The Topeka state journal., 1908-02-11

Quilt up navy, not large enough as
yet. but large enough to be respectable
peace and good international morals
the world over.
In every one of these policies which
have enumerated, in the war for the
Union, the building up and protection
OF the negro race with the war amend
ments, in the maintenance of ths
sacredness of our promises to pay con-
tanned in the greenbacks and in the
national bonds, In our maintenance OF
the national integrity by an adherence
to the gold standard and a refusal to
enter upon the free coinage of silver
In the support of policy of protection
under which our manufactures and
our farm productions have found a
prosperity never before known in the
world, in the policy of expansion. and
the development of the unfortunate
peoples entrusted to our care by Provi-
dence, and in our progress toward
Worldwide influence, we have en-
countered the official and persistent
opposition of the Democratic party. A:
times, we have been beaten. Only
twice. however, in all that remarkable
history Of As years have we lost the
confidence of the people Of the United
states to the point of their turning
over me government to Democratic
executive. venture to say that neith-
er IN this nor any other country can
De disclosed such a remarkable record
OF arduous deeds done as in that his
tory Of a half century of the Repub-
lican party.
BY reason Of circumstances need not
detail the influence of the Republican
party has been little felt south of Ma
son and Dixon's line. It is true that In
MARYLAND, West Virginia, Kentucky
and Missouri, the Republican party
has been often in the majority, but in
seemed hopeless. The time has come
in my judgment when it is the duty
Of our party to make an earnest ef-
fort to win to our support, the many
southerners who think with us on ev-
cry living national issue and have only
been kept from our ranks by the ghost
Of the past
Last Call to Republicans
During the present administration,
the Republican party has been called
again to meet great national need and
to save the country from a growing
danger. In the enormous Industrial
development and the accumulation of
capitalh due to the combination in cor
porate form Of the wealth of the coun-
try. there have arisen abuses which
have threatened to undermine our
sire for gain. stimulated by the pros
pect of enormous profits, produced q
reckless spirit with reference to the
methods OF acquisition. Official in
vestigations have disclosed a lack Of
charged in a f1duciary capacity with
the custody and management Of great
accumulations Of capital. Other off,
cial Investigations showed the eager
ness with which certain industrial COM
binations were willing to use their
patronage to induce or compel railroad
companies to grant to them unjust and
secret determinations and rebates. The
fact that the Interstate commerce law
was violated with perfect impunity be-
Irr,n 70 hA o< 1o,-o ex,I
a conviction seized the people that there
were many engaged in the management
of corporate wealth who regarded the
statutes of their country as dead let
ters, and themselves as a privileged
class. Their corrupting influence in
politics and in respect Of state and ma
tional legislation was naturally becom-
ing greater and greater as their wealth
grew and their associations spread. We
were passing into a regime Of an ire
sponsible plutocracy. During the last
four years. there has been great NOR
al awakening to this danger among the
people and a popular demand that the
law-breakers. no matter how wealthy
or how high or powerful their position,
shall be made to suffer. Under the
leadership of Theodore Roosevelt the
Republican party has not faltered in
it's determination to meet the require
ments Of this situation, and to enact
such legislation as may be necessary
legitimate corporate immunity.
The Rate Bill.
| At the instance of the president
congress was called upon to pass an
| amendment to the interstate COM
merce law, known as the rate bill.
What has been the effect of the rate
bill Every one who knows anything
about the management of railroads
knows that there has been a revolu-
ton In respect to their obedience to
the law. mo longer are special priv
ileges granted to the few-no longer
are secret rebates extended to build
up the monopoly of the trusts. The
railroads are operating within the
law, and the railroad directors ana
officers and stockholders ought to
rise up and call blessed the men who
are responsible for the passage of the
rate bill. It may be that it has not
reduced rates where it was expected.
It may be that 1t has not furnished
local relief, as it was hoped, at va
rious points, but it has put the rail-
road business in the country on an
honest basis has eliminated from the
operation of the railroads privileges
and discrimination and has enabled
railroad men to look their fellows in
the face without consciousness that
they are conducting business in vfo-
lation of law. 1t has put every rail-
road man In the country on his good
behavior, and created complete
change Of attitude on the part Of him
and Of his subordinateS In respect to
the statutes Of his country.
I am not now speaking OF what
may be accomplished, but what has
been accomp1ished-notw what the re-
suit of litigation under a new law has
been or will be, but am speaking Of
the result of the movement which
found expression i, in the passage Of
the rate law.
Another policy proposed as means
OF regulating railway rates is that of
the improvement Of our natural wat
erways. Much money has been spent
on sea harbors and the mouths Of our
rivers at the sea, but comparatively
little upon the internal waterways
which nature has furnished to the
country, and which form highways OF
travel from the one border Of it to the
other. The call from the country for