The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-09-12
PRESIDENT'SLETTER
Of ACCEPTANCE.
Continued from page Eight.

Continued from page Eight.
new relations caused thereby. These law
are now being administered with entir'
efficiency; and as, In their working, nee(
is shown for amendment or addition q
them-whether better 10 secure the proper
publicity, or better 10 guarantee th'
rights OF shippers, or I'm any other direc
tion--this need will be met. IL is now as
serted that the common law, as de
veloped. Affords complete legal remedy
against monopolies." But there is no
common law OF the United states.
Its rules can be enforced only by the
state courts and officers. No fe%ra
court or officer could take any action
whatever under them. IL was this fact
coupled with the inability OF the states
20 control trusts and monopolies, which
led 10 the passage OF the federal statutes
known as the Sherman antitrust act and
the interstate commerce act: and IL Is
only through the exercise OF the powers
conferred by these acts, and by the
statutes OF the last congress supplement-
ing them, that the national government
acquires any jurisdiction over the subject.
To say that action against trusts and
monopolies should be limited TO the appli-
cation Of the common law IS equivalent 10
saying that the national government
should take no action whatever 10 regu-
late them.
A RooR5AcK CRITICISM.
v.
trusts and their increase in power has
been largely due TO the failure OF off,
cials charged with the duty OF enforcing
the law 10 take the necessary procedure
Such structure upon the failure OF the
officials OF the national government 10 do
their duty In this matter is certainly not
wholly undersigned as far as the admin
istration preceding President McKinley's
Is concerned but IL has no application at
all TO Republican administration. II is
also undoubtedly true that what Is most
needed IL Officials having both the dis
position and the courage to enforce exist
has been met by the consistent and stead
fly continued action Of the department OF
Justice under the present administration.
50 far as the rights Of the individual
wage worker and the individual capitalist
are concerned, both as regards one an
other. as regards the public, and as re-
CARDS organized capital and labor. the
position OF the administration has been
30 clear that there IL no excuse for mis-
representing II, and no ground for oppos-
Ing IL unless misrepresented. Within the
limits defined by the national constitution
the national administration has sought To
secure TO each man the full enjoyment OF
his right TO live his life and dispose OF
his property and his labor az he deems
best, so long as he wrongs no one else.
IL has shown I'm effective fashion that I'm
endeavoring to make good this guarantee.
IL treats all men. rich or poor. whatever
their creed. their color, or their birth
place. as standing alike before the lazy.
Under our form of government the
sphere In which the nation as distin-
guished from the state can act is narrow
ly circumscrbed: but within that sphere
all that could be done has been done. All
men are reof the restrictions
upon the power OF action OF the national
In such matters. Being our
selves mindful OF them we have been
careful on the one hand TO
be moderate in our promises, and on the
other hand TO keep these promises I'm
letter and In spirit. Our opponents have
been hampered by no such considera tons.
They have promised. and many of them
now promise. action which they could by
no possibility take into the exercise OF
power. and which, if at
would bring business to n stand
still; they have used and often now use,
language OF wild invective and appeal 10
all the baser passions which tend TO ex-
lite one set OF Americans against their
fellow Americans; and yet whenever they
have had power they have f1ttingly sup
pleme this extravaganza OF promise
by absolute nullity in performance.
RIGHTS OF CITIZENS.
This government Is based upon the fun
iamental idea that each man. no matter
what his occupation, his race, or his re-
igfous belief. Is entitled to be treated on
his worth as man, and neither favored
Dor Disseminated against because of any
accident In his position. Even here at
home there Is painful difficulty in the
Effort to realize this ideal; and the at
Tempt TO secure from other nations ao-
OF II sometimes encoun-
ters obstacles that are we'll nigh insuper-
able; for there are many nations which
In the slow procession OF the ages have
not yet reached that point where the
principles which Americans regard as
automatic obtain any recognition what
ever. One of the chief difficulties arises
70 connection with certain American citi'
zens OF foreign birth, or OF particular
creed, who desire 10 travel abroad. Rus
STA, for Instance. refuses to admit and
protect Jews Turkey refuses TO admit
and protect certain sects OF Christians.
This government has consistently de-
nanded equal protection abroad for all
American citizens, whether native or
On March n. 1899. Secretary
lay sent a letter of instructions 20 all
the diplomatic consular officers OF the
United States, in which he said: This
apartment does not discriminate between
native born and naturalized citizens In
according them protection while they are
abroad. equality OF treatment being re-
luired by the laws Of the United States"
been repeated again and again. and are
treated as the fundamental rule OF con-
iuct laid down for them, proceeding upon
he theory that all naturalized citizens
)f the United States while I'm foreign
,ountries. are entitled TO and shall receiYe
rom this government the same protection
II persons and property which Is accord
ID TO native born citizens" In issuing
passports the state department never dis
eliminates. or alludes TO any mans reli-
hon; and In granting 70 every American
'ftfzen, native or naturalized. Christian
" Jew, the same passport, 10 far as IL
las power II insists that all foreign gov
shall accept tho passport as
'rima facie proof that the person therein
described Is citizen OF the United States
nd entitled 10 protection as such. IL Is
standing order TO every American dlplo-
nauo and consular officer TO protect
very American citizen. OF whatever
aith. from unjust molestation and our
'ficers abroad have been stringently re-
Iuired 10 comply with this order.
IGNORANCE OR iNslNceRITY.
Under such circumstances. the demand
of our opponents that negotiations be be-
gun 10 secure equal treatment OF all
americans from those government which
90 not now accord A.. shows either ignor-
snce OF the facts or insinceriiy no
change Of policy in the method of manner
ia t.vna a.