Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1906-09-05

| is in position, as / believe to the edu-
cation of the world, 1t ought to re-
main in the attidudc of a pupil and
be ever ready to profit by the ex-
perience Of others.
The first message that bring from
the old world is message of peace.
The cause of arbitration is making
real progress in spite of the fact that
the nations most prominent IN the
establishment Of The Heague tribu-
nal have themselves been engaged in
wars since that court was organized.
There is a perceptible ~rowth of the
sentiment in favor of the settlement
of international disputes by peaceful
means.
While men NAV differ as 10 the re-
lative Importance of issues, and Will ;
the next Congress will largely shape
the lines upon which the coming pres
idential campaign will be fought, |
think it safe to say that at present
the paramount issue in the minds Of
a large majority of the people is the
trust issue. l congratulate President
Roosevelt upon the steps which he
has taken and my qualification is not
lessened by the fact that lie has fol-
lowed the Democratic rather than the
Republican platform, in every ad-
vance he has made.
The tariff question is very closely
allied to the trust question and the
reduction of the tariff furnishes an
easy means of limiting the extortion
which the trusts can practice.
While free trade would not neces-
sarily make a trust absolutely I'M
possible, still it is probable that few
manufacturing establishments would
dare to enter into trust if the Pres
ident were empowered to nut upon
the free list articles competing with
those controlled by trust. cannot
; permit this opportunity to pass with
out expressing the opinion that the
principles embodied in the protective
tariff have been the fruitful source Of
great deal of nolitical corruption as
we'll as the support Of many of our
most iniquitous trusts.
It is difficult TO condemn the man
ufacturers for uniting to take advant-
age of high tariff schedule when
the schedule is framed on the theory
that the industries need all the pro-
lection given and it is not likely that
the benehciaries of these schedules
will consent to their reduction so
long as the public waits for the tariff
to be reformed by its friends.
Plutocracy is abhorrent as repub-
lie; it is more despotic than an
archy, more selfish than bureaucracy.
1t preys upon the nation in time OF
peace and conspires against it in the
hour of its calamity. Conscienceeless
compassionless and devoid Of wisdom,
it enervates its votaries while it i'm
poverishes its victims. 1t is already
sapping the strength Of the nation,
vulgarizing social life and making a
mockery Of morals. The time is ripe
for its overthrow. Let us attack it
boldly, making our appeal to- the
awakened conscience of the nation in
the name of the counting room
which it has defled, in the name Of
business honor which it has sullied
in the name Of the neonle whom it
has oppressed, in the name of the
homes which it has despoiled, and in
the name of religion upon which it
has placed the stigma of hypocricy.
And, if 1 may be permitted to sug-
gest battle hymn, 1 propose a staza
strongest Of the poems of Scotland s
but slightly changed from one of the
democratic bard:
Columbia! My dear, my native soill
For whom my warmcst wish to
Heaven is sent!
Long may thy hardy sons of rustic
toll,
Be blest with health and neace and
sweet content!
And, 0, may Heaven their simple lives
prevent
From Luxury's contagion, weak and
vile;
Then, tliro' unearned wealth to wick
edness DC lent,
A virtuous ponulace may rise and
stand,
A wall of fire. around their much low
ed land"