Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-10-04

nSss&&a
may be taken by the Baltic feet to the
available naval strength
rs IL the Baltic deet accomplishes the
ronstadt indicate the routes by which
this president-who had won the at.
lection Of his countrymen-ought to
be studied by every man who has any
doubt Of the necessity Ct reduction
in tariff rates in the interest of the
manufacturer. They present with
clearness situation and a proposed
remedy that prompted the provision
IN our platform which declares that,
I'VE favor liberal trade arrangements
with Canada and with people of other
countries where they can be entered
into with benefit to American agricul-
merce."
The persistent refusal Of the repub-
lican majority in the federal senate to
ratify the reciprocity treaties negotiated
in pursuance of the policy advocated
alike by Mr.. Blaine and Mr.. Mckinley.
and expressly sanctioned In the Dingley
act itself, is a discouraging exhibition Of
bad faith. AS already mentioned by
me, the exorbitant duty imposed on
many an imported article by the Dingley
tariff was avowedly intended by Its
author not to be permanent, but to serve
temporarily rs maximum, from which
the federal government was empowered
to offer reduction, in return for an
equivalent concession on the partsof q
foreign country. President Mckinley
undertook honestly to carry out the pur-
pose OF the act. A number Of reciproci-
ty agreements were negotiated, which,
II ratified, would have had the twofold
result OF cheapening many imported
products for American consumers, and
of opening and enlarging foreign mar
kets to American producers. Not one
Of those agreements has met with the
approval Of the republican masters Of
the senate. Indeed they did not even
permit their consideration. In view Of
the attitude Of the present executive,
no new agreement need be expected
from him. Nor does the republican
platform contain favorable reference
to one Of the suspended treaties. The
reciprocity clsAses Of the Dingley act
seem destined to remain monument
OF legislative cozenage and political bad
faith, unless the people take the matter
/! In their own hands at the ballot boz
and command reduction of duties In
return for reciprocal concessions.
| Independence for the Eiupinos,
In some quarters 1t has been assumed
that in the discussion Of the Philippine
question in my response, the phrase
"self-government," was intended to
mean something less than independe nce.
It was not intended that 1t should be
understood to mean, nor do think as
used 1t does mean less than independ-
ence. However, to eliminate all posi-
bility for conjecture, now state that
am In hearty accord with that plank
m our platform that favors doing for
the Filipinos what we have already done
Tor the Cubans; and favor making the
promise to them now that we shall take
such action as soon as they are rea-
sonably prepared for It. II inde-
pendence, such as the Cubans enjoy,
cannot be prudently granted to the Fill
pinos at this time, the promise that It
snail come the moment they are capable
OF receiving 1t will tend to stimulate
rather than hinder their development.
And this should be done not only In
justice to the Filipinos, but to preserve
our own rights; for free people can
not withhold freedom from another peo-
pie and themselves remain free. The
liberation Of tyranny over Others will
soon breed contempt for freedom and
seh-government, and weaken our power
OF resistance to insidious usurpation of
our constitutional rights.
The pledge Of the platform to secure
70 our citizens, without distinction Of
race OF creed, whether native born or
naturalized, at home and abroad. the
equal protection Of the laws and the en-.
1oyment OF all the rights and privileges
open to them under the covenants OF our
treaties. az their just due, should be
made good to them. In the accomplish
ment OF that result it Is essential that
q passport issued by the government Of
the United States to an American citi-
zen shall be accepted the world over
a. proof Of citizenship.
Civil Service.
The statute relating to civil service
10 the outcome Of the efforts of thoueht-
ful, unselnsh and public-spirited citi.
zens. Operation under 1t has frequently
been OF such character as to offend
against the spirit OF the statute. but the
results achieved, even under a partial
Enforcement Of the law, have been such
as to both deserve and command tha
utterance Of the democratic party that
II stands committed to the principle of
civil service reform and demands its
just and impartial enforcement
Reclamation Of Arid Lands
A vast expanse of country in the
west, portions Of which are to no found
IN each of the 16 states and territories
mentioned in the law, is directly ~,
fected by the national statuta.tha
outcome OF intelligent and persistent
efforts Of leading citizens, proyiding
TOR the reclamation Of the Arid lands
lAr ~ boHenk ve Aatsh a1SSShs. ~