The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1904-08-10


Rists or by mail; Trial Size, 10 cents.
ELY BROTHERS, 90 Warren Street, New York
EuHfanTees ate vi0iaIeu wnenever any
citizen is denied the right to labor, TO &C
qure and TO enjoy property OF 10 reside
where his interests OF inclination may de-
| termine and the fulfillment of the assur-
anoe 20 rebuke and punish all denials OF
these rights. whether brought about by
individuals OF government agencies
should be enforced by every Official and
supported by every citizen. The essence
| Of good government lies in strict OBJ
servance OF constitutional limitations, en-
fopcement OF law and order and rugged
opposition TO all encroachment upon the
sovereignty of the people.
The foregoing suggestions but empha-
size the distinction which exists between
| our own and many other forms OF gov
eminent. II has been well said In sub
stance that there are but two powers In
government-one the power of the sword,
sustained by the hand that wieads It, and
the other the power of the law, sustained
by an enlightened public sentiment The
| difference in these powers Is the diner
ence between a republic such as ours,
based on law and a written constitution.
| supported by intelligence, virtue and pa
trotism, and a monarchy. sustained by
force exerted by an Individual. uncon-
| trolled by laws other than those made OF
sanctioned by him. One represents con-
sttutionalism, the other Imperialism.
The present tariff law is unjust in It's
| operation. excessive in many OF Its rates
and so framed In particular instances as
to exact inordinate profits from the peo-
| pie SO well understood has this view be-
come that many prominent members or
the Republican party and at least two of
its state conventions have dared to voice
the general sentiment on that subject.
| That party seems however, to be coll
| lectively able TO harmonic only upon
plank that admits that revision may from
! time to time be necessary, but 1t is so
! phrased that II is expected 70 be salts
| factory to those In favor OF an Increase
| Of duty, to those who favor reduction
thereof and to those opposed TO any
| change whatever.
Judged by the record Of performance
| rather than that of promise on the part
| Of that party in the past, 1t would seem as
If the outcome in the event of its success
would be to crafty the latter class With
| absolute control OF both the legislative
| and executive departments of the govern
! ment since March A. 1897, there has been
| neither reduction nor an attempt at re-
| duction in tariff duties. 1t is not unrea-
| sonabe TO assume in the light of THAI rec
ord that a future congress OF that party
I will not undertake u revision OF the tarin
! downward in the event that II shall re-
| ceive an Endorsement of its past course on
| that subject by the people. 1t is fact
aud should be frankly conceded that
| should our party be successful in the COM
| lny 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 tariff
| save that TO which the Republican ma
| jority in the senate may consent. While
| therefore we are unable to give assur-
| anoes Of relief to the people from such
! excessive duties as burden them, II Is due
TO them that we should state our position
| TO be in favor of a reasonable reduction OF
the tariff that we believe that 1t is de-
manded by the best interests OF both man
| ufacturer and consumer, and that wise
and beneficent revision Of the tariff can
be accomplished as soon as both branches
Of congress and an executive in favor
| Of II 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 a reasonable period shall intervene
between the date Of the enactment Of the
statute making revision and the date Of
its enforcement as shall be deemed sufh-
Client for the industry or business affect
| ed by such revision TO adjust itself TO the
changes and new conditions imposed. So
confident am i in the belief that the de-
mand of the people for reform OF the
| tariff Is just that indulge the hope that
should a Democratic house OF representa-
tives and a Democratic executive be cho-
sen by the people even Republican SEN
ate may heed the warning aud consent TO
| give at least some measure OF relief TO the
people.
The combinations, popularity called
trusts, which aim TO secure monopoly
Of trade IN the necessaries of life as well
| as In those things that are employed upon
the farm, In the factory and in many 9TH
| er fields of industry have been encour-
aged and stimulated by excessive tariff
| duties. These operate 90 furnish sub
stantiai market in the necessities Of
| eighty millions Of people by practically
| excluding competition. With 80 large
market and highly yemuDerative prices
| continuing long after the line OF possible
! competition would naturally be reached,
| the temptation Of all engaged In the same
business to combine 50 as to prevent COM
! petition at home and resulting rsduc-
ton OF prices has proved irresistible in
number Of cases. All men mast agree
that the net result of enacttng laws that
foster such hlequitable conditions is most
unfortunate for the people as a whole,
and It would seem If all ought 70 agree
| that the effective remedy would be TO APP
| propriately modify the ofbepding 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 of
this state and the courts of last resort
| IN many other states warrant the asser-
| ton that the common law as dSNGlOped
affords complete legal remedy against
monopolies. The fact that they have null
tiplied In number and increased IN power
has been due not TO the failure Of the
courts TO apply the law when properly
moved by administrative Ofhcia@ or pri-
vate individuals. but to the failllrs OF off,
Gals charged with the duty of enforcing
the law TO take the necessary procedure
TO procure the judgments OF 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 alysady re-
ferred TO have by legislation encouRa9sd
their propagation. What Is needed, in
addition 20 the passage OF statute revis-
ing the tariff duties TO a reasonable basis,
is not 80 much other and different laws
as officials aas4ng both the disposition
and the sourage to enb0Rce existing law.
While this is my View of the scope Of the
common laav, II shosld be made 20 APP
pear that II Is mistaken one then IA
vor such further legislation within con-
stitutionad limitations as win give the