The leader., 1904-10-08
HENRY c, DAVIS
FORMALLY ACCEPTS
SynOpsisof His Letter to Democratic
Notification Committee.
VIEWS ON PUBLIC QUESTIONS
In Rather Braef Docunent ne sets
Forth his Observations Upon
some % thc Questions now
Before the Country.

=
q synopsis OF the formal letter OF &C.
ceptance Of the democratic vice-presi-
Dental nomination By Hon. Henry @.
Davis to the committee OF notification:
Mr.. Davis Letter.
Hon. John Sharp williams, Chairman,
and Other Members Of the Committee:
Dear sirs; In accordance with custom,
committee at White Sulphur Springs. On
August A, Of my nomination for the Of
ice Of vice-president, submit the fol-
questions now before the country.
Times Propitaons For Change
The times are propitious for the REIN
control Of the government. The public
mind Is being dislllusioned of the preten-
sion OF the republican party,so long and so
arrogantly made, that the material pros
pefffy Of the country depends upon ifs
own ascendancy. Thoughtful and patri-
otto people are becoming more and more
distrustful OF the heady and personal eIe-
ment OF the present administration, and
are more than willing to see IL replaced
by one that better recognizes constitu-
tional 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
that 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
eminent are increasing at an alarming
rate: When the present administration
went into power there was large SUR
plus, but notwithstanding the enormous
taxation, the revenues therefrom are not
by reckless appropriations. The revenues
fell short during the last fiscal year of
over $40, 000, eco. In the first six days of
ths year e. ns a as
Of excess should continue, the deicit for
the present fiscal year would be in the
neighborhood Of $40, 100000. This needless
administration. and can only be met by
imposing additional taxes or selling
bonds, thereby Increasing the interest
course will the republicans adopt? The
cost of government during the fiscal year
was $7.14 per capita, which means that
the average tax paid In some form or
another by every family of five persons
toward the support of the national adj
ministration of public affairs was. over
$25, which, in the case of wage earners,
tire earnings for the year. No more
money should be taken from the people
by taxation, direct or indirect, than Is
economically administered TO show the
rapid growth of the cost Of government,
1t Is only necessary TO give. the total ex-
penditures in the last fiscal year OF the
$6S .000, 900; per capita, Sol Cleveland, 1892,
SS45, 900, 600; per capita, 1873. Roosevelt,
1904, $3.50, 900; per capita. STA.
The Array.
In answer to criticisms upon the size
and expense of maintaining the army, the
president 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
dams and to do other police duty In the
unsettled portion of the country-condi-
lions which do not now exist The army,
however, has greatly increased in cost,
numbers. The expenses were: Under Blu
chanan, in 1860, SIG, 500, 900: under Hayes,
In 1880, $SS00o,0 900; under Roosevelt, In 1904,
$115, 600, 600.
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
wound upon our national honor by its dis
regard of the rights Of weaker nation,
in order to gain a doubtful credit for
prise. Territory Of a neighboring repub-
lie, with which we are at peace. was
seized by a band of revolutionists. pro-
tected by the suns Of the United states
y
which the president promptly recognized
as an independent nation. A gross offense
against a friendly republic which 1t was
helpless to resent.
imperialism.
These and many other unwarranted
things that belong more to an empire than
republic. have occurred under the pres
ent administration and brought deep
6oncern and alarm TO thoughtful and pa
triotic 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 imperialjstic tendency OF the repub-
iican party upon our foreign affairs Is in
opposition to- the teachings of the found
ers of the republic, and so impressed was
ing s aioef from the affairs OF other ma
lions, that in his farewell address he
warned his countrynen especially against
foreign entangiing alliances. imperialism
eminent and subversiye of free institu-
lions. The policy of imperialism If Il
can be said to have g peiicyT-is always
exercised in far of territory and on COM
quered people, but once adopted for &C
guired and distant possessions, II be-
home government. Liberty and free gov
eminent 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
from this domain of taxation there is an
Implied and wise partition of the taxing
power between the states and the federal
government Except In the exigencies oS
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
nlent, 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
untrammeied. Indirect taxation. however
convent, needs, by reason of fits tndi-
rectpess. to be watchfully guarded, lest
LEXINGTON UNDER BLUE Ian
Kentucky Colonies were An roreea