The Savannah morning news., 1904-08-11

1t is a mistaken policy TO cut down
the rates to such an extent that the
roads are forced to save money by cut
| ting operating expenses and reducing
the amount set apart for betterments.
! The people want the railroads kept in
| frst-class condition and they are will
| ing to pay transportation rates that
will permit that
JUDGE PARKER'S ACCEPTANCE.
Judge Parker's address accepting the
nomination for President is admirable
from every point of view, and will
make a good impression. No room is
| left for doubt that, if elected, he will
administer the government strictly in
accordance with the constitution.
Those who have been criticising him
for maintaining silence on public ques-
lions no longer have an excuse for at
lacking him for that reason. He has
stated his views fully and frankly up
on the questions that are now &C
cupying the attention of the people
upon the tariff, trusts and the Philip
pines.
There was no reason of course. why
he should make an extended state
ment on the money question. His
famous gold standard telegram made
the whole world acquainted with his
position on that question. And he
appreciates highly the confidence the
National Convention showed in him by
insisting on retaining him as the stand
ard bearer of the party after he had
made known to it that he favored the
gold standard.
There is nothing in his tariff views
TO alarm manufacturers. He doesn't
insist that these shall he a radical re-
| duction in the tariff schedules re-
duction that would upset business and
disturb industries. He believes in a
reasonable reduction. That means a
reduction that would protect the peo-
pie against excessive taxation, and
the greed of those who exact inordi-
nate profits. Judge Parker points out
the weakness of the position of the Re
publicans on the tariff, namely, that
the tariff should be reformed by the
friends of the protective system. II
the people wait for the Republicans to
| correct tariff abuses the abuses will
never be corrected, because these who
dominate that party are the benefic-
aries of the abuses.
Judge Parker makes the point that
what is needed to regulate trusts is
the enforcement of existing laws, but
he favors additional legislation If it
should be found to be necessary. AS
a matter of fact the Republican party
has done little or nothing to relieve the
| people of the trust evil. President
Roosevelt attacked a railroad merger,
but after he had secured a judgment
against the merged railroads he took
no steps to have punished those shown
to be guilty of violating the antitrust
law. On the contrary, his Attorney
General announced that the administra-
! ton had no intention of making a
general attack upon the trusts. 1t is
| evident from what Judge Parker says
in his quiet way that if he is given
authority he will see to it that the
antitrust law is enforced.
What Judge Parker says in regard
to the Philippines will commend it
self to all thinking people. He doesn't
see how any citizen of the United
! States of Revolutionary stock can toll
crate the thought of permanently
| denying the right Of self-government
to the Filipinos." From his point of
view they should be told at once that
they are to have their own government
as soon as they are prepared for it.
| Not only that, but, the work of pre-
pairing them for it should be prosecut-
ed earnestly and vigorously.
1t is however. in regard to the inn
portance of unfolding the constitution,
of combining each of the great de-
| partments of the government to its
own sphere of action that Judge Par
ker appears to the greatest advantage.
The impression he creates is that the
permanency of the Republic depends
upon strict obedience to the constitu-
ton. He doesn't mention the Presi-
dent. of course, but the conviction
| cannot be avoided that In this part
of his address he had in mind the
Presidents invasion of the Legislative
department, when he, by stroke OF
his pen, put thousands of Union vete-
rams on the pension roll. And there
are other things done by the President
on which, doubtless. he based his re.
marks, things showing an Impotence
with constitutional restraints and a de-
sire to exercise power as it is ex-
ercised under autocratic rule. ours
is a government of laws, not men,
says Judge Parker, and there is every
reason for thinking that if he should
be chosen President, we should have
a reign of law. such as we have not
had since the country became ac-
quainted with Rooseveltism.
--s-or-S-----
THE MAYORS.
1t will be a pretty safe thing to say