The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1904-10-05
HIS FORMAL LETTER TO THE
DEMOCRATIC NOTIFICA-
( TON COMMITTEE.
VIEWS ON PUBLIC POLICIES
NAMES FOUR ISSUES as OF PAR
AMOUNT INTEREST TO THE
ENTIRE COUNTRY.
Tariff Reform, Imperialism, Econom-
ical Administration and Honesty
in Public Service Criticises
Republican Administration.

To the Honorable Champ Clark ant
Others, Committee, Etc.-Gentlemen
In my response to your committee, a
the formal notification proceedings,
referred to some matters not mentioned
in this letter. | desire that these b.
considered as incorporated herein, anC
regret that lack Of space prevents spe
citc reference to them all. | wish here
however, again to refer to my views
there expressed as to the gold standard
to declare again my unqualified belief
in said standard, and to express my ap-
probation Of the action of the conven-
ton in reply to my communication upon
that subject.
Grave public questions are pressing
for decision. The democratic party APP
peals to the people with confidence that
its position on these questions will be
accepted and Endorsed at the polls.
While the issues involved are numer-
Gus, some stand forth prominent in
the public mind. Among these are:
Tariff reform, imperialism, economical
administration and honesty in the pub
lie service. shall briefly consider these
and some others within the necessarily
prescribed limits of this letter.
Imperialism.
While l presented my views at the
notification proceedings concerning this
vital issue, the overshadowing impor-
lance of this question impels me to re-
fer to IL again. The issue is oftentimes
referred to as constitutionalism VS.. inn
perialism.
II we would retain our liberties and
constitutional rights unimpaired, we
cannot permit or tolerate, at any time
or for any purpose, the arrogation OF
unconstitutional powers by the execu-
tive branch of our government. We
should be ever mindful of the words OF
WEBSTER: Liberty is only to be pre-
served by maintaining constitutional
restraints and just division of political
powers"
Already the national government has
become centralized beyond any point
contemplated or imagined by the
founders OF the constitution How tre-
mendously all this has added to the
power of the president! 1t has deve-
oped from year to year until it almost
equals that of many monarchs. While
the growth Of our country and the mag
nitude Of interstate interests may seem
to furnish a plausible reason for this
GENERALIZATION Of power yet these same
facts afford the most potent reason why
the executive should not be permitted
to encroach upon the other departments
Of the government, and assume legisla-
tive, or other powers. not expressly con-
ferred by the constitution
The issue of Imperialism which has
been thrust upon the country involves
a decision whether the law of the land
or the rule Of individual caprice shall
govern. The principle of imperialism
may give rise to brilliant, startling,
dashing results, but the principle OF de-
mocracy holds in check the brilliant
executive and subjects him to the sober,
conservative control Of the people.
The people Of the United States stand
at the parting of the ways Shall we
follow the footsteps Of our fathers along
the paths Of peace, prosperity and con-
tentment. guided by the everything
spirit of the constitution which they
framed for us, or shall we go along other
and untried paths, hitherto Stunned by
all, following blindly new ideals, which,
though appealing with brilliancy to the
imagination and ambition. may prove a
will O the wisp, leading us into diff
fculties from which it may be impos-
sible to extr.cate ourselves without last
Ing injury to our national character and
Institutions?
The Tariff and Trusts.
Tariff reform is one Of the cardinal
principles Of the democratic faith, and
the necessity for it was never greater
than at the present time. 1t should be
undertaken at once in the interest OF
all orr people
Tie Dingley tariff is excessive in
many Of its rates. and, as to them at
least, unjustly and oppressively bur-
dens the people. 1t secures to domestic
manufacturers, singly or in combina-
ton, the privilege Of exacting excessive
prices at home and prices far above the
level Of sales made regularly by them
abroad with profit, thus giving bounty
TO foreigners at the expense of our own
people. II levies oppressive and unjust
taxes upon many articles forming, in
whole or part, the so-called raw ma
terial OK many of our manufactured
products, not only burdening the con-
sumer, but also closing to the manufac-
turer the markets he needs and seeks
abroad. Its unjust taxation burdens the
people generally forcing them to pay
excessive prices for food, fuel, clothing
and other necessaries of life. 1t levies
duties on many articles not normally
imported in any considerable amount.
which are made extensively at home,
for which the most extreme protec-
ZIONIST would hardly justify protective
taxes, and which in large amounts are
exported. Such duties have been and
will continue to be a direct incentive
to the formation Of huge industrial COM