The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-26
Judge Parker S Letter.

Judge Parker IS almost as unlnter- |
esting as a writer as he is as a speaker.
His letter of acceptance, while it |
covers the ground and talks about |
things which are assumed to be issues,
is almost totally void of any telling
and effective utterance. The trouble
with Judge Parker's political declara-
tions seems to be that he has not been
thinking deeply along political lines.
He knows about. New York olitics,
and he has written some notable iu
dicial decisions, among others, the one
denying to woman the right to protect
herself from the use of her photograph
for advertising purposes. -,..
He reiterates at the start his famous
telegram, declaring that the gold stand
ard is firmly established, and then takes
up imperialism. The efforts Of the
democracy to make an issue on impe
rialism, in view Of the utter inditfer-
ence of the general public to the dan
gers which it declares to be imminent,
must be discouraging. The democracy,
publican policies and republican per-
formances, but not in 1000 were they
able to create any alarm or provoke
any response, nor are they meeting
with any better success today. All the
talk about imperialism interests no one
except democratic campaigners who are
at loss to find issues upon which to
| appeal to an unresponsive public.
With regard to the tariff and trusts,
Mr.. Parker's letter says nothing new,
and does not say it very well. Perhaps
the most interesting feature Of this part
of the letter is its Inconsistency with
his speech Of acceptance. It will be re-
menlbered that in that peeeha MIR.
Parker referred distinctly to the fact
ly to remain republican for the next
four years, and that, therefore, it would
be impossible for the democrats to effect
any change in the tariff if they should
have the majority in the house. That
statement is true, but it was an exceed
ingly unfortunate one for Mr.. Parker
to make from the standpoint Of the
should accomplish nothing in the way of
tariff reform except to agitate
the subject and to disturb bust
ness, there e is no. VI reason in
sight why power should BE e Conferred
upon them for that purpose. Now Mr.,
Parker says that while the republicans
will probably retain "a majority in the
federal senate thru the next presidential
term and could, therefore, if they
choose, block every attempt at legisla
tive relief, it will be remembered that
the republican party includes many re
visionists, and I believe it will shrink
! from defeating the popular will ,ex
pressed Enthusiastically and peremptorily
at the ballot box.'' Mr.. Parker wa!
nearer right in the first instance and h,
would BETTER haye stuck to it, Demo
cratic success ina this Fcampaign woult
block tariff revision for another fou
years at least, for the reason that n,
tariff revision measure constructed b,
a democratic house would stand an,
show of success in the republican sen
= ate.
- One of the most effective paragraph
= in the letter is that treating reciprocity
\, wherein Judge Parker very pointedl
l. contrasts republican promises and pc,
- formances in this particular. After a.
6 the republican. talk about reciprocity
= the republicans are justly liable to til
~ charge in this letter that not one e
;s these agreements or reciprocity treatie
- negotiated under republican administr;
y lions have met with the approval c
":the republican masters of the senate
~ indeed, they have not even permitte
y their consideration. -, The indictme1
= is one that cannot be evaded. But s
= long as the Minnesota republicansco]
~ tinue to nominate high tariff men, who's
~ only theory of tariff revision, is revisio
10 q upwards, the "masters of the senate
~ are not likely to be forced out of the
la o. attitude Of obstruction.
- On the point of Independence for tt
~ Filipinos, Mr.: Parker. thinks we ougl
- to promise independence now, in tt
hope that it would stimulate the FIJI
y pinos to the attainment of those COZ
~ ditions under which independence migl
~ properly be assumed. Nobody hi
10 spoken so strongly, 50 earnestly, or wit
- greater evidence of sincerity on tn
"a point than Judge Taft. No one is j
"a position to know 50 we'll what is GOO
g. for the FILIPINO, and he has pleade
in earnestly against the giving of sue
n a promise at this time on the groun
"a that it would tend to raise false hope
j. create expectations of tc7independen'
e. sooner than they could be safely rea
a. lied, inevitably producing distru
Il among the Filipinos and stirring up di
Of order in the islands. Judge Taft IS ST
e. certify in this matter will be accepte
IN quite as fully as that Of Judge Parke
i'll while his knowledge of the facts mu
ed be recognized as infinitely better.
r. Judge Parker is patriotic in his de
or laration that American citizens shou
X be protected at home and abroad. TIL
he has reference to white citizens alo1
is evident from his language, becau
ee he has no word to say about the la
of protection at home in the solid del
ocratic south for the citizen of color.
He thinks the Panama canal go
r.. thing, but is terribly afraid that t.
no administration did something in CO
il nection with the requirement Of t
Ie Panama franchise which it ought