Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-09-29
AMERICAN THEORIES.

American theories have suited
American conditions in the past" says
Senator Beveridge, 'let us trust
American theories in the future. Let
us Americans go on building our free
institutions on our models and teach
mankind that law regulated liberty Is
not only best for government, but best
for business and best for life"
That is what the Indiana senator
says in the discussion of the European
theories of government ownership Of
railroads. The theories upon which
Americans have thrived are good
enough to continue, but every little
while some one comes along with a
step toward calamity and says that
our policies are all wrong, that we
must be progressive. But change in
policy is sometimes long way from
progress. That word is too often ap.
piled as catch word in advancing
something new.
Let us trust American theories in
the future as the senator advises. We
have before us the examples of real
progress, founded upon known quaint
ties, not on European theory born of
European conditions" 1t is well to
study the operations of other coun-
tries, but let us profit by it, The Ameri-
can Indians roamed the prairies of
Iowa and secured plenty for susten-
ance and his arrows and canoe were
sufficient supplies.But because he was
contented to be alone in his wander
ings will hardly be accepted as rea-
son why we should go back to his way
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call it progress. The Indian had no
trusts and monoplies and no tariffs.
We might rid ourselves of all these by
destroying industries and making of
ourselves wanderers.
Destroying a problem is not solving
it. 1t is often times more easy to de-
stroy than it is to solve, William ].
Bryan takes the position that the pro-
blem Of government Of railways and
corporations should be disposed Of by
destroying it. Theodore Roosevelt
says that the problem of government
Of railways and trusts should be dis
posed of by solving it. That is theadif-
ference between the two men.
However, European theories are not
working themselves into American
politics through the channels Of rail
ways alone. They have been preceded
with reference to the tariff. Long ago
there was a party in this country
known as the foreign party. The in
auence of foreign countri 8 in the poll
tics of the new America was a pro-
blem that was discussed freely by the
founders of the republic They feared
1t and guarded against 1t. Those
Lo
ton framed by them.
They may not have forseen that
there would be foreign party in the
United States of America 100 years
later, and they may have considered
that it would always be here. But 1t
is here. And all the time it is being
cambated the words of the Indiana
senator should be remembered.
American theories have suited Ameri-
can conditions in the past, let us trust
American theories in the FUTURE"
Representatives of foreign compan-
les have been at work seeking to sun
dermine the protective system Of the
United States. The idea of tariff for
revenue only was urged by them until
1t was hopeless and now they have
given themselves over to urging the
next best thing, reciprocity in compel
tive products. They do not try to up
root the whole system at once All
they ask is for a little concession.
This is such reciprocity with Canada.
If this won it is victory for the for
eign" party.
American theories are not only good
enough for the United States, but they
seem to be good enough for Canada
The manufacturers of that state have
been urging that the dominion adopt
the principles (not the schedules) of
the DINGHY tariff, and new tariff law
that will give to Canada the American
theory of protection Is to be framed.
However, they are very careful to pro-
test against any reciprocity that will
compel them to compete with their in
FAINT factories against the stronger ones
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