The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1904-10-01
HIS FORMAL LETTER TO TIE
DEMOCRATIC NOTlFlCA-
TON COMMITTEE.
VIEWS ON PUBLIC POLICIES
NAMES FOUR ISSUES as OF PAR
AMOUNT INTEREST TO THE
ENTIRE COUNTRY.
Tariff Reform, Imperialism, Econom-
tcal Administration and Honesty
in Public Service - Criticises
Republican Administrations.

To the Honorable Champ Clark and
Others, Committee, Etc.-Gentlemen:
In my response to your committee, at
the formal notification proceedings,
referred to some matters not mentioned
In this letter. l desire that these be
considered as incorporated herein, and
regret that lack of space prevents spe-
cific reference to them all. wish here,
however, again to refer to my views
there expressed as to the gold standard,
TO declare again my unqualified belief
In said standard, and to express my ap-
probation of the action of the conven-
ton in reply to my communication upon
that subject.
Grave public questions are pressing
FOR decision. The democratic party ap-
peals to the people with confidence that
its position on these questions will be
accepted and Endorsed at the polls.
While the issues involved are numer-
Gus, some stand forth preeminent in
the public mind. Among these are:
Tariff reform, imperialism, economical
administration and honesty in the pub
lie service. l shall briefly consider these
and some others within the necessarily
prescribed limits of this letter.
Imperialism.
While l presented my views at the
notification proceedings concerning this
vital issue, the overshadOwing impor-
lance of this question impels M to re-
for tn ~ oOoin Tho icc1Ia ic nffnnfimnS
referred to as constitutionalism VS.. i'm
perialism.
If we would retain our liberties and
constitutional rights unimpaired, we
cannot permit or tolerate, at any time
or for any purpose, the a~rrogation of
unconstitutional powers by the execu-
tive branch Of our government. We
should be ever mindful of the words OF
Webster: Liberty is only 20 be pre-
served by maintaining constitutional
restraints and a just division Of political
powers"
Already the national government has
become centralized beyond any point
contemplated or imagined by the
founders of the constitution. How ire
m~endously all this has added to the
power of the president! 1t has devel-
oped from year to year until it almost
equals that of many monarchs. While
the growth of our country and the mag
nitude of interstate interests may seem
to furnish a plausible reason for this
Capitalization Of power, yet these same
facts afford the most potent reason why
the executive should not be permitted
to encroach upon the other departments
of the government, and assume legisla-
tive, or other powers, not expressly con-
by the constitution.
The issue of imperialism which has
been thrust upon the country involves
a decision whether the law of the land
or the rule Of individual caprice shall
govern. The principle of imperialism
may give rise to brilliant, startling,
dashing results, but the principle Of de-
executive and subjects him to the sober,
conservative control of the people.
The people Of the United States stand
at the parting of the ways. Shall we
follow the footsteps Of our fathers along
the paths of peace, prosperity and con-
tentment, guided by the everything
spirit Of the constitution which they
framed for us, or shall we go along other
and untried paths, hitherto shunned'b by
all, following blindly new ideals, which,
though appealing with brilliancy to the
imagination and ambition, may prove a
will o the wisp. leading us into diff |
ficulties from which it may be impos-
sible to extricate ourselves without last
ing injury to our national character and
institutions?
The Tariff and Trusts.
Tariff reform is one of the cardinal
Of the democratic faith, and
the necessity for it was never greater
at the present time. 1t should be |
undertaken at once in the interest of
all our people.
The Dingley tariff is excessive in
many of its rates, and, as to them at |
least, unjustly and oppressively bur-
dens the people. 1t secures to domestic
manufacturers, singly or in combina-
ton, the privilege of exacting excessive
prices at home and prices far above the |
of sales made regularly by them
with profit, thus giving a bounty |
to foreigners at the expense of our own
people. 1t levies oppressive and unjust
taxes upon many articles forming, in
or part, the ~so-called raw ma
terial Of many of our manufactured
products, not only burdening the con-
sumner, but also closing to the manufac-
the markets he needs and seeks
abroad. Its unjust taxation burdens the
people generally, forcing them to pay
excessive prices for food, fuel, clothing
and other n-ecessaries of life. 1t levies !
duties on many articles not normally
imported in any considerable amount,
are made extensively at home,
for which the most extreme protec-
would hardly justify protective
taxes, AID which in large amounts are
exported. Such duties have been and
will continue to be a direct incentive
20 the formation of huge industrial COM