Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-11-01
A LAST WORD BEFORE THE
ELECTION.

The close of q great Presidential cam.
paien imposes a very solemn duty upon
the voters of the country Men placed in
the lead by the respective parties have
exhausted their resources in the effort to
convince public opinion that their conten-
lions are sound; and it is now the citizens
place to weigh the arguments and deter
mine the course which responsible sense
OF duty prompts him to believe is best for
the country. Great as the obligations of
candidates are they are not greater than
the obligations of the individual citizen,
and if the latter is alert and attentive to
the duty which the law enjoins upon him,
there will be less of evasion upon the part
OF candidates and more of performance
upon the part of officials
There has been no period in American
history that called for greater deliberation
than that through which we are now pass
ing, because the outcome of the pending
election involves possible notifications of
our institutions as we'll as the economic
policies that are to prevail for a time and
the administrative efficiency which during
the next four years will be largely re-
sponsible for the welfare of the people.
Three great issues are presented, any
one of which should awaken the interest
of the voter. The tariff is given the first
place in current discussion because, in a
sense, it is matter that affects every one
in respect to business conditions and the
comforts and necessaries of life. 1t is I'M
necessary to 60 into further debate about
it here. President Taft represents the
extreme protectionist view, which gives
an enormous unearned profit to favored
interests at the expense of the masses of
the people and the vague hint of revision
which Col. Roosevelt suggests now and then
offers little or nothing in the way of relief
The Wilson program of tariff for revenue
is the only one that can be defended upon
the ground of justice and right. 1t is in
conceivable that the people of the country,
when they come to realize the burden that |
protective duties lay upon them, can ap-
prove tax which has any other object |
than the support Of the government. No |
one would attempt to justify our County
Commissioners. for example, if they should |
levy definite sum of money to be paid |
as bounty to a few manufacturers who |
might be located in our midst; but such |
levy would be as correct in morals and law |
as the indirect assistance to the protected
industries which is afforded in our tariff
laws, The unearned profit which thus
accrues to the interests amounts to at least
fifty dollars year for the average family,
and it falls heaviest upon the poor because
the protective duties attach to the neces-
saries of life which every one is compelled
to buy. The tariff is. therefore, a very
practical question, and the Democratic
contention in regard to it is so just and
reasonable that popular support of it should
be a matter Of course.
The subject of Federal usurpation of
power, while less apparent than the tariff,
is just as important and if pressed much
further will result in practical obliteration
of the States and the overthrow of the
safeguards of the Constitution. Both Taft
and Roosevelt are advocates of this en-
largement of the Federal power, the former
because it is tenet of his party steadily
pursued since the Civil War; the latter be-
cause he is Republican with the belief
that he is wiser than other men and inca
pable of mistake or wrong. Conceding for
the sake Of the argument that both of them
are actuated by patriotic motives, it must
be remembered that they may be succeeded
by bad and ambitious men who would dis
regard all restraints and use all the powers
of government to promote personal and
party ends. A great and prosperous people
should never acquiesce in usurpation in
any form. and it has gone far enough in our
country to excite the alarm of all public
spirited citizens. Here, again, the Demo-
cratic party stands upon Improbable
ground and appeals for the preservation of
our American institutions as the best and
only defense against the forces which would
destroy the principle Of home rule.
One of the candidates, unable to control
his party, is seeking to set aside the prece-
dent which limits an incumbent of the
Presidency to two terms. Apart from the
precedent Mr.. Roosevelt in seeking a third
term. has broken his word to the people
whom he wishes to rule. II he made men,
tai reservations, he was insincere, for he
knew precisely what the people would un.
derstand by his declaration that he would
not again be candidate, and he was bound
by what he knew their understanding L
be. In view Of this and the fact that som,
of the most fragrant acts Of usurpatior
were perpetrated during his administra-
ton, il would be madness to again entrus
him with the great power of the Presidency
Perhaps too little has been made of thi,
issue in the campaign, and the declaration
of the Democratic platform is timely re
minder that herein lies the germ of a grea
danger and that there is one party, at least
which can be relied upon TO govern unde
the Constitution and the Wholesome tradi
tons which cluster around II as heritae,
from the great men who framed il.
A few days hence the citizens Of on
country must decide upon these grea
matters. They are fundamental issue
which overshadow all others. Upon all o
them the Democratic party sides with tn
people and presents candidate who's
character and ability are guarantees tina
the pledges Of his party will be kept to tn
letter. We believe the people will respont
to its appeal and save the day for pros
perity and law.
After long illness, Vice-President JAS
Schoolcraft Sherman died at his home il
the city Of Utica, N. Y, at $50 o'clocl