The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1904-11-05

search the pockets of our people. Again
use my words Of twenty years ago:
s'The right Of the Government to exact
tribute from the citizen is limited by its
exact necessities, and every cent taken
from the people beyond that required for
their protection by the Government is no
better than robbery
As repeat those words, the question
is in my mind whether the startling
changes we contemplate will add force!
and emphasis to this sentiment, which
in 1884 was endorsed by our country men,
or whether with these changes another of
deeper and sadder significance has taken
place in our peoples modes of thought
and their conceptions of American stur-
diness Of citizenship. Has the steady
growth os public exssuvagance been so
artfully concealed by gloriication of their
cclntry's progress that they no longer
consider public frugality as fundamen-
tai element in governmental duty, which
they cannot remit either with safety to
our institutions or justice to their own
interests?
Have our people been SO misled by the
glamor of unsound prosperity and SO de-
ceived by the pretence that an exorbitant
protective tariff in some mysterious way
assures their happiness and easy exist
ence, that they are willing to accept a
blind faith in a prosperity which the
masses of our countrymen neither see nor
feel, as against the tangible evidence sup
piled by increased cost of every necessary
of life, enforced self-denial in every home
and everywhere curtailed opportunity for
remuneratiye employment?
Has the pressure oftrusts and nionopo-
lies become so familiar and have their
pretence of benevolent purposes so delud-
ed our people that they are willing abb
jectly to surrender their claim to equality
before the law and to support policy
which to their undoing makes these ag-
gregations of riches and power more rich
and more powerful! Have the plain peo-
pie of our independent, proud
Americans so degenerated that they do
not resent the huniiiiating suggestion thar
those made rich through unjust favorit-
ism viii care for chem; and are they con-
tent to rely ON the tender mercies
of such intermediates as these, instead
of the direcs Consideration due them frasn
their Government?
Have our people reached such a state
of listless indifference that they see
nothing wrong in scheme of tariff pro-
lection which supplies to foreign coa-
sumers articles Of necessary use which
are the work of American hands aid
American ingenuity, at a cheaper rate
than they can be nurchased by American
citizens? Are they willing for the sake
Of continuing this discrimination against
themselves. to perpetuate the policy
which burdens them with protective tariff
taxation?
I VIII not believe that my countrymen
are either wilfully reckless of their ma
tion's safety or heedlesslof their dutv Of
c;t;xensb;,, or ;nsans;haa To their rights
and interests. but u.het,her thev will hear
or avhether they win forbear. I cannot re-
frain from, urging npon Them the especial
necessitr at This time of sober. conscien-
tious reelection. and exhorting them TO d
dutiful review Of the intent Of our ma
tion,s establishment stlbe e4bars,.ter Of ;ts
mission and its nreseut Might RI tb;s Is
honestly undertake and If tha exipencies
of the bour are clearlp soon and natr;ot.
ically met. / shall not fear for the re-
su,ts
+ will moi eoncl,,t3a tvitho,,t sneakinp of
tq,a contam nt;bla CHARGE made nv dasn;ca-
Mo n.rt;so ,,s,,,;n that tba nanocrat,c