Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1910-10-29


justing tariff duties to changed con-
ditions. The friends of the policy
ought to be most anxious to do so.
But in doing our work nothing is
more important than to preserve the
principle of protection, to give our
people the advantage of the difference /
between the cost of production here
and elsewhere. If we should, in Grad /
icating its abuses, destroy the whole /
system there would be three million |
workmen in the streets asking for |
work within six months. The mildew |
of stagnation would whiten the indus
trial life of the country and while |
prices would be lower there would |
be no consolation in that fact to
the workmen who would have nothing |
with which to buy. Let it be under |
stood that those of us who favor the |
making of such changes as new con-
ditions demand, still believe in the
great economic system which has
helped to make us a rich and power
full nation, a doctrine now accepted by
every great nation save one and it
gives evidence that it will accept it
before another decade.
/ agree entirely with those who
think the last tariff bill was not al
together what 1t should have been and
that many duties were left too high.
l have no doubt it was the best pos
sible bill to be had at that session
and that it was much better than the
tariff bill which it supplanted. Many
who voted for the bill did so because
it was a step ia the right direction
and all that could be had. But little
can be gained now by reverting to
that matter. 1t is rather our duty to
get the facts which we did not at that
time have and could not get and to,
as scientifically as we can, adjust the
schedules in accordance with the facts
and in accordance with the rules an
nounced in our platform.
Government and Corporations.
The most important question of this
hour, the one upon which turns very
largely the future of the republic, is
the relation Of our government to
combined and centralized wealth
those powerful and indispensable
agencies of industry created by the
State-the corporations. 1t is well to
understand in the beginning that this
problem can not be solved by denun-
citation. There is no possible room
here for the demagogue. The whole
business world is involved, the wages
of millions of workmen, the savings
of tens of thousands of people of or
binary means are involved. The far
reaching results for good to be at
tanned through wise action and the
fearful results, the misery to follow
from unwise action ought to sober all
to be tolerant to be above all things
| courageous, courageous not only TO
do the right but courageous 20 pre-
vent the wrong.
There seems to be a class of honest,
well meaning men who start all dis
cussion upon this subject by denounc-
ing property and assailing property
rghts-by seeking to array what they
choose to call the rights of men
against the rights of property. There
! is no such issue in this controversy.
There have been no rights of men
worthy of the name. no rights other
than tormenting delusions where
property has been unprotected and
property rights worthless The gull
lotine follows in quick succession the
destruction of all title deeds gov
eminent which does not furnish pro-
lection for the honest gatherings Of
frugality and industry, which does not
safeguard the accumulations of honest
toll would be a miserable delusion.
There can be no rights under such a
government save the rights which rest
in superior physical strength the
rights of a savage. The weak would
be the miserable playthings OF the
strong. There is no man in this land
so humble but is interested in the
stability of our property rights just
the same as the man who directs the
operations of a great railway system.
Remedy Is at Hand,
Equally misled are those who
think that it is first of all necessary
to change or ignore the fundamental
principles of our government and of
our institutions. We do not need a
change nearly so much as we need
the faithful and intelligent use of the
mowers we have. The old charter OF
government is to me sacred instru-
ment would only touch it for a
lutely command and when changed
would do it in the manner pointed
out by the instrument itself. l would
neither invoke unnatural construction
nor ignore it's plain terms. The I'M
mortal Washington said:
'If in the opinion of the people, the
distribution or modification of the
constitutional powers be in any par
ticular wrong let it be corrected 10y
an amendment in the way in which
the constitution designates. But lei
there be no change by usurpaton; fol
though this in one instance may be
the instrument of good, it is the GUS
) tomary weapon by which free govern
ments are destroyed. The precedent
must always greatly overbalance in
permanent evil any partial or tran
sient benefit which the use at any
, time can yield"
That is as sound a piece of politica
p philosophy as ever came from human
/ lips concerning free institutions. i
is the gospel of orderly liberty, anc
Willingly or unwittingly he is the peo'
{ pies foe who does not walk in it
e light.
} / believe if we could administer thii
( government in full faith, exercising
the powers which are ours, dong al
I things with a reverent respect for thu
r greatest governmental instrument eve
D conceived by the wit of man, WI
S would be the happiest, the most pros
0 porous. the best governed people OF
= the face of the earth, and we woul'
e have the most stable and be the mos
= powerful government known to man
e All discussions of these questions
t therefore, should have a beginning II
t a profound respect for those rights o
n property upon which rests this CIVIL
a cation of ours; profound reverence
= for the great charter under which W
v have grown to greatness; a profoun
h reverence for those institutions ere
n ated by the genius of the fathers an
N a nrofound conviction that Onl