The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-10-19
PARKER'S LETTER
OF ACCEPTANCE

ker's letter OF acceptance Of the Demo
cratic nomination for the Presidency
was given out here. The letter is ad-
dressed "to the Hon. Champ Clark and
others. committee, etc. and is in part
as follows:
"Gentlemen-In my response to your
committee, at the formal notification
proceedings. I referred to some matters
not mentioned in this letter. l desire
that these be considered as incorpor-
ated herein, and regret that lack of
space prevents specific reference to
them all. I wish here, however, again
to refer to my views there expressed
as to the gold standard. to declare
again nv unqualified belief in said
standard, and to express my apprecia-
ton of the action Of the convention in
reply to my communication upon that
subject"
In discussing the much talked of is
sue Of imperialism Judge Parker says:
"While 1 presented my views at the
notification proceedings concerning this
vital issue. the overShadOwing impor-
lance of this question impels me to re-
fer to it again. The issue is oftentimes
referred to as Constitutionalism VS..
Imperialism.
IF We would retain u liberties and
constitutional rights unimpaired, we
cannot permit or tolerate. at any time
or for any purpose. the arrogatlon OF
unconstitutional powers by the 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 divisions of political
powers"
Taking up the tariff question the
Judge enters into the subject at some
length. He says at one place:
Tariff reform is one of the cardinal
principles of the Democratic faith, and
the necessity for it was never greater
than at the present time. 1t should be
undertaken at once in the interest OF
all u people.
"The two leading parties have al
ways differed as to the principle OF GUS
toms taxation. Our party has always
advanced the theory that the object is
the raising of revenue for support or
the Government whatever other results
may incidentally flow therefrom. The
Republican party. on the other hand,
contends that customs duties should be
levied primarily for protection, so
called, with revenue as the subordinate
purpose. thus using the power OF taxa
ton to build up the business n prop
erty Of the few at the expense Of the
many.
I'm the words of our platform we de-
mand a revision and a gradual reduc-
ton of the tariff by the friends of the
masses, and for the common veal. ana
not by the friends of its abuses, its eX-
tortions and determinations
Il pointed out in my earlier response
the remedy, which, in my Judgment,
can effectually be applied against mo-
nopolies." he states, land the aSSur-
ance was then given that If existing
laws, including both statute and COM
mon law, proved inadequate, contrary
to my expectations. 1 favor such fur
Their legislation, within constitutional
limitations, as will best promote and
safeguard the interests of all the peo-
pie.
Whether there is any common law
which can be applied and enforced by
the Federal courts cannot be deter
mined by the President or by a candl-
date for the Presidency.
THE determination of this question
was left by the people in framing the
Constitution to the Judiciary and not to
the Executive
The candidate repeats the demand of
Ii. -o,+r- Co., ,,on;D,onitr troofioc with
foreign nations. declaring That the
benefits of reciprocal trade treaties
would inyre to both. That the consum-
err would be helped is unquestionable.
That the manufacturer would receive
great benefit by extending his markets
abroad hardly needs demonstration.
His productive capacity has outgrown
the home market
The Philippine question is gone into
at some length. and the Judge reiter-
ates his approval of that plank in his
party's platform which favors giving
the islanders their liberty when they
are ready for it.
The Judge discussed the Panama Ca
nal treaty fully, approving Of the pro-
ject itself, but Directing ~strenuously to
the present Administrations method of
acquiring the rights to the territory.
He says in part:
"An isthmian canal has long been the
hope Of our statesmen, and the avowed
aim of the two great parties, as their
platforms in the past show. The Pan
anna route having been selected. the
building of the canal should be pressed
to completion with all reasonable eX-
petition.
"Our commerce in American bottoms
amounts to but eight per cent. of our
total exports and imports" he states.
"For seventy years prior to 1860, when
the Republican party came into power,
our merchant marine carried an aver
age of, seventy-five per cent. Of our
foreign commerce. BY 1877 it had
dwindled to twenty-Seven per cent.
Now we carry but a contemptibly
small fraction of our exports and i'm.
ports.
American shipping in the foreign
trade was greater by over 100000 tons
in ~1S10-nearly 100 years ago-than it
was last year. In the face Of the con-
tinuous decline in the record Of Ameri-
can shipping during the last fo%rty-three
years the promise of the Republican
party to restore it is without encour-
agement. The record Of the Democrat
tic party gives assurance that the task
can be more wisely instructed to it" he
declares in q summary Of this question
of u shipping interests.