The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-02-07

rene In the structure which they have
deceived. he said. and IL it ever be-
came a question as to whether We shall
have great prosperity by the grace OF
thieves and vandals or less prosper
ity under honest and impartial law,
the people had already accepted the
latter alternative and the struggle
would be over before Il fairly had be-
gun
He believed the present industrial
condition OF the country to be serious
Declaring fault-flnding to be the
largest part Of the capital OF the dem
ocrats, he declared "the democratic
party has a nose for carrion, Il can
scent corruption at very long range.
but 1t has no refined distinction as to
kind"
Mr.. Townsend denied that the rate
law and the principles it represented
were Of democratic origin or concep-
ton. and he inquired il the president
had departed from the policies when
he advocated it, He then discussed
antitrust legislation and compared the
action under 1t. under the administra-
tons Of Cleveland and Roosevelt. AS
compared with Cleveland's administra-
ton. he said, there had been under
ROosevelt's administration four times
as many bills in equity filed, nine
times as many indictments found, and
seven times as many convictions and
with nine Indictment cases still pend
ing. Antitrust law, he said. was not
OF democratic origin, and its reform
ant was not to democratic credit.
Representative Cochran, democrat de-
MED the accuracy OF Mr.. Townsend's
statement and said that since the be-
ginning Of the republic there had not
been a single policy prominently in
corporated into law that was not Of
democratic origin.
Wild democratic applause greeted
Mr. Cochran when he remarked that
the policy of Jefferson, was to avoid
war with France had been applied by
the republicans 'to the conquest of
the Philippines and the purchase Of
men" He compared the Philippine
acquisition with the Louisiana pur-
chase "one glorious possession OF our
country" and said the republicans
were so sick of the Philippine bargain
they would be willing to blame Pro-
vidence for it.
He asked if the Monroe doctrine
was of republican origin. It was not
and yet he added it frequently had
been invoked by them.
Mr.. Cochran spoke of the civil war
and said that while 1t was true re-
publicans led the union forces, demo-
cratic patriots manned the army.
The message which the president
sent here Friday raises question that
goes to the very existence and growth
OF civil government. After we pass
that portion containing compliments
we come to the part where we all ap-
plauded and that was the paragraph
that related to charges that business
distress was brought on by the gov
eminent and that the knife should be
used freely in cutting away rottenness.
Ii there be any forces outside of our
pen1tentiaries which would prevent the
enforcement of such action there thew
themselves assert that rottenness is
the foundation of our prosperity.
Mr.. Cochran denounced bank presi-
dents. and corporation officials who
mad been guilty of illegal acts. IN
speaking of the recent financial cri-
SIS, he said it had been caused by sue
eessful revelations of depravity in
high places in the financial world.
Regarding recent bank failures in
New York, Mr.. Cochran said that not
one of them failed through error of
Judgment, but through crime. He
charged that the officers who were be-
Ing pursued before grand iuries and
criminal courts actually had set them
serves to work to raise funds to re-
open the concerns and induce depost-
tors to sanction delay in the payment
OF their money.
1t had been asked, continued Mr..
Cochran, why don't the president
prosecute these gentlemen but. he said
he noticed it was always propounded
by those who if they thought there
was any danger Of prosecution would
not engage in public discussion in
the nustings or in the newspapers, but
would be quietly seeking transporta-
t1on, tickets to foreign lands. He did
not believe the president had yet ex-
hausted all his powers but he said. I
do say this message shows he appre-
ciates his duty
The message was. Mr.. Cochran de-
clared. an inspired proclamation to the
American people.
Mr.. Cochran discussed the judiciary
and said he had noticed in his own
state federal and state irdees leaving
the bench to accent professional en-
ployment by corporations. It was no
wonder, he said that the public con-
science should he alarmed He spoke
of the presidents love Of Justice. and
said that it had heen charged that the
president was indiscreet Can it he
taken as reproach against any pub
lie servant. he added +ha+ his 1--we Of
justice is so strong that 1t docs not