Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-10-08
HENRY c. DAVIS
FORMALLY ACCEPTS
Synopsis of His Letter to Democratic
Notification Committee.
VIEWS ON PUBLIC QUESTIONS
In Rather Brief Document lie Sets
Forth His Observations Upon
some OF the Questions Now
Before the Country.

Forth His Observations Upon
some Of the Questions Now
Before the Country.
Elkins, W. Va, Oct. 3.-Following is
4 synopsis Of the formal letter of ac-
ceptance of the democratic vice-presi-
Dental nomination by Hon. Henry G.
Davis to the committee of notification:
Mr.. Davis Letter.
Hon. John Sharp Williams, Chairman,
ana other Members of the Committee
Dear Sirs: In accordance with custom
ana my promise when notified by your
committee at White Sulphur Springs, on
August H. of my nomination for the Of
flee of vice-president, | submit the fol-
lowing observations upon some of the
questions now before the country,
Times Propitious For Change.
The times are propItious for the REIN
statement of the democratic party In
control of the government. The public
mind is being dislllusoned Of the preten-
sion Of the republican party, so long and so
airogantly made, that the material pros
perity of the country depends upon its
own ascendancy. Thoughtful and patri-
otic people are becoming more and more
dlstrustful OF the heady and personal ele-
ment Of the present administration, and
are more than willing to see II replaced
by one that better recognizes constitu-
tiona! and other lawful restraints. They
demand that the present wasteful eX-
travagance In the expenditure Of the
money, drawn by taxation from the in
duStry of the people, shall cease, and
tia economy and honesty in the public
service shall be again regarded as vir-
tues IN the high places Of the govern
ment.
Expenses of Government.
The expenditures per capita of the gov
ernment are increasing at an, alarming
rate. When the present administration
went into power there was a large sur
plus. but Notwithstanding the enormous
taxation, the revenues therefrom are not
now adequate to meet the demands made
by reckless appropriations. The revenues
tell short during the last fiscal year of
over $40000,0tJ In the first six days of
this fiscal year the expenditures exceeded
the receipts by t2i, 000.000 and IL this rate
of excess should continue. tho deficit for
the present fiscal year would be In the
neighborhood of sl40OO9.OO0 This needless
deficit is due TO the extravaganza of the
administration. and can only be met by
imposing additional taxes or selling
bonds, thereby increasing the interest
bearing debt Of the government. Which
course will the republicans adopt? The
cost OF government during the fiscal year
WV 81 " per capita which means that
lne dNtTdRt ldN pdlu III SUUlt luTIH OF
another by every family OF five persons
toward the support of the national ad-
ministration of public affairs was over
$25 which. In he case of wage earners,
is considerable percentage of their en-
tire earnings for the year. No more
money should be taken from the people
by taxation. direct or Indirect than is
necessary for the needs of a government
economically administered. To show the
rapid growth of the cost Of government,
II ie nnly N give the total
pendtures in the last fiscal year of the
following adm Illustrations: Buchanan, 1850,
s6S 600, 900; per sapita, $20l Cleveland, 1892,
sS45, 600 coo; per capita. $50: Roosevelt,
1901, $751; 600; per capita, S.14
the Army.
In answer to criticisms upon the size
and expense of maintaining the army, the
presdei, has said that the number of
soldiers now Is no greater per capita than
in former times. But an army then was
necessary to protect settlers from the IN
dians and TO do other police duty in the
unsettled portion of the country--condi-
tions which do not now exist. The army,
however. has greatly increased In cost.
much faster, relatively, than It has in
numbers. The expenses were: Under Bu-
chanan, In 1850, $l6, ,00O, under Hayes,
in 1850, 3S,OoQ.0 900; under Roosevelt, in 1901,
Sll5. .0oo,O 900.
The Panama Canal.
We all hail as the harbinger of the new
era In the commerce of the world the in
ception of the great work Of building the
canal that is to join the two great oceans
but we .deprecate the action Of the pres
cnt administration. which inflicted a
wound upon our national honor by its dis
regard of the rights of weaker nation,
In order to gain q doubtful credit for
energy In forwarding that great enter
prise. Territory of neighboring repub-
lie, with which we are at peace, was
seized by band of revolutionists, pro-
tected by the guns of the, United states
navy, and erected Into state overnight,
as an independent nation. gross offense
against friendly republic which 1t was
helpless TO resent.
Imperialism.
These and many other unwarranted
things that belong more to an empire than
a republic have occurred under the pres
ent administration and brought deep
triotc minds. They must be regarded as
the first fruits of imperialism and show
how fast we are drifting towards abso-
lutism and centralized power. The effect
of the imper alistic tendency Of the repub-
lican party upon our foreign affairs is IN
opposition to the teachings of the found
ers Of the republic, and so impressed was
Washington with the importance Of Keep
ing aloof from the affairs of other ma
tions. that In his farewell address. he
warned his countrymen especially against
foreign entangling alliances. Imperialism
is hurtfu and abhorrent In free gov
ernment and subverslve Of free institu-
tions. The policy Of imperialism--if 1t
can be said to have a policy-is always
dangerous TO liberty. It's powers are first
exercised In far off territory and on con-
quered people, but once adopted for ac-
quired and distant possessions, 1t be-
comes, sooner OF later, the rule of the
home government Liberty and free gov
ernment have always been secured at the
cost of great sacrifices but history
teaches us that both can be easily lost
without the knowledge Of the people.
The Tariff.
Our federal constitution has appropri-
ated to the exclusive use OF the general
government the power of indirect taxa
ton, covered by the popular designation
of tariff duties" In excluding the states
implied and wise partition of the taxing
power between the states and the federal
government Except In the exigencies of
war, the taxing power has been exercised
by congress largely In the direction of
the imposition of duties upon imports. |
No one expects to change this arrange |
ment. which has proven so convenient to |
the general government and SO conclusive |
to the interests Of the states, whose re- |
sort to other sources of revenue Is left |
untrammeled Indirect taxation, however
convent, needs, by reason of its indi- |
rectness, to be watchfuly guarded, lest !
LEXINGTON UNDER BLUE LAW !
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