Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-10-28
THE ISSUE.

the confidence of the American people for
a further lease of power is based upon the
propositions that the present prosperity is
the result Of Republican policies, and that
a continuance of prosperity is dependent
upon the indefinite extension Of that party's
rule. This argument is used by the stand
patter and the insurgent alike-the differ
ence between them being, that the former
thinks the time-worn policies should be
intensified, while the latter thinks they
should be liberalized to degree sufficient
to allay the discomfort which threatens the
party's overthrow.
The Democratic contention is, that the
economic theory of the Republican party
is wrong. and the point is made that If
the protective theory we're sound there
could be no widespread revolt against it at
time when crops are good. and prices Of
faTiH PfUuuctS ruirty so-1tnIerauve, and
business activity above rather than below
the normal.
Such condition cannot be the result Of
other than deep-seated and abiding causes.
1t is of little consequence to the farmer
that all Of his products fetch fair prices and
some Of them fetch unusually high prices.
If the money he earns buys less Of the
things he needs than he obtained when
prices ranged lower.
The fundamental wrong of the protective
system is. that it concentrates the profits
OF the nations trade in the hands of a
comparatively small number of people. and
this result is accomplished through the
operation of the laws which are supposed
to be framed to promote the common good
Of all the people. If this condition were
sporadic, resulting from a partial, but seri-
Gus, failure Of crops, for example, there
might be sharp cutlery and a temporary
disturbance in the public mind, but fol-
lowing year of full crops would restore the
equilibrium and re-establish the general
contentment. 1t is the very fact that, in |
spite Of favorable crop conditions for
number of years in succession, the discon-
tent has increased, that demonstrates the |
injustice Of the laws which deal with taxa |
ton and the business Of the country. 1t |
is difficult to understand how year in and
year out so much Of the profits Of business
flow in one channel and so little OF il in |
another channel, unless the government
favors one class more than it favors an
other
The fact is that there is hardly phase
of the prevailing unrest which is not trace
able, directly or indirectly, to the Federal
tariff legislation. There are, it is true, a
small number of persons who are always
dissatisfied with the conditions under which
they live. The spendthrift, the idler, the
vicious have distorted vision, and to them
the world is all wrong whether the sun
shines and the birds sing, or the snow
laden winds sweep over the land. But a
pervading spirit of protest does not arise
in moment and has its roots deep down
in injustice in one form or another II is
the spirit that incites men to action, and
has won every battle of freedom since the
WOriu DeBan
1t is the spirit against which the Repub-
lican party and its allied interests are ar
rayed to-day. and which they would crush
out if given further lease of power That
is the issue that is up to the American
people. II should have the answer which
the American people have always given
when they stood face to face with oppres-
sion.
Some day the masses must triumph over
the favored interests for good and ALL The
sooner the better. Delays are always costly.
and in nothing could there be greater loss
than in the continuance of a policy which
is unjust in its aims and robs the many to
enrich the few.
The conditions in the Sixth District of
Maryland do not differ from those else
where. Our people pay their full quota of
this unjust tribute, and the call is from
neighbor unto neiehbor to stand and fight
for the right.