The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-11

a body of men acting without a comnls- sion from the people.
 The Laws Delay.
 Impatience of the restraints of law. as well AS of it's delays, Is becoming more and more manifest from day to day. Within the past few years many ln- stances have been brought to our at tention where in different parts of our beloved country supposed criminals have been seized and punished by mob, not withstanding the fact that the constitu- ton of each state guarantees to every person within it's jurisdiction that his life, his liberty or his property shall not be taken from him without due process of law.
 In a struggle between employers and i 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 offence against the laws of God and man, and all others en- gagged in the conspiracy with them, should, after due trial and conviction, have had meted out to them the most rig orous punishment known to the law. This crime, added perhaps to others, led to the formation of a committee of citizens that, with the support of the military authority, deports from the state, with out trial, persons suspected of belonging to the organization of which the perpe- trators of the dynamite outrages were supposed to be members. In both cases the reign of law gave way to the reign of force. These illustrations present some evidence of the failure of government to protect the citizen and his property, which not only justified the action of your convention in this regard, but made 1t its duty to call attention to the fact that constitutional guaransees are violated whenever any citizen is denied the right to labor, to acquire and to enjoy prop erty, or to reside where his interests or inclinations may determine; and the full fillment of the assurance to rebuke and punish all denials of these rights, whether brought about by individuals or govern ment agencies, should be enforced by every official and supported by every cit izen. The essence of good government lies in strict observance of constitutional limitations, enforce of law and order and rugged opposition to all encroach- ment upon the sovereignty of the people.
 Distinct From the Form.
 The foregoing suggestions but empha- size the distinction which exists between our own and many other forms of gov- ernment. It has been well said. in sub stance that there are but TWO powers in government, one the power or the sword. sustained by the hand that yields it, and the other the power of the law, sustained by an enlightened public sentiment The difference in these pow CTS is the difference between a repubic-such as ours, based on law and a written constitution, sup ported by intelligence, virtue and patriot ism-and monarchy-sustained by force l exerted by an individual, uncontrolled by laws other than those made or sanctioned | lNt-b the other imperialism.
 Tariff Law Is Unjust.
 The present tariff law is unjust in it's operation, excessive in many of it's rates and so framed in particular instances as to exact inordinate profits from the people. 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 harmonize only upon plank that admits that revision may from time to time be necessary, but it Is so phrased that 1t Is expected to be sat isfactory to those in favor of an increase of duty, to those who favor reduction thereof, and to those opposed to any change whatever
 Have Done Nothing.
 Judged by the record of performance, rather than that of promise, on the part of that party in the past, 1t would seem as If the outcome, in the event of its suc- cess would be to gratify the latter class. With absolute control of both the legis- lative and executive departments of the government since March {, 1897, there has been neither reduction nor an attempt at tsa orff d1Ifi fc reasonable to assume in the light of that record, that 8 future congress of that party will not undertake a revsiion of the tariff downward in the event that 1t shall receive an endorsement of it's past course on that subject by the people. It is a fact and should be frankly conceded that though our party be successful in the com 1 ing 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 ma | jority in the senate may consent. While, therefore we are unable to give assur- anees of relief to the people from such ex- cessive duties as burden them, it is due 1 to thew that we state our position l to be in favor of d reasonable reduction of the tariff; that we believe it Is de- manded by the best interests of both manufacturer and consumer, ana that wise and beneficent revision of the tariff | can be accomplished as soon as both branches of congress and an executive in favor of it are elected, without creating 1 that sense of uncertainty and instability l that has on other occasions manifested | itself. This can be achieved by providing ! that such reasonable period shall inter- vene, between the date of the enactment 1 of the statute making a revision and the 1 date of it's enforcement, as shall be deemed sufficient for the industry or bus mess affected by such revision to adjust l itself to the changes and new conditions imposed. So confident am I in the belief that the demand of the people for a re- the hope that should democratic house of representatives and a democratic exec utive be chosen by the people, even a republican senate may heed the warning and consent to give at least some meas ure of relief to the people.
 Encouraged By Tariff.
 1 The combinations, popularly called trusts. which aim to secure a monopoly of trade in the necessaries of life as well l as in those things which are employed | upon the farm in the factory and in many other fields of industry, have been encouraged and stimulated by excessive tariff duties. These operate to furnish substantial market in the necessities of l eighty millions of people, by practically excluding competition. With so large a market and highly remunerative prices | continuing long after the line of possible