The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-02

Continued from First page.
which we are invited to look with
favor" Judge Parker continued. I'VE
are asked to turn from our own
mighty but peaceful triumphs, from
the spectacle of a continent settled by
a homogeneous people, attached to
liberty, fitted to govern themselves, in
order that we may enter upon the be-
ginning of a policy which must in
evitable end in the adoption of the
other methods which / have so briefly
and so imperfectly outlined.
when we are asked, then, to turn
away from the assured triumphs which
a popular system-familiar as house.
hold words-has brought to us, and
to adopt methods which, opposed to all
our traditions, have not even the merit
of success, or of bringing self-govern-
ment, happiness and contentment to a
single people thus far subjected to
them, we may well enter our protest
against such policy. If, under a
government of constitutional restraints
and regard for law, we have been able
through peace and war, foreign and
internecine, to grow from a population
of 100000 to one of $4,000, 900, why may
we not go on until we have doubled
that number? Why should we not con-
sent to take even the first step, which
according to its advocates, is certain
to lead us to what they call, 'empire?'
Alliances with the Strong.
1T is within the recollection Of
great masses of our population, as it
is within the knowledge of all. that
the sympathies Of our people formerly
went out to the small countries of the
old world, which were struggling for
recognition or independence.
But now a different story is told
We hear strange reports of alliances:
but they are with those governments
in which the strength of their armies
and navies is more in evidence than
their devotion to popular rule. We
hear utterances, or see acts, in which
contempt is shown for small countries.
Instead of treasuring Washington's
admonition to be friendly to all ma
tions, but to form alliances with none,
the idea now uppermost in some of our
diplomacy seems to be that this doc
trine is outworn and obsolete, and
that because we are $4,000 900 instead
of 100000, we should change our po-
litical habits and adopt methods and
manners long since rejected.
But there are other directions in
which we have departed widely from
our early traditions and which now
menace our people industrially. We all
know that during the last quarter of
a century vast changes have taken
place in our industrial condition
changes that have tended to- do away
with competition and have placed
the leading industries of the country
in the control of a few men. We
have been warned against this ten
dency from time to time by thought
full and far-seeing men, but the warn
ing has not been needed. To-day, how
ever most men are able to appreciate
that IL would have been wise to heed
the warning earlier. Now the task
of checking the evil is greater. Those
who have enjoyed special privileges
enabled them indirectly to tax the
people, together with those who have
by combinations obtained practically
the control OF certain kinds OF busi-
ness, have grown so strong that they
feel able TO control elections. thus
preventing interference with the pow
or they enjoy. The effect OF that
power. as welded, has been to increase
the cost OF living TO all; TO add to the
burdens Of every one. without corre-
spending benefit or any benefit.
Cost of Living Increased.
ut is conceded that during the last
three or four years the increase in the
cost Of living has amounted to one
sixth. Secretary Shaw rejoices I'm Il.
And he says the wages OF the working
men and the income Of our people are
greater In proportion. Now. II that Is
true, the householders OF this country
know it. II not. their wives do. They
know whether the Income OF the bread
winner II greater by one-eixth than IL
was four wears ago. There are In
stances IN which n IS. But the great
majority OF you will ind II II not true.
You win discover that Il requires just
n little rrore work on your part and
more care on the part % your wife,