Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-08-11

tween our own ana many Otner FORMS
Of eovernm, mt. 1t has been well said.
i'm substance, that there are but two
mowers in government, one the power
Of the sword, sustained by the hand
that yields it, and the other the power
of the law, sustained by an enlightened
nublic sentiment. The difference in
these powers is the difference between
a republic-such as ours. based on law
and a written constitution, supported
by intelligence, virtue and patriotism
and monarchy-sustained by force
exerted by an individual uncontrolled
by laws other than those made or sane
toned. by him; one represents COnsti-
tutionalism. the other Imperialism.
The present tariff law is unjust in
its operation. excessive in many of its
rates and so framed in particular in
stances as to exact inordinate profits
from the people. So well understood
has this view become that many promi-
nent members of the Republican party,
and at least two of it's State conven-
tions. have dared to voice the general
sentiment on that subject. That party
seems. however. to be collectively able
to harmonic only upon plank that
admits that revision may from time to
time be necessary. but it is so phrased
| that it is expected to be satisfactory to
| those in favor of an increase of duty,
to those who favor a reduction thereof.
and to those opposed to any change
| whatever.
| Judged by the record Of performance.
rather than that of promise on the
p"rt Of that party in the past it would
seem as If the outcome in the event of
its success would be to crafty the lat
ter class. With absolute control Of
both the Legislative and executive de-
| partments of the government since
March 4th, 1897. there has been neither
reduction nor an attempt at reduction
in tariff duties 1t is not unreasonable
to assume. in the light of that record
that n future Congress of that Darty
| will not undertake Il revision of the
tariff downward in the event that it
shall receive an endorsement of it's past
course on that subject by the people.
1t is n fact and should be frankly con-
coded that though our party be sue
ccssful in the coming contest we cannot
hope to secure a majority in the Senate
during the next four years. and hence
we shall be unable to secure any
modification i'm the tariff save that to
which the Republican ma iOrity in the
Senate may consent. While. therefore,
we are unable to give assurances of re-
lief to the people from such excessive
duties as burden them, it is due to
them that we state our position to be
I'm favor of reasonable reduction Of
the tariff: that we believe 1t is demand
ed by the best interests of both manu-
facturer and consumer. and that a wise
and beneficent revision of the tariff
can be accomplished as soon as both
branches of Congress and an executive
in favor of 1t 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 4
| reasOna bic period shall intervene. be-
tween the date of the enactment of
the statute making revision and the
date of it's enforcement, as shall be
deemed sufficient for the industry or
business affected by such revision to
| adjust itself to the changes and new
conditions imposed. So confident am
in the belief that the demand of the
people for reform of the tariff is lust.
that I indulge the hope that should a
Democratic House of Representatives
and n Democratic executive be chosen
by the people, even a Republican Sem
ate may heed the warning and consent
to give at least some measure Of relief
to the people.
The combinations, popularity called
trusts. which aim to secure a monopoly
Of trade in the necessarics of life as
well as in those things that are en-
| nj no in, bn
, and in many other fields of industry,
. have been encouraged and stimulated
by excessive tariff duties. These oper-
ate to furnish substantial market in
the necessities of eighty millions of
people, by practically excluding COM
petition. With so large a market and
highly remunerative prices continuing
long after the line of possible compe-
tition would naturally be reached, the
temptation of all engaged in the same
business to combine so as to prevent
competition at home and a resulting
reduction of prices, has proved irre-
, sistible in a number of cases. All men
must agree that the net result of en-.
acting laws that foster such inequita-
BILE conditions, is most unfortunate for
seem as il all ought to agree that the
effective remedy would be to appro-
priately modify the offending law. The
growth of monopoly, of which COM
plant 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
, of this State and the courts of last re-
sort in many other states warrant the
assertion that the common law as de-
veloped affords complete legal reme-
dy against mOnopolies The fact that
they have multiplied in number and
increased in power has been due, not
to the failure of the courts to apply the
, law when properly moved by adnnis-
trative officials or private individuals,
, but to the failure of officials charged
, with the duty of enforcing the law to
take the necessary procedure to pro-
cure the judgments of the courts in the
appropriate jurisdiction. coupled with
, the fact that the legislative depart