The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1904-09-29

meTce.
The persistent refusal Of the repub-
Hcan majority In the federal senate to
ratify the reciprocity treaties negotiated
In pursuance Of the policy advocated
alike by Mr.. Blaine and Mr.. Mckinley
and expressly sanctioned in the Dingley
act itself, is q ciscouraging exhibition Of
bad faith As already mentioned by
me. the exorbitant duty imposed on
many an imported article by the Dingiey
tariff was avowedly intended by its
author not 10 be permanent. but to serve
Temporarily as a maximum, from which
the federal government was empowered
TO offer a reduction. In return for an
equivalent concession on the part OF
foreign country. President Mckinley
undertook honestly to carry out the pur-
pose of the act A number Of reciproci-
~ agreements were negotiated. which,
II ratified. would have had the twofold
result OF cheapening many imported
products for American consumers, and
Of opening and charging foreign mar
kets to American producers. Not one
Of those agreements has met with the
approval Of the republican masters OF
the senate. Indeed they did not even
permit their consideration. In view Of
the attitude Of the present executive.
no new agreement need be expected
from him. Nor does the republican
| platform contain favorable reference
to one Of the suspended treaties. The
reciprocity clauses OF the Dingley act
seem destined to remain a monument
of legislative cozenage and political bad
faith, unless the people take the matter
in their own hands at the ballot box
and command reduction OF duties In
return for reciprocal concessions.
Independence for the Filipinos.
In some quarters It has been assumed
that in the discussion Of the Philippine
question In my response, the phrase
"self-government," was intended &c
mean something less than independence
II was not intended that II should b.
understood to mean. nor DO think as
used II does mean less than independ-
ence. However, to eliminate all posi-
bility for conjecture now state that
am In hearty accord with that plank
in our platform that favors- doing 70,
the Filipinos what we have already done
for the Cubans; and favor making the
promise to them now that we shall take
such action as soon as they are rea
sonably prepared for II. II indie
pendence. such as the Cubans enjoy
cannot be prudently granted to the Fill
pinos at this time. the promise that Il
shall come the moment they are capabl,
Of receiving II will tend TO stimulate
rather than hinder their development
And this should be done not only II
Justice to the Filipinos, but to preserv,
our own rights; for free people can
not withhold freedom from another peo
pie and themselves remain Free Tn,
liberation OF tyranny over others will
soon breed contempt for freedom ant
self-government. and weaken our powe,
Of resistance to insidious usurpation o
our constitutional rights.
The pledge Of the platform to secur,
to our citizens. without distinction o
race or creed. whether native born O
naturalized. at home and abroad, tn,
,, equal protection Of the laws and the en-
joyment OF all the rights and privileges
open TO them under the covenants OF GU
! treaties. as their Just due, should b.
made good to them. In the accomplish
ment of that result It Is essential tina
a passport Issued by the government O
the United States to an American citi
zen shall be accepted the world owe
as proof Of citizenship
Civil Service.
The statute relating to civil servic
, is the outcome of the efforts Of thought
;. full. unselfish and public-spirited citi
zens. Operation under 1t has frequentl
. been OF such character as to often
q against the spirit of the statute, but tn
), results achieved, even under a partis
enforcement Of the law, have been sue
!, as to both deserve and command tn
utterance Of the democratic party ths
: 1t stands committed to the principle {
civil service reform and demands II
just and impartial enforcement 81
!, Reclamation Of Arid Lands.
n A vast expanse of country in q
n west. portions Of which are to be foun
!. In each OF the 16 states and territorie
\ mentioned In the law. IL directly a
' fected by the national statute-tf
Il outcome of intelligent and persistel
efforts Of leading citizens, providir
n for the reclamation Of the arid LIANT
, for the benefit Of home-seekera Du
"a Ing the years Of the development
q the measure which finally receive
"a the vote OF every member Of the upp,
!. house Of congress, It encountered o
a position. based to a large extent ups
II the view that the aim Of It's promote
"a was to secure the benefits OF irrigatit
n Ito private owners at government e
"a pense. The aim Of the statute
ia however. TO enable this vast territol
"a to reclaim It's arid lands without ca
Al ing upon the taxpayers Of the count
81 at large TO pay for It. Whether q
nj purposes Of the bill will be fully .
no~, x13ahAH vnu.x HauonS q L.