Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-09-22
In a Tiaht Box.

That Republican organ grinders and
spellbinders are hard pressed for
something to say rs to why Judge
| Parker should not be elected is dem
onstrated by the fact that they are en-
deavoring to twist into Republican
argument his candid statement in his
/ speech of acceptance to the effect that
the senate will remain Republican for
| four years. They declare that he said
we can do mo harm" for that reason,
though we succeed in electing presi-
dent and house Sticking the words
mo harm into his speech is disrepu
table trick. a species of literary for
gerry which will do Judge Parker no
harm and which will deceive nobody.
It's only result will be to render ride
| ulous and contemplate those who do
| it. The average American can read
and therefore knows that Judge Par
ker used no such words as mo HARM"
! This wicked invention shows to what
sore straits Republicans are reduced.
| The plain. unvarnished truth is that
Judge Parker's speech, from start to
| finish. is a most admirable document,
which largely increased his vote It
ting. That's what hurts our Republic
an brethren; hence their misrepresen
! tations, harmful only to themselves. OF
| all Judge Parker's admirable speech no
passage was better than the very one
about which they are carping. Instead
of saying that we can do 'no harm" he
| expressed the fervent hope that even
Republican senate might be induced
to join Democratic president and
house in remedying at least the most
| aggravated evils of the Dingley bill.
| Everybody knows that the political
/ complexion Of the senate will not be
changed by the result of this election
and of the election of 1906. That we
will gain some senators this year and
some more in 1906 is generally CON
ceded by all intelligent persons who
! speak the truth That we will secure a
majority in 1908 is to be hoped. The
strange part of the story is that prior
/ to the delivery of Judge Parker's
/ speech of acceptance the Republicans
! themselves were exploiting the fact
that, no matter if we did elect a presi-
dent and house. they would still con-
troll the senate. and they We're congrat-
ulating themselves on that crumb of
comfort How, then, comes it be sin
in Judge Parker to state in his own
way and for his own purposes a fact
known by all intelligent citizens? 1t
seems impossible for the judge to
please the Republicans, If he does not
speak on any subject they growl. If he
does speak they grumble. They appear
destined to "gnaw 4 fle' no difference
what lie does or refrains from doing or
says or refrains from saying.
That there may be no sort of ques
ton or doubt as to his precise words
in the above named connection | set
them out here exactly as he uttered
them and all that he uttered on the
subject of the tariff:
The present tariff law is unjust in its
operation, excessive in many of its rates
! and so framed in particular instances as
| to exact inordinate profits from the peo-
pie So well understood has this view
become that many prominent members of
| the Republican party and at least two
of its state conventions have dared to
voice the general sentiment on that sub
ject. That party seems, however, to be
collectively able to harmonic only upon
plank that admits that revision may
from time TO time be necessary. but it is
SO phrased that it is expected to be satis-
factory to those in favor of an increase
of duty to those who favor reduction
thereof and to those opposed to any
change whatever.
Judged by the record of performance
rather than that of promise on the part
of the party in the past it would seem as
if the outcome in the event of its success
would be to crafty the latter class. With
absolute control of both the legislative
and executive departments of the govern
ment since March 4 1897. there has been
neither reduction nor an attempt al re-
duction in tariff Guties
1t is a fact and should be frankly con-
ceded that should our party be success
full in the coming contest we cannot hope
to secure majority 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. While.
therefore we are unable to give aSsur-