The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-06-26

Panama and let congress debate
about II afterwards, the man who,
having enough money to send the
fleet on it's famous cruise to the Pa
cfic, sent il without sanction of
congress leaving 1t 10 appropriate the
money for the return when congress
deemed that necessary. This Is the
man who advocated federal ineorpor
alton for the Increase OF power al
Washington and the tightening of
legal burdens on the corporations.
the man who authorized the absorp
tion OF the Tennessee Coal and Iron
company by the steel trust the man
who. ny many such drastic acts and
| by unnumbered words has sought TO
batter down our statutory and CON
stituuonai safeguards.
He who runs may read the dan
ger OF the country ruled by such q
( man
nquesiiouabiy weA have been
wrong In assuming that a tradition
against third term constitutes
/ Sufficient safeguard against. .aa-
scrupuleiis ambition for unlimited
| power.
We need definite constitutional
limitation which shall prevent inn
perialistie souls from forcing person
I al continuation in office for long per
/ iods or for life, and the personal Sc
! lection OF a successor in office. And
the constitutional provision should
/ limit to IA single term.
4 In this great country which
/ boasts OF a wealth OF one hundred
/ and thirty billion as against eighty
! billion for Great Britain and ireland.
sxty-five billion for France. and six
/ ~ billion for Germany. all are con-
; Seials- tnala ESA-a-{.aFt -of--,r+rr
wealth has been secured BY a small
/ percentage of otE population and that
! the cost of living rises faster than
the average income,
I The principal cause of all this is
/ to be found In the tariff statutes and
! in the combination restraining trade
and competition. created for the pur-
pose OF wringing from the public
! every dollar which the tariff statutes
! make possible.
The average OF duties under the
| tariff of 1889 was eight and one half
per cent NsH-t4s+.- apeEeHeLt@-f
/ per cent
Protected interests benefited by
, two increases during the war. the
first TO an average of 81 Ia per cent,
| the second ~ per cent Thar
| high average, then excused onlv by
| the exigencies of the war. Is excepted
/ now. as the average is nearly so per
| cent
| The Republican party has thus
I geared the machinery OF government
| 10 enrich the few at the expense of
J the many
An awakening OF the people led
| the Republican national convention of
| 1908 by It's platform to promise a
revision.
| Tn vain did the people demand
! OF congress the fulfllment Of the Re-
publican pledges. for the masters of
that party--the protected interests
| insisted upon the pound Of flesh NOM
| mated In the bond. And It was
| yielded. Congress passed and the
president signed the Payne Aldrich
! bill
''One outcome OF this breach OF
! faith was Democratic house which
J. has-acted-- so wisely and-sn-coura=-
geously as to arouse the enthusiasm
OF tho people and inspire the Demo-
cratic party with justiflable hope OF
early opportunity to render a pub
| lie service sorely needed.
The presidents use OF the veto
| power has postponed, however. the
hour when the people shall enter
| into the enjoyment OF the relief pro-
posed until after inauguration OF the
next president.
The temporary failure owing TO
| the action of the electorate OF Can
ada OF the effort 10 effectuate the
reciprocity with that country. is re-
was in the interest Of the people of.
both countries.
An honor to the RsmQczetlc house