The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-08-13


ports from the state without trial persons
suspected Of belonging 60 the orBanlza-
ton 81 which the perpetrators or the uy'
Mantle outrdges were supposed 10 De
members In both cases the reign OF law
gave way to the reign Of force. THESE
Illustrations present some evidence on
the failure Of government 70 prolee' 'ne
citizen and his property, when not ohiF
Justified the action OF your convention IN
mis- regard but made IT its duty To call
attention TO the fact that constitutional
guarantees are violated whenever any
citizen is denied the right 60 labor TO ae-
ouir,. and to enjoy property or 10 ieslde
where his Interests or inclination may de-
t.rmine aud tine fufllmrnt of the unaur-
unee To rDbukc and punish all dcnihls 90
these rights. whether brought about by
individuals or government agencies,
should Doe enforced 10y every official and
supported by every citizen. The essence
az good government lies In strict OBJ
sprvance OF constitutional limitations. tn
forcomrut of law and order and rugged
opposition TO all encroac hintnt upon The
Sovereignty OF the people.
The foregoing suggestions but pmpha-
size the distinction which exists between
our own and many other forms Of gov
eminent 1t has been well said I'm SUBJ
stance that there are but two powers In
government -ono the power of the sword.
sustained by the hand that wiclds II. and
the other the power Of the law sustained
IN an enlightened public sentiment. The
difference In these powers Is the dlHtr-
cncc between "a republic such as ours
based on law and written constitution
supported 10y intelligence, virtue and pa
triotism. and monarchy, sustained by
force cXerted 10y an individual. uncon-
trnllcd by laws other than those made or
1. - fs8tF
stltutionalism. the other imperialism.
The present tariff law Is unjust In its
operation. excessive In many of It's rates
and 50 framed in particular Instances as
e. exact inordiuate profits from the peo-
pie So well understood has this view he
come that many prominent members ~
the Republican party and at least two OF
it's state conventions have dared 10 voice
the general sentiment on that subject
That party seems. however, to be coi-
l,ctiyely able 60 harmonic only upon "a
plank that admits that revision may from
time to time bo necessary. but II Is SO
phrascd that 1t is expected Co be salts
factory 90 those IN favor Of an increase
If duty. 20 those who favor reduction
thereof ana 20 those opposed to any
change whatever.
Judged 10y the record of performance
rather than that of promise on the part
OF that party in the past, It would seem as
IL the outcome IN the event OF its success
would be 10 crafty the latter class. With
absolute control Of both the legislative
ana executive departments Of the govern
ment since March T. 1887. there has been
neither reduction nor an attempt at re
duction in tariff duties. IL Is not unreal
sonable % assume IN the Hight or that rec
ord that future congress Of that party
will not undertake Il revision OF the tdili
downward In the event that II shall re-
ccivc an Endorsement 81 lts past course ON
that subject By the people, IL IS n fact
and should be frankly conceded that
should our party be successful I'm the COM
ing contest We cannot hope to secure
majority in the senate during the next
four Years and hence we shall be unable
to secure any Modification In the tarin
snve that to which the Republican ma
jority in the senate. may consent NhIe
therefore We are unable % give assur-
anc.s Of relief 10 the people from such
excessive duties as burden them 1t is due
10 them that we should state our position
to be I'm favor Of a reasonable reduction Of
the tariff that We believe that II Is de-
manded by the best interests Of both man
ufacturer and consumer and that a wise
and btncfccnt revision Of The taFin can
be accomplished as soon az both branches
OF congFegs and an executive in favor
OF IL are elected without creating that
sense OF uncertainty and instability that
has on other occasions manifested itself
This can be achieved by providing that
such Il reasonable period shall intervene
between the date q the enactment of the
statute making a revision and the date II
its enforcement as shall be deemed sufii-
cient for the industry OF business Affect
ed by such revision to adjust Itself 60 the
changes and new conditions Imposed 80
confident am / IN the belief that the de-
maud Of the people for a reform OF the
tariff is just that I indulge the hope that
should n Democratic house Of representa-
tives and a Democratic executive be cho-
sen by the people even Republican sen
ate may heed the warning and consent 90
give at least some measure Of relief 20 the
people.
Tho comblr-i tons popularity called
trusts. which aim 20 secure a monopoly
OF trade in the nccessaries Of life rs well
as in those things that are employed upon
the farm. In the factory and ia many 9th
er fields % industry have been encouT-
aged and stimulated by excessive taTih
duties These operate to furnish sub
stantia market in the necessities Of
eighty millions Of people by practically
excluding competition. with SO large
market and highly TemuneTatve prices
continuing long after the line Of possible
competition would naturally be reached.
the temptation of all engaged In the same
business to combine so as 60 prevent COM
petition at home and a resulting reduc-
ton If prices has proved Irresistible IN
number 81 cases. All men must agree
that the net result Of enacting laws that
foster such inequitabie conditions Is most
unfortunate for the people as a whole.
and 1t would seem as II all ought 10 agree
that the effective remedy would be % APP
propriately modify the offending law The
growth Of monopoly Of which complaint
is Justly made, cannot be laid at the
doors Of the courts Of this country The
decisions Of the supreme court OF the
United States the court Of appeals ~
this state and the courts 81 last resort
IN many other states warrant the asseF-
ton that the common law as developed
affords "A complete legal remedy against
monopolies The fact that they have null
tipiod I'm number and increased In power
has been due not 10 the failure OF the
courts 10 aunlv the Law uh.n nrnnnrlv
moved by administrative omclas OF PR
Vate individuals, but TO the failure Of ofh-
cials charged with the duty Of enforcing
the law to take the necessary procedure
10 procure the judgments o. the courts IN
the appropriate jurisdiction. coupled with
the fact that the legislative departments
Of some Of our state governments as well
as congress in the manner already re-
ferred to have by legislation encouraged
their propagation. What Is needed. in
addition % the passage Of statute reYis-
ing the tariff duties to a reasonable basis
is not so much other and different laws
az officials having both the disposition
and the courage to enforce existing law.
While this Is my view of the scope Of the
common law. If Il should be made 90 ap-
pear that Il Is mistaken one then I IA
yoF such further legislation within con-
sttutionai limitations as will give the
people a just and full measure of protec-
ton.
II is difficult to understand how any
citizen OF the United States. much less
descendant OF Revolutionary stock. can
tolerate the thought Of permanently deny
ing the right Of self government to the
Filipinos Can we hope to instill into the
minds of our descendants reverence and
devotion for a government by the people
while denying ultimately that right 70 the
inhabitants Of distant countries whose
territory we have acquired either by pur-
chase or by force? Can we say to the
FlliDin0s "Y0ur lives your liberty and