Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-09-29
JUDGE PARKER :
LETTER T ACCEPTANCE
Sept. 26, 1904.
10 the Hon. Champ Clark and Others.

GpnIl9meu-lu lly IeSpUuSS " yOuI
committee at the formal notification
proceedings / referred to some matters
not mentioned in this letter. / desire
that these be considered as incorporat-
ed herein, and regret that lack of space
prevents specific reference to them
all wish here, however, again to refer
to my views there expressed as to the
gold standard, to declare again my un-
qualified belief in said standard and to
express my appreciation of the action
of the convention in reply to my COM
munication upon that subject.
Grave public questions are pressing
for decision. The Democratic party
appeals to the people with confidence
that its position on these questions will
be accepted and indorsed at the polls.
While the issues involved are numer-
Gus, some stand forth pre-eminent in
the public mind. Among these are
tariff reform, imperialism, economical
administration and honesty in the pub
lie service | shall briefly consider
these and some others within the nee
essarily prescribed limits of this letter.
Imperialism.
While / presented my views at the
notification proceedings concerning this
vital issue, the overshadowing impor-
tance of this question impefs me to re
fer to it again The issue is often
times referred to as constitutionalism
versus imperialism.
If we would retain our liberties and
constitutional rights unimpaired we
cannot permit or tolerate at any time
or for any purpose the arrogation 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 q Just 6lirisiola Of pa'lt-
ical powers
Already the national government has
become centralized beyond any point
contemplated or imagined by the
founders of the constitution. How tre-
mendously all this has added to the
power of the president. 1t has devel-
oped from year to year until it almost
equals that of many monarchs. While
the growth of our country and the mag
nitude of interstate interests may seem
to furnish a plausible reason for this
Capitalization of power, yet these same
facts afford the most potent reason
why the executive should not be per-
mitted to encroach upon the other de-
partments of the government and as
sumo legislative or other powers not
expressly conferred by the constitu-
tion.
The magnitude of the country and
its diversity of interests and popula-
ton would enable determined, ambi-
tious and able executive, unmindful of
constitutional limitations and fired
with the lust of power, to go far in
the usurpation of authority and the
ACKNOWLEDGMENT of personal power be-
fore the situation could be fully appre-
ciated or the people be aroused.
The issue of Imperialism which has
been thrust upon the country involves
a decision whether the law of the land
or the rule of individual caprice shall
govern. The principle of Imperialism
may give rise to brilliant, startling,
dashing results, but the principle of
democracy holds in check the brilliant
executive and subjects him to the so
Der. conservative control of the people.
The people of the United States
stand at the parting of the ways
Shall we follow the footsteps of our
fathers along the paths of peace, pros
perity and contentment, guided by the
ever living spirit of the constitution
which they framed for us, or shall we
go along other and untried paths hith-
erto Stunned by all, following blindly
new ideals which, though appealing
with brilliancy to the Imagination and
ambition, may prove a will-o'- -the-wisp,
leading MS into difficulties from which
it may be impossible to extricate our
selves without lasting injury to our
national character and Institutions?
The Tariff and Trusts.
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 our people.
The Dingley tariff is excessive in
many of its rates and, as to them at
least, unjustly and oppressively bur
dens the people. 1t secures to domes-
tic manufacturers, singly or in combi-
nation, the privilege of exacting ex-
cessive prices at home and prices far
above the level of sales made regular
~ by them abroad with profit, thus
giving a bounty to foreigners at the
expense of our own people. 1t levies
oppressive and unjust taxes upon
many articles forming in whole or part
the so called raw material of many
of our manufactured products. not on