Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 May 1901 — POLITICS OF THE DAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

POLITICS OF THE DAY

European Retaliation. The agricultural and manufacturing Interests of Europe are suffering a re)apse from the good times of a few tears ago, and statesmen and merchants are looking for the cause and a -remedy. They have arrived at one conclusion that American competition must be curbed by Increased tariff protection to their own people, or national bankruptcy will ensue, for It is lmpos lible to continue buying American goods without reciprocal purchases by this country. Wide interest lias been created in Great Britain, says the. -Mail and Empire of Toronto, Canada, by the announcement that Austrian manufactures have taken the Initiative in forming a European Customs union for the purpose of resisting American competition. According to Vienna reports, it Is -proposed that the Continental nations unite in the adoption of counteracting measures, with a view to exact Iweeptng reciprocity concessions from the United States. The approaching expiration of the European commercial treaties in 1903 is fixed on as an opportune time to bring alwut an antiYankee combination. The existence of Great Britain does not figure* in the alliance. It is recognized not only that British fiscal traditions are at variance with such a proposal, but also that her leading business men are oppesed-te it for practical present-day reasons. They hold that Offensive, not protective, measures are Britain’s surest means of heating back foreign trade rivals. The Daily Mail of London, England, [n the course of an extended article on llie Hteel Trust, says it can see no escape for the United States from the oppression of trusts, except in free trade, and declares that Mr. ,T. Pier pout Morfan has appropriated $200,000,000 to rush Independent eoueerus. The operations of fiie trusts, says tlie Dally Mail, may induce general legislation by "Europe, and will certainly consolidate the British iron and steel trades, which will give the trust a hard light here. The Ixtudon Spectator also had lately an article of similar Import. The Bepuhllcan policy of protection te bound to result in retaliation by those* countries who find that the competition of our goods is injuring their »wn manufacturing. In fact, our protectionists see this fact staring them in the face, and are preaching reciprocity to offset the trouble, hut they will find that if a general scheme of reciprocity Is adopted that it must amount to the eame thing as a revision of the tariff.

Declares for Municipal Owenrship. The victories of Tom Johnson in Cleveland, Jones in Toledo and the three-eent fare ticket in Columbus have aroused the Ohio Republicans to the fact fiiat the people favor municipal ownership. Charles \\\ I lick, chairman of the Republican State convent ion of Ohio, who Is the chief henchman of Manna and the President, made a speech at Columbus before the Presidential Postmasters’ Association, In which lie marked out some startling departures from usual Republican campaign Issues and Indicated what to expect in the next Republican State plat form. Dick said he favored government ownership of all means of communication and that he fully indorsed the postal savings system. “Sooner or Inter,” lie said, “the telegraph and telephone lines of the eoun try will be owned and operated by the government, and It Is proper they should be, for if the government can send a message by wire for 5 eeuts It has no right to permit a private corporation to extort 2r> cents for the same service.” Hick betrayed no sign that tills was the first time he ever sis ike on (lie municipal ownership side of the question and the postmasters, recognizing it ns a new slogan, applauded the sentiment vigorously. It is also stated that an important conference of Ohio Republican lenders was held, at which It was decided to get Into the Held lirst with the declaration for municipal ownership. This sudden cbnnge of mind of Republicans on the Issue they have always lieen lighting brings to mlml tlie dechi ration against trusts In the Ohio Republican platform of two years ago and tin* turning down of Attorney General Monett, the only man In their party who had shown any effort lo curb the trusts. That lliuiua. McKinley or Dick really favor municipal ownership Is too absurd to even lie swallowed by an Olilo Granger from the back counties. for they have for three or four years been anient supporters of Public Policy, a Chicago publication that Is published In the Interests of corporations that own municipal franchises. The perfection of the Repuitiicnn machine In Ohio Is brought to the light li.v this meeting of Repuldlcnu postmas-kei-M. who are owmsl and entirely under the control of Ilaunn, McKinley and Dick mid of course aro expected to applaud any program that may nid lu keeping them lu office. They would applaud free trade, anti Imperialism, free Cuba, or free anything. They are patriots who only watt to be told wlmt tlie people want and they es|siuso the cause. The old ling and au appropriation Is their Idea of iwtrlotlsm. . The only Pics Is Onllty. No man undemtamU better than does Mr. Babcock what Is demanded of the Republican party as a condition prece-

ilent to another appeal to the people. He says, and lie is as much a protectionist as any man iu Congress, that the question, “Why do you permit a tariff to remain oil articles which can lie produced here cheaper than elsewhere’/" will he put squarely to his party In the Congressional canvass of next year. There Is uo answer to that question, but a plea of guilty to the Democratic charge of subserviency to tjie trusts. Washington Post. ' -4 Mnunifl.-ent Deadhead Trip. Tiie recreation journey of President McKinley Is tiie most magnificent trip ever undertaken by railroad in the United Stales, If not in tiie world. No emperor or king ever made as splendid a topy through his dominions as that which the President is enjoying among ids American fellow-citizens. He will see more people and more acres of .ter-ritory-than any potentate or conqueror except Alexander tiie Great ever saw before. President McKinley wl.ll lie received everywhere with a gay and festive welcome that will not lie as noisy as a continuous Fourth of July, and will bo far more agreeable on that account He will traverse twenty-five States, and bis route Is 15,000 miles in length. He is accompanied by a working force of -hia cabinet, and lie will lie in constant communication by telegraph with Washington. He will transact all public business on his route. His (rain will -actually be the national capital on wheels running at an average rate of thirty-five miles an hour. The President’s personal party is constituted of himself mid family, several Washington officials, a dozen private guests and twenty attendants, including stenographers, typewriters and telegraphic operators. A grpat number of press reporters and other followers are accommodated on the train., The commissary department Is luxuriously provided and is managed by skillful employes, including u complement of cooks and waiters. The cars arc seven in number and are fitted up in a style superior to anything of the kind ever before seen. “It is understood,” says a trustworthy account of the affair, "that tiie President expressed a desire to pay all the expenses of the trip.” But tlie railroad companies which furnished the palatbd cars would not listen to the suggestion. To a private party the actual expense of the cars and trackage would be $211,880. The commissary stores and service for the trip would bring the cost up to at least $50,000, n year's salary for the President. Probably he did not insist with importunate pertinacity on paying the hill. The President will lie fortunate if out of these circumstances a national sett tidal shall not be evolved.—Chicago Chronicle.

Tlie Isntiea of 1!M)4. Noisidy can yet write down in resolutions wlint tlie paramount issue or issues will lie in *15)04. Democratic principles of strict constitutional construction anil preservation of manhood liberty will be applied. Tlie foremost Issues will be determined by the people of tlie United States at the time. More than that no politician is enough of n prophet to kuow.—St. Louis Republic. Tlie Party la in Distress. With Statesman Grosvenor advocating an income tax and Statesman Babcock pleading for free trade In iron and steel and Statesman Dick preaching up government ownership of telegraphs and railroads, the grand old party Is preparing to hang out a few signals of distress. Columbus, 0., Press-Post. Brief Comment. Speaking of deathbed repentance, we are afraid that that indicated by Congressman Babcock In proposing to free list trust articles will not save the trust party, lffc long life of tariff rapine can’t be atoned for in that way.- Johnstown, Pa., Democrat. The Dinglcy tariff is, ns Manna says, "hulnuml on scientific principles.” Kvery fellow got Ills share of the swag, scientifically distributed, and “It must not be disturbed” for obvious reasons. If one of the brethren is despoiled of his share, he will pull down tlie whole house of cards. Albany Argus. Tariff reform ought not to be attempted lu patches. Duties should lie rev I sis I and cut down all along the line. In all places where tlie tariff enables the manufacturers of trust goods to sell cheaper to (lie foreigner limn to tlie home consumer. It should he abolished, and such articles as trusts produce should be placed on the free list.—Kansas City Times. There are some general principles which are not subject to chunge to which the Democratic party adheres, us the tariff, strict construction of the coiiHiitltutlon, the liberty of tlie cltlxen, tlie foundation of which Is government by consent of the governed. These are always and everywhere sound Democratic principles. They are (icrcnntnl. —Dubuque Herald. With the example of Great Britain's claim of Huxcralnty over the Boer republics before us, Senator Beveridge admits that tills is the relation to Cuba which the administration Is seeking to establish. And It seeks It under profession of carrying out a pledge for Independence. What mockery! What unblushing falsehood! What despicable treachery!—lndianapolis Sentinel.