement.
Reclamation Of Arid Lands.
A vast expanse Of country in the
west, portions of which are to be found
in each Of the sixteen states and terri
tories. mentioned i'm the law, is direct
ly affected by the national statute-the
outcome Of intelligent and persistent
efforts Of leading citizens, providing
for the reclamation Of the arid lands
for the benefit of home seekers. Dur
ing the years Of the development of the
measure which finally received the vote
Of every member of the upper house
of congress it encountered opposition,
based to large extent upon the view
that the aim Of its promoters was to
secure the benefits OF irrigation to
private owners at government expense.
The aim Of the statute is, however, to
enable this vast territory to reclaim
its arid lands without calling upon the
taxpayers OF the country at large to
| nav FOR n Whether the PURPOSES Of