The San Francisco call., 1904-07-28

public work of the nation been done more
honestly and efficiently.
Assureoyy it is unwise to change the policies
Whlch have worked 80 we'll and which now
working so well. Prosperity has come at home
Inc national honor and interest have been up
held abroad. We have placed the finances Of
TINS nation upon a sound gold basis. We have
done this with the aid of many who were for
merry our opponents but who would neither
openly support nor silently acquiesce in the
heresy of unsound finance; and We have done
II against the convinced and violent opposition
OF the mass Of our present opponents who still
feluse TO recant the unsound opinions which
Tor the moment they think it inexpedient to
assert. We know what mean when we
speak OF an honest and stable currency. We
mean the same thing from year to year We
do not have to avoid definite and conclusive
conmittal on the most important issue which
has recently been before the people and
Wnlch may at any time in the near future be
betore them again. Upon the principles which
unoerle this issue convictions of half of our
Lumber do not clash with those of the other
half. So long as the Republican party is in
power the gold standard is settled not as a
matter of temporary political expediencey not
because of shifting conditions in the produc-
tion Of gold In certain mining centers. but in
accordance with what we regard as the funda-
mental principles Of morality and wisdom.
Under the financial legislation which we
have enacted there is now ample circulation
Ior every business need; and every dollar Of
this circulation is worth dollar in gold. We
nave reduced the interest bearing debt, and in
still larger measure the interest on that debt
All of the war taxes imposed during the Span
iSh war have been removed with a view to re-
lieve the people and to prevent the accumula-
ton of an unnecessary surplus. The result is
that hardly ever before have the expenses and
income OF the country closely corresponded
In the fiscal year that has Just closed the ex-
cess Of income over the ordinary expenditures
was 50, OOO, 900. This does not take account Of
the $50. oO0. coo expended out of the accumulated
surplus for the purchase of the isthmian canal
1t is an extraordinary proof of the sound hnan-
cial condition of the nation that instead of
following the usual course in such matters and
throwing the burden upon posterity by an is
sue OF bonds, we were able to make the pay
ment outright and yet after IL to have in the
treasury surplus of $3.50 600 GOO Moreover
we were able to pay this $50 600 600 out of
hand without causing the slightest disturbance
to business conditions
We have enacted a tariff law under which
during the last few years the country has at
tanned a height OF material wellbeing never
before. That whenever the need arises there
should be readjustment of the tariff sched-
ules Is undoubted, but such changes can with
satety De made only by those whose devotion
to the principles OF protective tariff is be-
yond question. for otherwise the changes would
amount not 10 readJustme1t, but to repeal
The readjustment when made must maintain
and not destroy the protective policy. To the
farmer, the merchant, the manufacturer this is
vital. but perhaps no other man is so much in
terested the wage worker in the mainten-
ance OF our present economic system both as
regards the finances and the tariff The stand
ara OF hVlns OF our wage workers is higher
than that OF any other country. and 1t cannot
which shall always keep as a minimum a rate
OF duty sufficient to cover the difference be-
tween the labor cost here and abroad.
TARIFF LAWS COMPARED.
Those who. like our opponents. "denounce
protection a robbery" thereby explicitly
they were to revise the tariff no heed would
be paid to the necessity OF meeting this dit
ference between the standards of living for
wage-workers here and in other countries.
and therefore on this point their antagonism
to our position is fundamental. Here again
we ask that their promises and ours be Judged
by what has been done in no
We ask that sober and sensible men compa re
the workings OF the present tariff law and
the workings of the preceding tariff law OF
1894 and the conditions which that tariff of
1894 helped to bring about
We believe in reciprocity with foreign ma
tions on the terms outlined in President Nc
Kinley's last speech. which urged the ex-
tension of our foreign markets by reciprocal
agreements whenever they could be made
without injury to American Industry and
labor. 1t is a singular fact that the only
with Cuba-was finally opposed almost alone
by the representatives of the very party which
now states that it favors reciprocity And
here again we ask that the worth of our
words be judged by comparing their deeds
with ours On this Cuban reciprocity treaty
there were at the outset grave differences Of
opinion among ourselves and the notab1e thing
In the negotiation and ratification of the treaty
and in the legislation which carried It into
effect was the highly phactical manner in
which. without sacrifice of principle, these
differences of opinion were reconciled There
cellent practical outcome, the result of the
harmonious cooperation of two successive
Presidents and two successive Congresses
This is illustration of the governing ca
pacity which entities us to the confidence of
the people not only in purposes bue- in
our practical ability to achieve these purposes
Judging by the history of the last twelve
years, down to this very month Is there
justification for believing that under similar
circumstances and with similar initial diff
ferences of opinion our opponents would have
achieved any practical result?
We have already shown in actual fact that
policy is to do fair and equal Justice TO
all men, paying heed to whether man
his creed his birthplace.
We recognize the organization of capital
and the organization Of labor as natural out
comes of our Industrial system. Each kind
of organization Is to be favored so long as n
acts In a spirit Of Justice and regard for the
rights OF others. Each is to be granted the
full protection Of the law and each in turn
is to be held to a strict observance Of tba
law: for Is above it and no man
below it, Tie humblest Individual is 10 have
his rights safeguarded scrupulously as those
of the strongest organization for each is n
receive justice, no more and no less The
problems with which have to deal in our
modern Industrial and social life are manifold.
but the spirit In which it Is necessary to an
proach their solution is simply the spirit Of