The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1904-08-13

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 a 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 ofense against
the laws Of God and man, and all others
engaged in the conspiracy with them
should, after due trial and conviction,
have had melted 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-
zens, 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 and his
property, which not only justified the
action Of your convention in this regard,
but made it its duty to call attention to
the fact that constitutional guarantees
are violaed whenever n citizen is de-
MED the right to labor to acquire and to
enjoy property or to reside where his in
terests OF inclination may determine; and
the fuldllment of the assurance to re-
buke and punish all denials Of these
rights, whether brought about by indi-
viduals or government agencies, should
be 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 a rugged opposition
to 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 well said, in sub
stance, tina there are but two powers
in government, one the power Of the
sword, sustained by the hand that Yields
it, and the other the power of the law,
sustained by an enlightened public sentt-
ment. The difference in these powers
is the difference beween the republic
such as ours. based on law and a written
constitution supported by intelligence,
virtue and patriotism-and a monarchy
sustained by force eXerted by an indt-
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 inordinate profits from the peo'
pie. So we'll understood has this view be
come hat many prominent members OF
the republican party and at least two OF
its state conventions have dared to voice
IL -..-.,r -.-Af-AarH 80 fhnf gf4hfAnt
That party seems, however, to be col
lectively able to harmonic only upon
plank that admis that revision may from
time to time be necessary. but it is 81
! phrased that it is expected to be salts
J factory to those in favor of an increas,
| of duty to those who favor a reduction
e thereof and to- those opposed to an!
j change whatever.
J Judged by the record of performance
{ rather than that of promise, on the par
Of that party in the past, II would seen
e as If the outcome I'm the event of 1t
= success would be to crafty the latte
e class. With absolute control of both tn
d legislative and executive departments O
I the government since March 4, 1897, Their
d has been neither reduction nor an at
d tempt at reduction in tariff duties. 1t /
not unreasonable to assume, in the ngh
= or tndl record, lndl a IuluTe CouBItSS "
: that party will not undertake a revision
: of the tariff downward In the event tina
s it shall receive an Endorsement Of 1t
= past course on that subject by the PEG
e pie. 1t is a fact and shout be frankl,
s conceded, that should our party be sue
e cessful in the coming contest we canno
o hope to secure q majority In the senat
a during the next four years, and henc
: we shall be unable to secure any mod
fcation in the tariff save that to whicI
the republican majority In the senate ma
= consent. While, therefore, we are unabl
to give assurances of relief TO the peOpl
from such excessive duties as burde
= them, It is due to them that we shout
state our position to be In favor Of a rea
l. sonable reduction of the tariff: that W
o believe that 1t is demanded by the hes
N interests Of both manufactures and cor
= sumner, and that a wise and beneticent re
Is vision of the tariff can be ~accOmplishe
as soon as both branche of congress
y and an executive in favor Of 1t are elect
"a ed, without creating that sense Of uncel
lie tainty and instability that has on othe
s, occasions manifested itself. This can b
N achieved by providing that such a rea
10 sonable period shall intervene, betwee
is the date Of the enactment of the statut
OF making a revision and the date Of II
al enforcement, as shall be deemed sutt
III Client for the industry or business affec'
In ed by such revision to adjust itself to tn
changes and new conditions imposed. S
Dr. confident am l in the belief that the d.
e. mand of the people for a reform OF II
n tariff is just that / indulge in the hoI
OF that should a democratic house OF rel
es resentatives ard a democratic e%XecutiN
ne be chosen by the people. even a repul
lican senate may heed the warning an
consent TO give at least some measure
relief to the people.
~ The combinations, popularity GALE
e- trusts, which aim to secure a monopo
rs Of trade in the necessaries of life
y well as in those things that are en-
e ployed upon the farm, in the factory al
IN in many other fields Of industry, ha'
been encouraged and stimulated by e
cessive tariff duties, These operate
~ furnish a substantial market in the n
IT. c~essities Of SO.OOO,OOO Of people by pract
cally excluding competition. With
u large a market and highly remuneratl
g prices continuing long after the line
~ possible competition would naturally
reached by the temptation of all e
eu gagged in the same business to combt
so as TO prevent competition at home a.
a resulting reduction of prices, has prov
irresistible in a number of cases. !
men must agree that the net result of e
', acting laws that foster such inequitat
"a conditions Is most unfortunate for I
IN people as a whole, and it would seem