Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1904-08-13

The speech of acceptance of Judge
Alton B. Parker, democratic candidate
for the Presidency, was delivered ON
Wednesday and will not be a disap-
pointment to the people of the coun-
try. In the language of the News
Leader: at is sound, safe and cOnserva-
tive. Every part of it is established
on the foundation principles of govern
ment and democracy. 1t is the utter
ance of clear-thinking, level-headed
man with shrewd ideas of practical
politics and a distinct understanding
of the facts of this campaign and the
means by which the democrats may
win" No one can read the speech with
out being convinced that it is safer to
trust the affairs of our government in
his hands rather than that of his OPP
ponent. but his views in regard to the
tariff imperialism and militarism, must
especially commend him to all who
love their country more than they do
their party. With the Republicans re-
stored to power there is no hope of any
reform of the tariff. With him as
President change for the better may
be expected as shown by the following
extract from his speech:
"The present tariff law is unjust IN
its operation, excessive in many OF It's
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 prom
inent members of the Republican par
ty, and at least two of its State con-
ventions, have dared to voice the gen.
eral sentiment on that subject. That
party seems, however, TO be collect
lively able to harmonic only upon a
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 ofperformance,
rather than that of promise, on the
part 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 4, 1897, there has been neither
reduction nor an attempt at reduction
in tariff duties. 1t is not unreasona-
BILE to assume, in the light Of that rec
ord that future congress Of that party
will not undertake a revision of the
tariff downward in the event that 1t
shall receive an endorsement of It's past
course on that subject by the people. ~
His advocacy of ultimate self-gov-
eminent for the Filipino and his Wig
orous protest against policy of great
military ornaments, indicated by ex-
tracts from his speech below, cannot
fail To impress us as just and right
rather than the opposite views OF the
republican party, if we still believe Id
the principles of the government
founded bv our fathers. He said in
part:
ut is difficult to understand how
any citizen of the United States,
much less a descendant of Revolu-
tionary stock, can tolerate the
thought of permanently denying the
right of self government to the Fill
pinos. Can we hope to iDstill into
Iii. .hhee minds of our descendants rever'
ence and devotion for government
ty the people, while denying uti
mately that right to the inhabitants
of distant countries, whose territory
we have acquired either by purchase
or by force?"
II refer the your men TO day
10 the history Of the Civil war. For
fifty years, with the exception of the
war with Mexico, this country had
been at peace, with standing army
most OF the time of less than ten
thousand men. He who thinks that
the nation had grown effeminste
during that period should read the
casualty rolls of the armies on either
side at Shiloh, Antietam, Fredericks-
burg and Gettsburg, at Stone River
and Chickamauga, l would be the
last man to pluck a single laurel from
the crown of any one of the military
heroes TO whom this country owes so
much, but l insist that their most
heroic deeds proceeded Infinitely
more from devotion to the country
than from martial spirit"
L II ~. 4 A