The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-08-19
pARKER'S GREAT SPEECH.
[continued from page IL

when It was difficult to point out the
provisions said to be offended against
IN their enactment; all this has been
uone Win good purpose, no doubt,
put IN disregard, nevertheless, Of the
TACT that ours is Government of
laWs, not OF men, deriving its "just
powers from the consent Of the gov
erned." II we would have Our Gov
ernment continue during the ages to
come, for the benefit Of those who
snail succeed us, we must ever be on
our guard against the danger Of usur-
patton OF that authority which resides
In the whole people, whether the
usurpation be by officials representing
one OF the three great departments of
government, or by body Of men act
ing without commission from the
people.
1MPATlENCE OF THE RESTRAINTS
OF law, as well as of it's delays, is be-
coming more and more manifest from
day to day. Within the past few
years many instances have been
brought to Onr attention where in diff
1erent parts Of our beloved country
supposed criminals have been seized
and punished by mob, notwithstand-
Ing the fact that the Constitution Of
each state guarantees to every person
within Its Jurisdiction chat his life,
his liberty or his property shall not be
taken from him without due process
Of law.
In a struggle between employers and
employees. dynamite is said to have
been used by the latter, resulting in
the loss OF life and the destruction of
property. The perpetrators of this Of
1enSe against the laws of God and man,
ano all others engaged in the conspir-
acy with them, should, after due trial
and conviction, have had meted out to
Gnem the most rigorous punishment
known to the law. This crime, added,
TO Others, led to the formation of a
committee of citizens that. with the
support of the military authority, de-
ports from the State, without trial,
persons suspected Of belonging to the
organization of which the perpetrators
or the dynamite outrages were sup
posed 10 be members. In both cases
Inc reign OF law gave way to the reign
o1 force. These illustrations present
some evidence of the failure of govern
ment to protect the citizen and his
property, which not only justified the
action of your Convention in this re-
gard, but made it it's duty to call at
Cention to the fact that constitutional
guarantees are violated whenever any
citizen Is denied the right to labor, to
acquire and to enjoy property, or to
reside where his interests or inclina-
Atton may determine; and the fulfil
menu OF the assurance to rebuke and
punish all denials of these rights,
whether brought about by individuals
or Government agencies, should be en-
forced by every official and supported
by every citizen The essence of good
government lies in the strict OBJ
servance Of Constitutional limitations.
enforcement of law and order and rug
ged opposition to all encrOachment
upon the sovereignty of The people.
LAW VERSUS IMPERIALISM.
The foregoing suggestions but en-
phasiZe the distinction which exists be-
tween our own and many other forms
of government, 1t has been we'll said
powers in government, one the power
Of the sword, sustained by the hand
that wields it, and the other the
power of the law, sustained by an en-
lightened public sentiment. The diff
ference In these powers is the differ
ence between a arepublic-Such as ours,
based on law and written Constitu-
tion, supported by intelligence, virtue
and patriotsm-and a monarchy-sus-
tanned by force eXerted by an indivi-
dual, uncontrolled by laws other than
represents cOnsLitutionalism the other
imperialism.
THE PRESENT TARIFF LAW
is unjust in it's operation, excessive in
many OF its rates and so framed in
particular instances as to exact inordi-
nate profits from the people. So well
understood has this view become that
many prominent members of the Re-
publican party, and at least two of its
State conventions, have dared to voice
the general sentiment on that subject.
That party seems, however, to be col
lectively able to harmonic only upon
q plank that admits that revision may
from Time TO time be necessary, but it
Is SO phrased that ltis expected to be
satisfactory to these in favor f an in
crease of duty, to those who favor a
reduction thereof, and to those opposed
70 2-H5 Change whatever.
- Judged by the record of perform
ance, rather than that of promise, on
Uhe part OF that party in the past, it.
would seem as if the outcome. in the
event of its success would be to gratify
the latter class. With absolute con
control OF both the legislative and ex-
ecutlVe departments of the Govern
ment since March 18th, 1897, there has
Deen neither reduction Oran attempt
wv 1SAoSSioli III ldlli uuUlcS. u Is lOI
unreasonable to assume, in the light
OF that record, that Il future Congress
OF that party will not undertake a re-
vision OF the tariff downward i'm the
event that it shall receive an endorse
ment OF its past course on that subject
~ the people. 1t is fact and should
be frankly conceded that though our
party be successful in the coming con-
test we cannot hope to secure a ma lori
Iy IN the Senate during the next four
years and hence we shall be unable TO
secure any modification in the tariff
save That to which the Republican
majority in the Senate may consent.
CHANCES OF TARIFF REFORM.
While, therefore, we are unable to
give assurances of relief TO the people
from such excessive duties as burden
them, 1t is due to them that we state
our position to be in favor of a reason
able reduction of the tariff; we believe
That 1T Is demanded by the best inter
ests OF both manufacturer and con
sumer and that wise and beneticcnt
revision OF the tariff can be accom-
Pllshed as soon as both branches of
Congress and an executive in favor of
1T are elected, without creating that
sense or uncertainty and instability
that has on other occasions manifested
Itself. This can he achieved y, pro |
vidlng that such reasonable period
shall intervene between the date of the |
enactment of the Statutn po.Iyio,r - r