Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1904-09-28


liable. \ policy of good will and
friendly relations will prevent repris-
ais. Reciprocity treaties are I'm har-
mony with the spirit OF the times;
measures of retaliation are not"
This argument was made in the in
terest OF our manufacturers. whose
products. he urged. have so multi
piled that the problem OF more markets
requires our urgent and immediate at
tention." He had come 70 realize that
the SO called stand pat policy must
give way; that there must be reduc-
ton OF duties TO enable our manufac-
tuners to cultivate foreign markets.
The last words of this president. who
had won the affection of his country
men. ought 10 be studied by every man
who has any doubt Of the necessity OF
a reduction in tariff rates in the inter
est OF the manufacturer. They present
with clearneSS situation and pro
posed remedy that prompted the provi-
sion I'm our platform which declares
that we favor liberal trade arrange
ments with Canada and with peoples
Of other countries where they can be
entered into with benefit to American
agriculture. manufactures. mining or
commerce"
The persistent refusal OF the Repub-
ncan majority In the federal senate to
ratify the reciprocity treaties nego-
tiated in pursuance OF the policy ad-
vOcated alike by Mr.. Blaine and Mr.
Mckinley. and expressly sanctioned In
the Dingley act itself is a discourag-
Ing exhibition Of bad faith As already
mentioned by me. the cxorbitaDt duty
imposed on many an imported article
by the Dingley tariff was avOwedly in
I tended by its author not To be perma-
nent. but TO serve temporarily as a
maximum. from which the federal gov
eminent was empowered TO offer n re-
/ duction in return for an equivalent
concession on the part OF a foreign
\ country. President Mckinley under
took honestly 10 carry out the purpose
\ OF the act 4 number OF reciprocity
agreements were negotiated. which. II
I ratified. would have had the twofold
result Of cheapening many imported
/ products for American consumers and
OF opening and enlarging foreign mar
kets 10 American producers. Not one
OF those agreements has met with the
approval OF the Republican masters OF
the senate. Indeed they did not even
/ permit their consideration. In view
OF the attitude OF the present execu-
! tive. no new agreement need be ex-
| pected from him Nor does the Re
! publican platform contain favorable
reference 20 one OF the suspended
treaties The reciprocity clauses OF
the Dingley act seem destined TO re-
main monument OF legislative cozen-
/ age and political bad faith unless the
/ people take the matter in their own
hands at the ballot box and command
a reduction OF duties in return for
reciprocal concessions.
independence For the Filipinos.
In some quarters il has been assum-
ed that in the discussion of the Philip
pine question in my response the
phrase self government was intend
ed to mean something less than indie
pendence. IL was not intended that il
should be understood 10 mean nor do
/ think as used il does mean less than
independence. However. TO eliminate
all possibility for conjecture / now
state that ! am IN hearty accord with
that plank in our platform that favors
doing for the FilipinOs what we have
already done for the Cubans, and i
favor making the promise 10 them now
that we shall take such action as soon
as they are reasonably prepared for it.
II independence such as the Cubans
enjoy cannot be prudentiy granted to
the FilipinOs at this time the promise
that il shall come the moment they
are capable Of receiving it will tend To
stimulate rather than hinder their de-
yelopment And this should be done
not only in justice TO the Filipinos, but
to preserve our own rights, for n free
people cannot withhold freedom from
another people and themselves remain
free. The liberation Of tyranny over
others viii soon breed contempt for free
dom and self government and weaken
our power Of resistance TO insidious
usurpation OF our constitutional rights
American Citizenship.
The pledge of the platform to secure
to our citizens, without distinction OF
race or creed, whether native born OF
naturalized, at home and abroad, the
equal protection of the laws and the
enjoyment Of all the rights and priv
leges open TO them under the covenants
Of our treaties, as their just due, should
be made good TO them. In the accom-
plishment OF that result 1t is essential
that n passport issued by the govern
ment of the United States to an Amer
lean citizen shall be accepted the world
over as proof of citizenship
Civil Service.
The statute relating to civil service
is the outcome of the efforts OF thought
full, unselfish and public spirited citi
zens. Operation under it has frequent
ly been Of such a character as TO Of
fend against the spirit Of the statute
but the results achieved. even under q
partial enforcement of the law, have
been such as to both deserve and com
mand the utterance Of the Democratic
party that it stands committed to the
principle of civil service reform and
demands its just and impartial en-
forcement.
Reclamation Of Arid Lands.
vast expanse of country in tn,
west, portions of which are to he found
in each Of the sixteen states and terri.
tories, mentioned I'm the law. is direct.
ly affected by the national statute-the
outcome OF intelligent and persistent
efforts of leading citizens, providing
for the reclamation of the arid lands
for the benefit Of home seekers. Dur.