Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-09-18

maXims for the guidance of nations.
Speak SOFTLY he said, but carry a
big stick" If any man has fallen
short of living up to this maxim it is
its author. No one has known him to
speak softly. In his present oratorical
assault upon corporations, trusts and
monopolieS he has exhausted the Eng
fish vocabulary of vituperation But
no big stick has demolished the men
whom he attacked. That zone rich
criminal in jail' has not yet been dis
played to US. But the language of
Jefferson Brick and his rowdy journal
has found new place in the speeches
Of Theodore Roosevelt.
Mr.. Perry Belmont's Development.
n long interview with Perry Belmont
in Paris has had some currency in the
United States this week, though main
ly confined to the press of New York
and adjacent states. Some portions of
it we'll demand quotation. To my
midland ! speak with some knowl-
edge OF the facts and with at least sin
cere conviction of the deductions
drawn from them-his discussion of
the concentration of power in the pres
id1nt, his words about the tariff and
his plea for the publicity of all cam
paign contributions are most impor-
tant. These quote:
The Concentration of Power.
Gradual concentration and accumula-
ton of power in the hands of our presi-
dcntG "a haan 1Irripfr bn 10 Ct fy1yar
ty years that our chief executive has
been generally considered in Europe and
often in our own country as a ruler re-
sponsiblc only to public opinion. unre-
strained by congress or by the courts.
In his control are all branches of the
federal government. Upon his election
he becomes the chosen one who can dc
no wrong. Criticism of the exercise OF
the tremendous powers intruSted to him
| is unpopular and is rarely undertaken,
especially at the beginning of an admin.
| istration. while sharp rebuke and con-
dcmnation are frequently visited upon
both houses of congress.
If to absolute and unrestrained eXecu-
tive power is added immunity from un.
prejudiced and honest criticism, it be-
comes essential that the president shall
be possessed of n calm temperament and
q stable character. Fortunately the great
majority of our presidents have met this
requirement
Tariff Father of Trusts.
While loudly proclaiming it's intention
to punish the violation of law and abolish
special privileges, ii cannot be unknown
to the administration Of we are to believe
the presidents previous professions as
tariff reformer) that, whatever objection.
able features there may be in railway
management, railway rates and rebates
| and the so called trust evil, the enforce
Of lett lou h1N-
vented many of these evils. repeatedly
| pointed out by Mr.. Bryan and his Demo
cratic followers, and that the trust prob
| lem itself is a result of the high protec
tive tariff system.
The National Publicity Law.
Vast fortunes have been made by tbs
| tariff beneficiaries, who have stood at tn,
doors of the ways and means committee,
| for forty years and who have for favor
ing legislation contributed largely to thu
campaign funds of the Republican party
Fortunately the national movement 70,
| the publicity of campaign contributions II
| now so advanced that 1t will have
wholesome influence in the approaching
| campaign. But these consolidated inter
| estS still constitute the rock upon which
| the Republican political organization
rests.
In 1896 Mr.. Belmont, though Il Ions
time Democrat and for four years 1
representative in congress-, abandoned
| the Democratic ticket. Since then ht
has returned to the party in the full
| est sense. Whether he would stant
| for the free coinage of silver is doubt
| full, but it is in nowise doubtful tina
no Democrat will be asked to do so IL
the coming campaign. That issu,
| sleeps. The work Mr.. Belmont ha:
done in preaching Democracy. and par
| ticularly in pushing the national pub
licity law, through which only tn,
| control Of political parties by monopo
| listic corporations can be checked
| justly earns for him a favorable audi
ence among Democrats.
| Washington. d. c.
WILLIS ]. ABBOT.