Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1904-09-30
JUDGE PARKERS LETTER OF 40
OEPTANCE


FERDINAND WILLIAMS.
JUDGE PARKERS LETTER OF 40
OEPTANOE
The following criticism Of Mr.. Parker's
letter Of acceptance Of the Democratic nom
nation for the Presidency, given 10 the press
oE Monday last, is taken from the impartial
Baltimore Sun:
Judge Parker's letter Of acceptance is
sober, Straightforward, sensible statement Of
the principles and policies advocated by the
Democratic party. Those who have cynic
ally suggested that the National Democracy
either stands for nothing in particular or
else stands for policies which are not essen
tally different from those OF their political
opponents will find the answer TO their
criticisms in the Judges letter. The Demo.
cratic standard bearer not only replies 10
the taunts OF his Republican opponents, but
he takes the offensive himself and arraigns
the Republican party in decorous language
and in a judicial spirit. Judge Parker lie
more aggressive in this letter than he was
10 his speech Of acceptance. But 1t is the
agRressiveness OF conservatism. There is
no vehement denunciation, no drumming
amuck," no impugning the motives OF those
In authority nor belittling the intelligence oil
millions OF voters who do not share his pc
lltlcal views
The principal issues in this campaign
issues which are 10 be decided by the PEG
ple ON November S-are, In Judge Parker's
view, the following;
Shall economy of administration be de-
handed or shall extravaganza be encour.
agedi
Shall the wrongdoer be brought to bay
by the people, or must justice wait upon
political oligarchyf
Shall our Government stand for equal op
portunily or for special prlvileges
Shall IL remain a government OF law or
become one OF individual capricef
She we cling To the rule Of the people, OF
shall we embrace bene6cent despoIisms
In 1876 the Democratic party OF the State
OF New York, in convention assembled,
recommended to the National Democracy
the nomination OF Samuel ]. TiIden a. Its
candidate for President That convention
declared a "return TO the constitutional prln.
cples, frugal expenses and administrative
purity OF the founders Of the Republic TO be
the first and most imperous duty of the
tlmes--the commanding issue before the
people OF the Union" The annual expen.
dIture al that time was 1914, 900 900. yet 1t
was regarded as excessive, aud reform In
the administration Of public affairs was de-
manded. In % years the annual expendi
torres by the National Government have
grown To $532 100000. being more than
double the expenditures Tor all purposes
during the first year OF MIR. Clevelsnd's first
administration. Although this is time Of
peace, our national expenditures, says Judge
Parker, are on war basis, and have been
ever since the close of the Spanish Amer
lean War Ia the period OF 1897 1901 the
Government expended an average Of $5l1.-
100000 year; during the last three years
the average annual expenses Of the Govern.
ment were &5l9,000,0O0 reform In ex.
penditures must be had" declares Judge
Parker, "in the civil. military and naval es
Establishments In order that the national ex
penditures may be brought To a basis Of
peace and the Government maintained with
out recourse N the taxes Of war" The
% Democratic nominee significantly directs at
tention, in this connection, 10 "the Admins
tralive order iorbidding Government officer
from making public any statement Of esti
mates on which future appropriations ar
N be based"
Judge Parker, in discussing the frauds II
the Postoftice Department, condemns tn
Republican majority in the House OF Rer
resentatives Tor ignoring the popular de
mand for q sweeping investigation by Con
gress The Chief Executive, he says, ha
reported Ia Congress that through fraud
forgeries aud perjuries. and by shameei
bsiberies the laws relating To the public eel
vice In general and 10 the due administra
ton OF the Postofflce Department have bee
violated" The Judge concurs In the VIE
expressed by the Democratic minority
Congress that the interests OF good goverI
menl demanded a Congressional investigt
ton. "'rhe liberality, patriotism and nation
pride OF the people" he adds, SHOULD n,
be made an excuse Tor waste Of the publ
funds. Official exTavagance is officil
crime"
On all the questions which he discuss
Judge Parker's tone Is that OF man wi
speaks from deep conviction. In taking d
the issue OF imperialism be puts Il 10 III
form; "Constitutionalism We. Imperialism
He emphasizes the fact that"if we wou
retain our liberties and constitutional righ
unimpaired we cannot permit or tolerate,
any time or for any purpose, the arrogatiC
of unconstitutional powers by the execuu'
branch Of our government" He conten
that 'tLe national Government has becon
centralized beyond any point contemplat,
or imagined by the trainers Of the Constit
ton" aud show tremendously this has add,
20 the power OF the President" by reaso
OF the magnitude Of the country and its d
versily OF Interest and population. says Il
Judge, "a determined, ambitious aud al
Executive, unmindlul Of constitutional lin
tslIoas aud fred with the lust Of power
would be enabled to Ego far in the usurp
ton Of authority and the Aggrandizemenl
personal power before the situation could
fully appreciated OF the people be aroused
An instance Of recent executive usurp
ton cited by Judge Parker Is the pensiC
order No. 70. for which President Roosevs
70 held responsible Effect was given 10 Il