The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-11-04

But In doing our work nothing |
more important than to preserve tn
principle of protection, to give on
people the advantage Of the differenc
between the cost of production her
and elsewhere. II we should, in Grad
icating its abuses, destroy the who'll
system there would be three million
workmen in the streets asking TO
work within six months. The mildey
of stagnation would whiten the indus
trial life Of the country and Will,
prices would be lower there would
be no consolation in that fact tt
the workmen who would have nothins
with which to buy. Let 1t 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 rich and power
full nation, doctrine now accepted by
every great nation save one and 1t
gives evidence that 1t will accept it
before another decade.
l agree entirely with those who
think the last tariff bill was not al
together what it should have been and
that many duties were left too high.
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
1t was a step in 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
5tate-the corporations. 1t is we'll 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
If millions Of workmen, the savings
Of tens of thousands of people of or
linary means are involved. The far
results for good to be at
aimed through wise action and the
earful results, the misery to follow
rom unwise action ought to sober all
men into a determination to be just,
o be tolerant, to be above all things
courageous not only to
10 the right but courageous 20 pre-
'ent the wrong.
There seems to be a class of honest,
veil meaning men who start all dis
ussion upon this subject by denounc-
ng property and assailing property |
ights-by seeking to array what they |
hose to call the rights Of men |
gainst the rights of property. There |
) no such issue in this controversy. |
here have been no rights of men
yorthy of the name, no rights other
han tormenting decisions where
ropertX has been unprotected and |
roperty rights worthless. The gull
)tine follows in quick succession the
estruction of all title deeds. A gov
rnment which does not furnish pro-
sction for the honest gatherings of
'ugality and industry, which does not
Jacquard the Accommodations of honest
Ill would be a miserable delusion.
here cam be no rights under such a
overnment save the rights which rest
superior physical strength, the
ghts of a savage. The weak would
3 the miserable playthings of the
rong. There is no man in this land
, humble but is interested in the
ability of our property rights just
le same as the man who directs the
oerations Of great railway system
Remedy Is at Hand.
Equally misled are those who
link that 1t Is first of all necessary |
change or ignore the fundamental
'inciples of our government and of I
If institutions. We do not need a
lange nearly so much as we need s
e faithful and intelligent use of the
,wers we have. The old charter Of {
is to me a sacred instru- {
ent. I would only touch it for a $
ange when necessity should abso- t
tely command and when changed I 6
)uld do it in the manner pointed Z
t by the instrument itself. I would a
ither invoke unnatural construction e
r ignore its plain terms. The i'm t
ortal Washington said: a
'If in the opinion of the people, the a
or modification of the a
Institutional powers be in any par n
ular wrong, let it be corrected by a
amendment Ill Tic way III WHICH | %
2 constitution designates. But let q
ere be no change by usurpation; for s.
ough this in one instance may be =
, instrument Of good, it is the GUS 81
nary weapon by which free govern d
,nts are destroyed. The precedent Il
list always greatly overbalance in e,
rmanent evil any partial or tran 1t
mt benefit which the use at any C,
lie can YIELD" II
That Is as sound piece Of political
ilosophy as ever came from human
$ concerning free institutions. 1t =,
the gospel of orderly liberty, and ~
tingly or unwittingly he is the peo- ,e
8 foe who does not walk in its ~
Mt. 81
believe If we could administer this o.
in full faith, exercising &C
powers which are ours, doing all ~.
ngs with reverent respect for the +,
atest governmental instrument ever W
lceived by the wit of man, we N
uld be the happiest, the most pros GO
Gus, the best governed people on th
face of the earth, and we would W.
re the most stable and be the most mr.
verful government known to man. nc
III discussions of these questions, n
refore, should have beginning in nY
respect for those rights of tn
perty upon which rests this civili- tn
on Of ours; a profound reverence of
the great charter under which we ce
e grown to greatness; a profound T