Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1904-08-12


Within the past few years many in
stances have been brought to our atten-
ton, where in different parts OF our be-
loved country supposed criminals nave
been seized and punished by a mob. not
withstanding the fact that the consdtu-
ton of each state guarantees to every
person within its jurisdiction that his
life, his liberty or his property shall not
be taken from him without due process
of law.
In a struggle between employers and
employees dynamite is said to have been
used by the latter. resulting in the loss
OF life and the destruction OF property
The perpetrators of this offense against
the laws of God and man. and all others
engaged in the conspiracy with them
should, after due trial and conviction,
have had melted out to them the most
rigorous punishment known to the law.
This crime added perhaps to others led
to the formation of committee OF citi-
zens, that with the support of the mill
tary authority deports from the state.
without trial, persons suspected OF be-
longing to the organization of which the
perpetrators of the dynamite outrages
were supposed to be members In both
eases the reign of law gave way to the
reign of force. These Illustrations pre-
sent some evidence of the failure of gov
arnn1ent to protect the citizen and his
property, which not only justified the
action of your convention in this regard,
but made it its duty to call attention to
The fact that constitutional guarantees
are violaed whenever any citizen is de-
Med the right to labor to acquire and to
enjoy property to reside where his in
.erests or inclination may determine; and
The fulillment of the assurance to re-
Duke and punish all denials of these
rights, whether brought about by indf-
Fiduals or government agencies, should
De enforced by every official and support
ed by every citizen. The essence of good
government lies in strict observance of
constitutional limitations, enforcement
Of law and order and a rugged opposition
20 all encroachment upon the sovereignty
Of the people.
The foregoing suggestions but empha-
size the distinction which exists between
Dur own and many other forms of gov
eminent 1t has been we'll said, in sub
stance, that there are but two powers
In government, the power of the
sword, sustained by the hand that yields
1t, and the other the power of the law,
sustained by enlightened public senti-
ment. The difference in these powers
is the difference beween the republic
such ours, based on law and a written
constitution supported by intelligence,
virtue and patriotism-and a monarchy
sustained by force eXerted by an indi-
Vidua1, uncontrolled by laws other than
those made sanctioned by him: one
represents conStitutionaliSm, the other
imperialism.
The present tariff law is unjust in its
operation, excessive in many of its rates
and so framed in particular instances 3
to exact inordinate profits from the peo-
pie. So well understood has this view be-
come that many prominent members of
the republican party and at least two OF
its state conventions have dared to voice
the general sentiment that subject.
That party seems, however, to be col
1ectively able to harmonic only upon
plank that admis that revision may from
time to time be necessary, but it is so
phrased that it is expected to be salts
factory 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 part
of that party in the past it would seem
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 government since March 4. 1897, there
has been neither reduction nor an at
tempt at reduction in tariff duties. It is
not unreasonable to assume, in the light
of that record, that future congress of
that party will not undertake revision
of the tariff downward in the event that
it shall receive an Endorsement of its
past course on that subject by the peo-
pie. 1t is fact and should be frankly
conceded, that should our party be sue
cessful in the coming contest we cannot
during the next four years, and hence
we shall be unable to secure any modf-
fication in the tariff save that to which
the republican majority in the senate may
consent. While, therefore, we are unable
to give assurances of relief to the people
from such excessive duties burden
them, it. is due to them that we should
state our position to be in favor of a rea-
sonable reduction of the tariff: that We
believe that it is demanded by the best
interests of both ma and
sumner, and that a wise and benefcent re-
vision of the tariff can be accomplished
soon both branches of congress
and executive in favor of it are elect
ed, without creating that sense of uncer-
tainty and instability that has on other
occasions manifested itself. This can be
achieved by providing that such rea-
sonable period shall intervene. between
the date of the enactment of the statute
making a revision and the date of its
enforcement as shall be deemed suffi-
cient for the industry 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 a reform of the
tariff is just that 1 indulge in the hope
that should a democratic house of rep
resentatives and a democratic executive
be chosen by the people. even a repub-
Hcan senate 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 necessaries of life as
well as in those things that are en-
ployed upon the farm in the factory and
in many other fields of industry, have
been encourage and stimulated by ex-
cessive tariff duties. These operate. to
furnish a substantial market in the ne
cessities of S0,0OO,OO0 of people by practi-
cally excluding competition. With so
large a market and highly remuneratfve
prices continuing long after the line Of
possible competition would naturally be
reached by the temptation of all en-
gagged in the same business to combine
so to prevent competition at home and
a resulting reduction of prices, has proved
irresistible in number of cases All