The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-08-18


to be in favor of reasonable reduction Of
the tariff. that We believe that it is de-
manded by the best interests of both man
ufacturer and consumer, and 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 that
sense of uncertainty and instability that
has other occasions manifested itself.
This can be achieved by providing that
such a reasonable period shall intervene
between the date of the enactment of the
statute making a revision and the date OF
its enforcement as shall be deemed suff1-
cient for the industry or business affect
ed by such revision to adjust itself to the
changes and new conditions imposed So
confident am / in the belief that the de-
mand of the people for reform of the
tariff is just that indulge the hope that
should a Democratic house of representa-
tives and Democratic executive be cho-
sen by the people even n Republican SEN
ate may heed the warning and consent to
give at least some measure of relief to the
people.
The combinati tions, popularity called
trusts which aim to secure a monopoly
of trade in the necessaries of life Well
as in those things that are employed upon
the farm, in the factory and in many 9TH
er fields Of industry have been encour-
aged and stimulated by excessive tariff
duties. These operate to furnish a sub
stantial market in the necessities Of
eighty millions of people by practically
excluding competition. With Sc large a
market and highly -emunerative prices
continuing long after the line Of possible
competition would naturally be reached,
the temptation of all engaged in the same
business to combine so as to prevent COM
petition at home and resulting reduc-
ton of prices has proved irresistible in a
number of cases. All men must agree
<I1f <ho y,oS Of natty 10 hat
foster such inequitable conditions is most
unfortunate for the people as a whole
and it would seem as if all ought to agree
that the effective remedy would be to ap-
propriately modify the offending law. The
growth of monopoly. of which complaint
is justly made, cannot be laid at the
doors of the courts of this country. The
decisions of the supreme court of the
United States, the court of appeals of
this state and the courts of last resort
in many other states warrant the asser-
ton that the common law developed
affords a complete legal remedy against
monopolies. The fact that they have null
tiplied in number and increased in power
has been due not to the failure of the
courts to apply the law when properly
moved by administrative officials or pri-
vate individuals, but to the failure of Off
cials charged with the duty of enforcing
the law to take the necessary procedure
to procure the judgments of the courts in
the appropriate jurisdiction, coupled with
the fact that the legislative departments
of some of our state governments as we'll
as congress in the manner already re-
ferred to have by legislation encouraged
their propagation. What is needed, in
addition to the passage of q statute revis-
ing the tariff duties to reasonable basis,
is not so much other and different laws
as officials having both the disposition
and the courage to enforce existing law.
While this is my view of the scope of the
common law. if it should be made to ap-
pear that it is a mistaken one then 1 ia
vor such further legislation within con-
stitutional limitations will give the
people a just and full measure Of protec-
ton.
1t is difficult to understand how any
citizen of the United States much less
a descendant of Revolutionary stock can
tolerate the thought Of permanently deny
ing the right of self government to the
F1lipinOS. Can We hope to inStill into the
minds of our descendants reverence and
devotion for a government by the people
while denying ultimately that right to the
inhabitants of distant countries whose
territory we have acquired either by pur-
chase by force? Can we say to the
Filipinos, Your lives, your liberty and
your property may be taken from you
without due process Of law for all time"
and expect we will long glory in that fea-
turc of Magma Charta which has become
the constitution of every state as well as
into the fourteenth amendment to the
constitution of the United States? Can
we hope for the respect of the civilized
world while proudly guaranteeing to ev-
cry citizen of the United States that no
law shall be made or enforced which shall
abridge the privileges mmunites OF
citizens of the United States or deny to
any person the equal protection of the
Il
similar rights to the Inhabitants of the
Philippines. but take away from them
the right of trial by jury and place their
lives and the disposition of their property
in the keeping Of those whom We send to
them to be their governors? We shall
certainly rue it as a nation If We make
any such attempt. Viewing the question
even from the standpoint of national
selfishness, there is no prospect that the
twenty millions of dollars expended in
the purchase of the islands and the six
hundred and fifty millions said to have
been since disbursed will ever come back
to US. The accident of war brought the
Philippines into possession, and We
are not at liberty to disregard the respon-
sibility which thus came to US. but that
responsibility will be best subserved by
preparing the islanders as rapidly pos
sible for self government and giving to
them the assurances that 1t will come
soon as they are reasonably prepared for
it. There need be no fear that the as
sertion so often made of late that we have
now become a world power will then be
without support. Ours is a world power.
and as such it must be maintained. but
deny that 1t is at all recently that the
United States has attained that eminence.
Our country became a world power over
| century ago, when. having thrown off for
eign domination, the people established
free government the source of whose au-
continuously
proceed from the will of the people them
| selves. 1t grew as world power as its
| sturdy citizens, to whose natural increase
were added immigrants from the old
| world seeking to obtain here the liberty
| and prosperity denied them In their own
| countries spread over the face OF the
| land, reduced the prairies and forests to
| cultivation, built cities, constructed high
| ways and railroads. till a nation
| which at the formation Of the government
| numbered only three millions in popuia-
| ton has become eighty millions and from
| ocean TO ocean and the lakes to the gulf
| the country Is the abode Of a free and
| prosperous people, advanced In the high
| est degree in the learning and arts OF
| civilization. 1t is the liberty, the advance
| ment and the prosperity OF its citizens,
| not any career of conquest, that make the
country a world power. This condition
we owe to the bounty Of Providence, un-
folded in the great natural resources Of
| the country, to the wisdom Of our Ia
| theirs, manifested in the form of govern
ment established by them: to the energy,
industry, moral character and law abiding
spirit of the people themselves
We are not military people. bent on
conquest or engaged in extending our
domains in foreign lands or desirous oi
securing natural advantages, however
great, by force. but people loving peace
not only for ourselves. but for all the na-
tons of the earth
The display of great military ar.na-
ments may please the eye and for the mo-
ment excite the pride of the citizen. but
1t cannot bring to the country the brains
Drawn and muscle Of single immigran
or induce the investment here of dollar
Of capital. OF course such armament a.
| may be necessary for the security of th'
country and the protection of the right.