Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1904-08-19

there are but two powers in government
/ one the power of the sword, sustained by
the hand that yields II. and the other the
| power OF the law, sustained by an enlght-
| ened public sentiment The difference in
| these powers is the difference between a
| repuDllc-such as ours, based on law and
written constitution, supported by intelli-
Sehce, virtue and patriotism-and a mon
arehy, sustained by force exerted by an in
uVldual and uncontrolled by laws other
! than those made or sanctioned by him; one
| represents constitutionalism the other i'm
| perlalism.
Tariff Law Called Unjust.
| The present tariff law Is unjust In its
| operation, excessive in many of its rates
ana so framed in particular instances as to
So well understood has this view become
! that many prominent members of the Re-
| publican party, and at least two of it's
| State conventions, have dared to voice the
general sentiment on that subject That
| party seems, however, to be collectively
able to harmonic only upon a plank that
ADMITS that revision may from time to time
| De necessary, but 1T is so phrased that 1t is
| expected to be satisfactory to those in IA
| vor of an increase of duty, to those who
FAVOR reduction thereof and to those op-
posed to any change whatever.
Judged by the record of performance
rather than that of promise, on the part of
| that party in the past 1t would seem as if
I the outcome In the event of Is success
would be to crafty the latter class. With
| absolute control of both the legislative and
| executive departments of the government
| since March 4, 1897, there has been neither
reduction nor an attempt at reduction in
tariff duties. 1t is not unreasonable to as
| sumo, In the light of that record, that a
| future Congress Of that party Will not un-
| dertake revision of the tariff downward
| In the event that it shall receive an in
| dorsement of its past course on that sub
| Ject by the people.
Senate is Republican.
| 1t Is a fact and should be frankly con-
| coded that though our party be successful
| In the coming contest we cannot hope to
| secure majority in the Senate during the
next -FOUR years, and hence we shall be I'M
| save that to which the Republican majority
| In the Senate may consent. While, there
| fore, we are unable to give assurances Of
| relief to the people from such excessive du
| ties as burden them, it is due to them that
we state our position to be in favor Of a
reasonable reduction of the tariff; that we
| believe it Is demanded by the best interests
| of both manufacturer and consumer, and
| that wise and benefcent revision Of the
| tariff can be accomplished as soon as both
| branches Of Congress and an executive in
| favor Of 1t are elected. without creating
| that sense Of uncertainty and instability
| that has on other occasions manifested it
| self. This can be achieved by providing
| that such a reasonable period shall inter-
| vene between the date of the enactment of
| the statute making revision and the date
Of its enforcement as shall be deemed suft1,
CieI1t 1OE the luuuSlEy OF DuSlHeSS dueCteu
| by such revision to adjust itself to the
| changes and new conditions imposed.
| SO confident am l in the belief that the
| demand of the people for reform of the
| tariff Is just that l indulge the hope that
| should a Democratic House of Representa-
| tives and a Democratic executive be chosen
| by the people, even a Republican Senate
| may heed the warning and consent to give
| at least some measure of relief to the peo-
pie.
Tariff Helps Trusts.
| The combinations, popularity called trusts
| which aim to secure monopoly of trade
| those things that employed upon the
| farm, in the factory and in many other
| fields of industry, have been encouraged
| and stimulated by excessive tariff duties
| These operate to furnish a substantial mar
| ket in the necessaries of eighty millions Of
| people by practically excluding competition
| With SO large market and highly remun-
| of possible competition would naturally be
reached, the temptation Of all engaged in
| the same business to combine so as to pre-
vent competition at home and resulting
| reduction of prices has proved Irresistible
| in a number of cases.
| All men must agree that the net result
| of enacting laws that foster such inequita-
| BILE conditions is most unfortunate for the
| people as a whole, and 1t would seem as
| if all ought to agree that the effective
| remedy would be modify the offending law
| appropriately. The growth Of monopoly,
| of which complaint IS justly made, cannot
| be laid at the doors of the courts Of this
| country. The decisions Of the Supreme
| Court Of the United States, the Court Of
| Appeals of this State and the courts Of
| last resort in many other States warrant
| the assertion that the common law as de-
| veloped affords a complete legal remedy
| for monopolies. The fact that they have
| multiplied in number and increased in pow
| err has been due not to the failure of the
| courts to apply the law when properly
| moved by administrative officials or pri-
vate individuals, but to the failure of Off
| Gals charged with the duty of enforcing
! the law to take the necessary procedure
| to procure the judgments of the courts in
| the appropriate jurisdiction, coupled with
| the fact that the legislative departments
| of some Of our State governments, as we'll
| as Congress in the manner already referred
to, have, by legislation, encouraged their
| propagation.
| sage of a statute revising the tariff duties
| to reasonable basis. is not so much other
| and different laws as officials having both
| the disposition and the courage to enforce
existing law. While this Is my view of the
| scope of the common law, If 1t should be
| made to appear that it IS a mistaken one
| then I favor such further legislation with
| in constitutional limitations as will give
| the people just and full measure of pro-
| lection.
| Freedom for Fi1ipinos.
1t is difficult to understand how, any citi-
zen of the United States, much less q
| descendant of revolutionary stock, can toll
crate the thought Of permanently denying
| the right of self-goyernment to the Fill
| pinos. Can we hope to instill into the
| minds Of our descendants reverence and
| devotion for a government by the people
| while denying ultimately that right to the
| inhabitants Of distant countries. whose ter
| ritory we have acquired either by pur
| chase or by force? Can we say to the
Fiiipinos, "Your lives, your liberty and
| your property may be taken from you
without due process Of law for all time"
| and expect we will long glory in that fea-
| ture Of magma charta which has become
| incorporated IN substance and effect into
| the constitution of every State, as well as
| into the fourteenth amendment to the Con
| stitution OF the United States?
| Can we hope for the respect of the civil
| lized world, while proudly guaranteeing to
! every citizen of the United States that no
| law shall be made or enforced which shall
| abridge the privileges or immunities of cft1-
| zens Of the United States or deny to any
| person the equal protection Of the laws,
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