The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-03
VENERABLE CANDIDATE
 ACCEPTS HIS NOMINATION

II well address he warned his countrymen especially against foreign entangling alliances. Imperialism Is hurtful and | abhorrent in free government and | subverse of free institutions. The | policy of imperialism--if it can be said to have a policy--is always dangerous to liberty. Its powers are. first exer- cised in far of territory and on con. | quered people. but once adopted for ac- auired and distant possessions. it be- | comes. sooner or later. the rule of the | government have always been secured 1 at the cost of great sacrifices. but his- tory teaches us that both can be easily lost without the knowledge of the peo- pie.
 Tariff.
 Our Federal Constitution has appro- | priated to the exclusive use of the general government the power of iudi- l rect taxation, covered by the popular designation of "tariff duties." In ex- l cluding the States from this domain of taxation. there is an implied and wise partition of the taxing power between the States and the Federal govern ment. 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 :on- | ducive to the interests of the States. whose resort to other sources of reve- ne is left untrammeled. Indirect tax ation. however convenient. needs. by reason of its indirectness. to be watch | fully guarded, lest abuses should att | tach themselves unknown by the peo- | pie.
 That many of the existing tariff rates | are excessive and enable powerful com- | binations to extort unjust and oppres- sive tribute from the people cannot be controverted. The tariff Is undoubted- Lly too high upon such articles as en- | ables the manufacturer to sell his pro- | ducts abroad cheaper than at home. Steel rails are a conspicuous example | in this respect. It Is admitted that | they are being made for $16 a ton. A | few years ago they were freely sold In | this country at $17 a ton. They are now selling at the mills here for home consumption at BPS ton, and for the | foreign market at from SIS to $22 9 | ton. This unjust discrimination | against our people is made possible op- | ly by a tariff that on this article ia | entirely too high.
 The average selling price of a hun dred articles. taken principally from the iron and steel list. Is found to be about 20 per cent higher in this coun- l try than abroad. Relief from these conditions will only come through the success of the Democratic party, which stands for wise, conservative and | gradual change in the tarin laws. | which will equalize the burdens of tax alton and make honest competition possible. But in making such changes its purpose will be to legislate with Q due regardsfor the labor and capital tla- volyed in industrial enterprises. It should not be forgotten that In the | long regime of the Democratic party. ! from the days of Jefferson in 1900. to the days of Lincoln in 1860, durins | which 1t administered the government to the peace and prosperity of the country, the expense of it's mainte- nance was paid almost entirely from revenue produced by wise custom laws. while now nearly half of 1t comes from internal taxes. Under those Demo- cratic tariff enactments the people wer~ prosperous and contented, no unlawful trade combinations existed. and compe- tltion was free and unfettered.
 Trusts.
 It is estimated that there are in the United States between two and threo hundred combinations of capital and
 
 which have grown up in the last few years under Republican rule. They are not all antagonistic to the public well fare. but some of them are so conduct ed as to be pernicious and harmful to the general interest. With the power they are able to exert, they can lessen competition. control prices and regulate to their own advantage the law of sup ply and demand, Individual effort is l hal rse. lr 4 the natural right of all persons to bar ter and trade is unnaturally restricted The effort of these trusts Is to control or monopolize. and these monopoIies when unrestrained, seem to produce conditions which bring about strikes and disorders and disturb the business affairs of the country.
 Local SeIf-GOvernment.
 Local self government, that came to us not as the gift of the national gov ernment, but as the legitimate outcCuns of the reserve powers of the States and of the people. is the very corner stone of our political structure. and the best assurance of liberty regulated by law It can only be maintained by strict ob servance of the limitations of the Fed eraI Constitution. The Democratic party has always resisted. and will con- tinue to resist, the ehcroachment by its enemies upon the Fundamental right of the people of the several States. All power comes from the people, and should be surrendered only in the in- terests ot the people. and whenever this power is used for selfish interests it is not only an abuse. but usurpation
 Arbitration.
 The declaration in the St. Louis plat. form in favor of arbitration is one that appeals to my sense of fairness Ma tions and States have employed to ad. vantage this method of settling dis puted questions States have invoked its aid with good results. and individ uals frequently have resorted to 1t in adjusting questions of difference The Hague Tribunal representing the sentI. ment of conciliation, is the highest practical expression of intelliRen, thought on this subject. The principles of arbitration are the same, whether governing in the great Court of Nations or applied in the affairs of industrial life. Its permanent establishment as a part of the industrial system of the country, upon a basis of mutual con. sent of all parties to a controversy would insure more friendly relations between employer and employed. for thc interest of the workingman and thr employer is identical. It affords A saTs and equitable method of determInine ! differences that may arise. and has bean called "a reasonable and natural mode of settling such disputes. The spIrt, of arbitration Is kindred to the love oI 1 law and order, It is the arbiter ,I peace instead of war, and makes for | happiness instead of sorrow.