Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-09-26
JUDGE PARkER'S
LETTER Of ACCEPTANCE
Sept. 20, 1904.

committee at the formal notification
proceedings / referred to some matters
not mentioned in this letter. desire
that these be considered as incorporat-
ed herein, and regret that lack OF space
prevents specific reference to them
all. wish here, however, again to refer
TO my views there expressed as to the
gold standard, to declare again my I'M
qualified belief in said standard and TO
express my appreciation of the action
of the convention in reply to my COM
munication upon that subject.
Grave public questions are pressing
for decision. The Democratic party
appeals to the people with confidence
that its position on these questions VIII
be accepted and Endorsed at the polls.
While the issues involved are numer-
ous. some stand forth pre-eminent In
the public mind. Among these are
tariff reform, Imperialism, economical
administration and honesty In the pub
lie service. shall briefly consider
these and some others within the nee
essarily prescribed limits OF this letter.
Imperialism.
While | presented my views at the
notification proceedings concerning TINS
vital issue. the overshadowing impor-
lance of this question impels me to re-
| fer TO It again. The issue Is often
times referred to as consututlonaiism
versus Imperialism.
If we would retain our liberties ana
constitutional rights unlmpa!red we
cannot permit or tolerate at any time
or for any purpose the arrogation OF
unconstitutional powers by tie execu-
tive branch Of our government. We
should be ever mindful of the words
of Webster, Liberty is only to be pre-
served by maintaining constitutional
restraints and just division OF polit'
zeal powers"
Already the national government has
become centralized beyond any point
contaminated or imagined by the
founders Of the constitution. How ire
mendously all this has added to the
mower of the president. 1t has devel
oped from year to year until II almost
EQUALS that Of many monarchs. WINE
tbe growth OF our country and the mag
nitude of Interstate interests may seem
10 furnish plausible reason for this
Capitalization of power, yet these same
facts afford the most potent reason
why.the executive should not be per
NN to encrouch upon the other De
rkrtments of the government and as
st&e legislative or other powers mol
expressly conferred by the constitu'
ton.
The magnitude of the country and
it's diversity Of interests and popuia'
ton would enable a determined, amDl'
tious and able executive, unmindful OF
constitutional limitations and fired
with the lust of power, to go far In
the usurpation of authority and the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of personal power be-
fore the situation could be fully appre-
ciated or the people be aroused.
The issue Of Imperialism which has
|
a decision whether the law of the land
or the rule of individual caprice shall
govern. The principle of imperialism
may give rise to brilliant startling
dashing results, but the principle OF
democracy holds In check the brilliant
executive and subjects him to the so
Der, conservative control Of the people
The people of the United States
stand at the parting Of the ways
Shall we follow the footsteps OF our
fathers along the paths of peace, pros
perity and contentment, guided by the
ever living spirit of the constitution
which they framed for us, or shall we
20 along other and untried paths hith-
erto Stunned by all, following blindly
new ideals which, though appealing
with brilliancy to the imagination and
ambition, may -oye q will-o' -the-wisp,
leading us into difficulties from which
1t may be impossible to extricate our
selves without lasting injury to our
national character and institutionsf
The Tariff and Trusts.
Tariff reform is one of the cardinal
principles of the Democratic faith, and
the necessity for 1t was never greater
than at the present time. 1t should be
undertaken at once In the interest OF
all our people.
The Dingley tariff is excessive In
many of its rates and, as to them at
least, unjustly and oppresslvely bur-
dens the people. 1t secures to domes-
tic manufacturers, singly or In combi-
nation, the privilege of exacting ex'
cessive prices at home and prices faI
above the level of sales made regular
" by them abroad with profit, thus
giving q bounty to foreigners at the
expense of our own people. 1t levies
oppressive and unjust taxes upon
many articles forming In whole or part
the so called raw material Of many
of our manufactured products, not on
ly burdening the consumer, but also
closing to the manufactures the mar
kets ne needs and seeks abroad. Its
unjust taxation burdens the people
generally, forcing them to pay excess
i've prices for food, fuel, clothing and
other necessaries of life. 1t levies du
ties on many articles not normally i'm
ported in any considerable amount
which are made extensively at home
for which the most extreme protec
ZIONIST would hardly justify protective
taxes, and which in large amounts are
exported. Such duties have been and
will continue to be a direct incentive
TO the formation of huge industrial