Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1908-01-02
Western Democrat, and in a mea

element, we are tired OF keeping one
man 10 the limelight to the exclu-
sion OF all other Democratic leaders.
We do not believe 10 utilizing the
Democratic party as a stepping
stone Ia order 20 assist one man in
keeping himself in the limelight for
self-sggrandiZement. when by so do
ing il means annihiliation to the Dem
ocratic party" All this is but a
sample OF the way the Democratic
wind is blowing. All concede that
Mr.. Bryan has great strength in
the party. but that he can unite the
party every one knows is impossible
He can carry the South. but so can
any other Democrat that has been
mentioned. But VT aver is the
candidate must be able TO carry at
least rs more electoral votes from
the doubtful states to win. There
are not many OF the so called doubt
full states that show Democratic
leanings, and ID is almost impossi
BILE TO figure out a Democratic ma
jority without including New York.
So the question that Democrats
mu- Z settle is who is the strongest
candidate for securing the electoral
vote of New York. Settle that and
you have the key TO the winner.
Everyone knows that there is a
strong element in the Democratic
party OF New York. not confined TO
New York City by any means. that
will oppose Mr.. Bryan at the polls
But Mr.. Bryan indeclaring for the
government ownership OF railroads,
raised still greater obstacle to his
| fitness for the nomination for Presi-
dent. The Democracy would be
placed on the defensive on the issue
OF government ownership even il
the platform were silent on that pro-
position; for, OF course. IL Mr.. Bryan
Is nominated the could not accept
the nomination il the platform de-
clared against government owner
ship. The fact that nearly all Dem
ocrats oppose the ownership OF in
terstste railroads by the Federal
Government on the ground that it
Il -0ril kopI - oantrol;~o Ill 1900.
in the hands OF the Administration
which might happen TO exist at the
time such ownership first occurred,
is sufficient reason why some one
should be selected to lead the party
who is not committed. directly or
indirectly, Immediately or ultima
tely. to that proposition. Demo
Gratis oppose it because they believe
in the strict construction oftne Con-
stitution OF the United States. In
clause II. section, 8, article !, of the
Convention, Congress is empowered
ito exercise exclusive legislation
over. such district xxx" as NAV,
by cession of particular states, and
the acceptance Of Congress, become
the seat OF government of the United
States. And aside from this. il
empowers Congress" to exercise
like authority over all places pur-
chased by the consent OF the legisla-
ture OF the State in which the same
shall be. for the erection "of certain
buildings, TO wit: for the erection
OF forts, magazines, arsenals. dock
yards and other needful buildings. "
Now, among other needful buildings,
that is, buildings needful to govern
ment as such, are custom houses,
postoffices. soldiers homes, light
houses. life saving stations, etc.
For all such buildings are instru-
mentalities OF government But
interstate railroads are not instru.
mentalities OF government any more
than lotteries The Supreme Court
Of the United States has expressly
declared that neither an interstate
railroad nor lottery is such an in
strumentalitv. AS to lotteries, il so
decided in Cohens ". Virginia, 6
Wheaton. 264 AS to railroads, it
so decided in the case of Thomson
v. Pacific Railroad, 8 Wallace, 57S.
In the latter case the question was
whether the property of the rail
way company described in the bill
was subject to the tax which the
state Of Kansas authorized to be
levied on property, not specially
exempted. for State, county, and
municipal purpose
Chief Justice Chase, in delivering
the opinion of the court, said:
That such taxes cannot be impoS-
ed on the operations Of the Govern
ment is proposition which needs
no argument to support it; and he
sam" reasoning will apply TO TIE
instruments of the Government.
I'VE are unable to find in the Con
stitutinn any warrant for the exemp-
ton from taxation claimed by the
compliments
II this means anything it means
that railroads are not per Sc govern
mental instruments.
Under the reasoning in this case,
Mr.. Bryan contention. was in
effect rhuS decided adversely by
the Supreme Court. rs IL would
exempt railroads from taxation by