Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-09-29
IN UNTRIED PATHS.
Parker Says the Nation Is Depart
ing from Footsteps Of Fathers.
BLINDED BY The LUST OF POWER.
The Government Has Become Gem
tralixed Far Beyond Point Con-
tempIated by Founders of the
Constitution, He Declares.

| lIobRuOy Ns 49, PCPS+ SV' cNN6S 49, -
Parker to-day gave to the country his
formal letter accepting the democratic
nomination for president. He says:
Grave public questions are pressing for
| decision. The democratic party appeals
to the people with confidence that Its
position on these questions will be ac-
| cepted and Endorsed at the polls. While
the issues involved are numerous, some
stand forth pre-eminent In the public
mind. Among these are tariff reform.
imperialism, economical administration
and honesty in the public service. l
shall briefly consider these and some
others within the necessarily prescribed
limits of this letter.
Imperialism.
While presented my views at the noti-
| fication proceedings concerning this vital
issue, the overshadowing Importance Of
this question impels me to refer to 1t
again The issue Is oftentimes referred
to as constitutionaiism VS.. Imperialism.
II we would retain our liberties and con-
stltutional rights unimpaired, we cannot
permit or tolerate, at any time or for
any purpose, the arrogation Of uncon-
stitutional powers by the executive
branch of our government. We should
he ever mindful of the words of Web
ster, Liberty Is only to be preserved by
maintaining constitutional restraints and
just division Of political powers"
| Already the national government has
become centralized beyond any point con-
templated or imagined by the founders
of the constitution. How tremendously
all this has added to the power of the
president! 1t has developed from year
to year Until 1t almost equals that OF
many monarchs.
The magnitude of the country and its
diversity of interests and population
would enable determined, ambitious and
able executive, unmindful of constitu-
tional limitations and fired with the lust
of power, to go far In the usurpation of
authority and the ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF
personal power before the situation could
be fully appreciated or the people be
aroused.
The isue of imperialism which has
been thrust upon the country involves
decision whether the law Of the land
| or the rule of individual CAPRICE shall
govern. The principle of Imperialism
may give rise to brilliant, startling, DASH
| ing results, but the principle Of democ-
racy holds in check the brilliant execu-
tive and subjects him to the sober. con-
sentative control of the people.
The people of the United States stand
at the parting of the ways. Shall We
| follow the footsteps of our fathers along
the paths Of peace, prosperity and con-
tentment, guided by the everything
spirit of the constitution which they
framed for u.s. or shall we go along other
and untried paths hitherto Stunned by
all, following blindly new ideals, which
though appealing with brilliancy to the
Imagination and ambition, may prove
will O. the wisp, leading us into difficult
ties from which 1t may be impossible to
extricate ourselves without lasting In
Jury to our national character and insti-
tutions?
The Tariff and Trusts.
Tariff reform Is one of the cardinal
principles of the democratic faith, and
| the necessity for 1t was never greater
than at the present time. 1t should be
undertaken at once in the interest of all
our people.
The Dingley tariff is excessive in many
Of its rates. and. as to them at least, I'M
justly and oppressively burdens the peo-
pie. 1t secures to domestic manufacture
ers, singly or in combination. the priv
ilege of exacting excessive prices at home
and prices far above the level of sales
made regularly by them abroad with
profit, thus giving a bounty to foreign
ers at the expense of our own people.
II levies oppressive and unjust taxes
upon many articles forming, in whole or,
part, the so-called raw material of many
of our manufactured products, not only
burdening the consumer, but also closing
to the manufacturer the markets he
needs and seeks abroad. Its unjust tax
alton burdens the people generally, fore
Ing them to, pay excessive prices for
food, fuel, clothing and other necessaries
of life. 1t levies duties on many articles
not normally imported in any consider
able amount. which are made extensively
at home, for which the most extreme pro-
tectionist would hardly Justify protective
taxes, and which In large amounts are
exported. Such duties have been and
will continue to be a direct incentive to
the formation of huge Industrial COM
binations, which, secure from foreign
competition, are enabled to stifie domes-
tic competition and practically to mo-
nopolize the home market. 1t contains
many duties imposed for the express
purpose only, as was openly avowed, Of
furnishing basis for reduction by means
of reciprocal trade treaties, which the
republican administration, implicitly at
least, promised to negotiate. Having,
on this promise secured the increased
duties, the republican party leaders,
spurredy on by protected interests, defeat
ed the treaties negotiated by the execu-
tive, and now these same interests cling
to the benefit of these duties which the
people never intended they should have,
and to which they have no moral right.
Even now the argument most frequently
urged In behalf Of the Dingley tariff,
and against tariff reform generally, Is
the necessity of caring for our infant In
dustries. Many Of these industries. after
100 years of lusty growth, are looming
up as Industrial giants. In their case,
at least, the Dingley tariff invites COM
hlnation and monopoly, and gives justl-
flcation to the expression that the tariff
is the mother of trusts.
The two leading parties have always
differed as to the principle Of customs
taxation. Our party has always advanced
the theory that the object is the rails
ing Of revenue for support Of the gov
eminent whatever other results may in
cldentally flow therefrom. The republic
an party, on the other hand. contends
that customs duties should be levied
primarily for protection, so-called, with
revenue as the subordinate purpose. thus
using the power OF taxation to build up
the business and property Of the few
at the expense OF the many.
This Differences of principle still sub
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