The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-26
PARKER LETTER.

Continued from Page One.l --
atty of reduction in tariff rates in the
interest of t6$ manufacturer 1hey
present with clearness a situation ana
a proposed remedy that prompted Ihe
provision in our platform which de-
cIares that, I'VE favor liberal trsioe ar
rangements with Canada and with
DeonIes of other countries where they
can be entered into with benent 10
American agriculture, manufactures,
mining or commerce.
The persistent refusal of the Repub-
lican majority in the federal senate to
ratify the reciprocity treaties nego-
tiated in pursuance OF the pohcy al
vocated alike by Mr. Blaine and MI
Mckinley. and expressly sanctioned u
the fourth section of the Dingley act is
a discouraging exhibition OF bad talth-
As already mentioned by me, lhe eN-
brilliant duty imposed on many an I'M
ported article by the D1ngley tarlh
was ayowedly intended by its author
not to be permanent but to serve tenn
porarirly as a maximum from when
the federal government was empower
ed to offer a reduction. IN return TOT
an equivalent concession on the part
of a foreign country President NC
Kfnley undertook honestly 10 carry out
the purpose of this section OF the act.
A number of reciprocity agreements
were negotiated, within the prescribed
limitations of two years. WINCH II ratl-
ned would have had the two-told re-
ducts for American consumers, ana OF
opening and charging foreign Markets
70 American producers Not one OF
those agreements has met with the ap-
proval of the Republican masters OF
fhe senate Indeed they did not even
permit their consideration In view OF
the attitude of the present executive,
no new agreement need be expected
from him Nor does the Republican
platform contain favorable reference
10 one of the suspended treaties fh1s
section of the Dingley act stands forth
as a monument of legislative cozenaee
and political bad faith -te-1..
Independence for the FiIipinos.
In some quarters it has bean as
Rumed that in the discussion NJ the
Philippine question in my response tle
phrase ssself-government, was ntend-
ed to mean something less than mae
pendence 1t was not intended that II
should be understood to mean nor 90
1 think as used il does mean less than /
independence. However, to eliminate
all possibility for conjecture, now
state that I am in hearty accord with
that plank in our platform that faVors
doing for the Filipinos what we nave
already done for the Cubansi ana 1
favor making the promise to them now |
that we shall take such action as soon /
as they are reasonably prepared Tor II
II independence. such as the Cuoans
enjoy, cannot be prudently granted 70
the FTIipinos at this time, the promise
that IL shall come the moment they /
are capable of receiving 1t VIII tend
10 stimulate rather than hinder their
development And this should be done
NOT only in Justice to the Filipinos. but
10 preserve our own rights; for free
people cannot withhold freedom from
another. people and themselves remain
free The liberation of tyranny over
orbers will soon breed contempt for
freedom and self-government, and
weaken our power of resistance to IN
sidious usurpation of our constitution
al rights
American Citizenship.
The pledge of the platform to secure
20 our citizens. without. distinction OF
race or creed, whether native born or
naturaIized. at home and abroad the
equal protection of the laws and the
Endowment of all the right and privs-
leEes open TO them under. the cove
nants of our treaties. as their just Que
should be made good to them In the
of that result II is
essential that a passport issued by the
government of the United States 10 an
american citizen shall be accepted the
world over as proof of citizenship.
Civil Service.
The statute relating to civil ser
vice is the outcome of the efforts OF
fhouehtfuI. unselfsh and public spir-
tied citizens Operation under IL mas
frequently been of such a character
as TO offend against the spirit OF ILle
statute. but the results achieved. even
under a partial enforcement OF the
law have been such as to both deserve
and command the utterance OF the
Democratic party that it stands COM
1ufted to the principle of civil service
reform and demands it's just and i'm
partial enforcement
Reclamation of Arid Lands.
A vast expanse of country in the
west portions of which are to be found
su each of the sixteen states and ter
ritories mentioned in the law, is d.
rectly affected by the national statutes
the outcome of intelligent and per-
Efstent efforts of leading citizens, pro-
VfdfnE for the reclamation of the arid
lands for the benefit of hOme-seekers-
During the years of the development
of the measure which finally received
the vote of every member of the upper
house of congress, it encountered OPP
position, based to a large extent upon
the view that the aim of its promoters
was to secure the benefits of irriga-
ton TO private owners at government
expense The aim of the statute is,
however. to enable this vast territory
to reclaim its arid lands without call
ing upon the taxpayers of the country
at large to pay for it Whether the I
purposes of the bill will be fully ac-
complished must depend in large
MEASURE upon the ability, sobriety of
Judgment. independence and honesty
of the officers Of the interior depart
ment having this great work in charge.
In 1902 the main canals and bitches
in the region affected aggregated more
than fifty-nine thousand miles and the
work of reclamation is but in its in
fancy. The total cost of construction L
of the necessary head-gates, dams, h
main canals. bitches reservoirs and
pumping stations was at that time a
little over ninety-three millions of dol 4
lars. which of itself suggests the hun
dreds of millions that may eventually
be invested in the territory covered /
by the statute. The magnitude of the
conception. and the enormous expense
its carrying out involves, make us
realize the Overwhelming Importance
OK a broad, capable and honest ad-