Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1904-10-03

VI tiiC pi SoN--l -ANthiiiiih'eio
which inflicted a wound upon our
National honor by its disregard of
the rights of a weaker nation, in
order to gain a doubtful credit for
energy in forwarding that great
enterprise. Territory of a neigh
boring Republic, with which we
are at peace, was seized by band
Of revolutionists, protected by the
guns of the United States Navy
and erected into State over
night. which the President prompt
ly recognized as an independent
nation. A gross offense againts
friendly republic which it was
helpless to resent.
Imperialism.
These and many other unwar-
ranted things that belong more
to an empire than republic, have
occurred under the present Ad-
ministration, and brought deep
concern and alarm to thoughtful
and patriotic minds. They must
be regarded as the first fruits of
imperialism. and show how fast
we are drifting toward absolution
and centralized power. The eff
feet of the imperialistic tendency
of the Republican party upon our
foreign affairs is in opposition to
the teachings Of the founders of
the Republic, and so impressed
was Washington with the import
ance of keeping aloof from the af-
fairs of other nations, that in his
farewell address he warned his
countrymen especially against for
eign entangling alliances. 1mper-
ialism is hurtful and abhOrrent in
free government and subversive
of free institutions. The policy Of
imperialism-if it can be said to
have a policy-is always danger
Gus to liberty. Its powers are first
exercised in far-otf territory and
on conquered people, but once
adopted or acquired. and distant
possessions. it b""C~2cs. SOP or
later, the rule Of the home gov-
eminent. Liberty and free gov
ernment hove always been secured
at the { st Of great sacrifices, but
history teaches us that both can
be easily lost without the knowl-
edge Of the people.
Tariff.
Our Federal Constitution has
appropriated to the exclusive use
of the general government the
power of indirect taxation, cover
ed by the popular designation of
"tariff duties. " In excluding the
States from this domain Of taxa
ton, there is an implied and wise
partition Of the taxing power be-
tween the States and the Federal
Government. Except in the ext
gencies Of war the taxing power
has been exercised by Congress
largely in the direction of the i'm
position of duties upon imports.
No one expects to change this ar
rangement, which has proven so
convenient to the general govern
ment and so conducive to the in
terests of the States. whose resort
to other sources Of revenue is left
untrammeled. Indirect taxation,
however convenient, needs, by rea-
son of it's indirectness, to be watch
fully guarded, lest abuses should
attach themselves unknown by the
people.
That many Of the existing tariff
rates are excessive and enable
powerful combinations to extort
unjust and oppressive tribute
from the people cannot be con-
troverted. The tariff is undoubt-
eddy too high upon such articles
as enables the manufacturer to
sell his products abroad cheaper
than at home. Steel rails are a
conspicuous example in this re-
spect. 1t is admitted that they
are being made for $15 a ton. A
few years ago they were freely
sold in this country at SIT ton.
They are now selling at the mills
here for home consumption at $2S
ton, and for the foreign market
at from $1S to $50 ton. This