Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-10-14
Il Il e q u q q u
. = Champ
: : Letter \
Especial Washington letter.

NUDGE PARKER's letter Of &C
ceptance will increase his stand
Al ing with the great body Of the
people. It Is clear, strong, lu-
minous document and furnishes add
tional evidence Of the fact already pat
snt to everybody that he IL cour-
ageous, honest, capable man, well
worthy Of the high position to which
he aspires. There Is NO beating about
the bush, no paltering in double
sense, but in plain. straightforward
manner he speaks what Is in his mind
and takes all his fellow citizens into
his confidence. Certainly the objections
to Imperialism have never been more
truly or more succinctly stated than in
this paragraph from his letter:
While presented my views at the noti-
issue. the overshadow1ng importance Of
this question impels me to refer to It
again. The issue Is oftentimes referred to
as constitutionalism versus imperialism.
II we would retain our liberties and con-
stitutional rights unimpaired we cannot
permit or tolerate at any time or for any
purpose the arrogation of unconstitutional
government. We should be ever mindful
OF the words Of Webster. Liberty Is only
to be preserved by maintaining constitu-
tional restraints and Just divisions Of po-
htical powers"
Already the national government has
become centralized beyond any point con-
tsmplated or imagined by the trainers Of
the constitution. How tremendously all
this has added to the power Of the pres
ident! 1t has developed from year to year
until 1t almost equals that Of many mon
archs. While the growth Of our country
and the magnitude of interstate interests
may seem to furnish a plausible reason
for this Capitalization OF power, yet these
same facts afford the most potent reason
why the executive should not be permit
ted to encroach upon the other depart
ments Of the government and assume leg
1slative or other powers not expressly
conferred by the constitution.
The magnitude Of the country and its
diversity Of interests and population
would enable determined, ambitious and
able executive. unmindful of constitutions
power, to go far In the usurpation Of
authority and the ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of per-
| sonal power before the situation could be
| fully appreciated or the people be arous.
ed
The issue Of imperialism which hos been
thrust upon the country involves de-
olSion whether the law OF the land or the
rule Of individual caprice shall govern.
The principle Of Imperialism may give
rise to brilliant startling. dazzling results,
but the principle Of Democracy holds IN
check the brilliant executive and sub
3ects him to the sober, conservative con-
troll Of the people.
at the parting Of the ways. Shall we fol-
low the footsteps Of our fathers along the
paths OF peace. prosperity and content
tnsnt, guided by the ever living spirit OF
the constitution which they framed for
US. or shall We 60 along other and untried
paths. hitherto Stunned by all, following
blindly new ideals. which. though appeal
ing with brillianoy to the Imagination and
ambition. may prove will-o -the-wisp.
leading US into difficulties from which Il
may be impossible to extricate ourselves
without lasting injury to our national
character and institutional
On the subject of the falling of in
our merchant marine he makes this
statement:
Our commerce in American bottoms
amounts to but per cent of our total
exports and imports. For forty years
prior to 1851, when the Republican party
came into power. our merchant marine
carried an average Of 30 per cent Of our
fOAc16A COAA1uoECS. ny 4otf IL naQ own.
died to 81 per cent. Now we carry but
contemptibly small fraction Of our ex-
ports and imports.
American shipping in the foreign trade
was greater by almost 100000 tons in 1910
nearly 100 years ago-than 1t was last
year. In the face Of the continuous de-
cline in the record Of American shipping
during the last forty-three years the
promise OF the Republican party to re-
store 1t is without encouragement The
record Of the Democratic party gives as
surance that the task can be more wisely
Entrusted to 1t.
1t is an arduous task to undo the ef-
aect OF forty years Of decadence and re-
quires the study and investigation of
those best fitted by experience to find the
remedy-which surely does not lie in the
granting Of subsidies wrung from the
pockets Of all the taxpayers.
A Democratic House.
Hon. William Srother Cowherd,
chairman Of the Democratic congress
sional campaign committee, and his
aids are putting forth every possible
effort to elect Democratic house of
representatives, contamination de-
voutly to be wished, The achievement
Is difficult because every northern
state was gerTymandered by Repub-
Hcan legislature SO as to elect the
greatest possible number Of Republic
ans and the smallest possible number
Of Democrats. In Iowa, where the
Democrats have enough votes to elect
at least four representatives on any
fa1r scheme Of districting, every dis
tdct was intended to be Republican.
but they made the margin so narrow
In one district that Judge Wade broke
In anyway. In Minnesota the Demo
Gratis ought to have three or four
Democratic representatives, but the
Republican gerrymander was so skill
ful that they have none. So In Maine,
Connecticut and West Virginia and to
a large extent In other states; but,
nevertheless and Notwithstanding, Mr..