Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 June 1901 — POLITICS OF THE DAY [ARTICLE]

POLITICS OF THE DAY

The Comiwg Tariff War* The Democratic party has been fighting itself instead of its enemies for eight years. The signs are multiplying that the Republican party is about to have a turn at a similar experience. The administration is convinced that It will be suicidal for this country to go on indefinitely cramped in the bonds of a tariff policy that originated when foreign markets seemed of no importance. We are after those markets now—we must have them—and the only way to get them is to offer fair terms for foreign trade. A few years ago, or even one year ago, nothing would have been expected of a meeting of the National Association of Manufacturers except a demand for the highest possible protection. No tariff could have been too high. Absolute prohibition of Imports would have struck the assembled manufacturers as the ideal national policy. Last week at its annual session in Detroit the association passed a resolution declaring that “the object of tariff legislation should be to furnish adequate protection to such products only as require it, without providing for monopoly abuses.” But as far-seeing politicians and producers become more convinced of the need of lowering the tariff fence, the interests that profit, or think they profit, by monopoly become more viciously determined to permit no change. They denounce the reformers within the Republican party as traitors, and threaten to reduce them to the ranks or read them out of the party. There is material here for a beautiful row when Congress meets. The destruction of our export trade to Russia gives a little foretaste of what we \ may expect when the general Continental boycott against our trade begins to work, and with that example before them our exporters will see that the time has come to fight for their lives. They will be backed by the great mass of consumers, who have been taxed to support infant industries and think it time for a rest now that the infants have become giants. The agitation for tariff reform cannot be suppressed. If President McKinley is intimidated and Mr. Babcock driven out of the Republican party the result will merely be to make the reform again a partisan issue. But before things get to that pass there will be a fight Inside the Republican party that will eclipse anything in that line that has been seen in that quarter since the impeachment of Andrew Johnson. —Chicago American. Of Conne, Not. Of course, there will be no extra session. True, the Supreme Court has Just given clear demonstration that when opportunity offers it will make McKinley take bis bands off the Philippines and relinquish to Congress the powers he has usurped. True, the court will force the government to repay any duties illegally collected. But what of it. The duties so repaid will be only an extra lot of plunder to pets of protection. It Is the same old story. The importers pay the tax and charge it to their customers, making profit both on the goods and on the tax. Then the Importer forces the treasury to repay tile excessive tax and the consumer who has paid the tax simply grins, and in many cases keeps right on voting for protection. This part of the problem need not trouble any one. The folly brings its own reward to the fools. But there is another phase of the question. The attitude of the President and his advisers is nothing more nor less than outright anarchism. It is a clear defiance of the edict of the Supreme Court and for a deliberate purpose. Every Judge on the bench sqve one lias Joined in an opinion that would make It clear to any one but William McKinley that the government of the Philippines is a matter for Congress and not at all for the President. But Congress will not be calleu together. Micawber McKinley looks forward to next December and hugs the delusion that many things may happen In that time. Two Judges of the Supreme Court may die and then with Judicious •election of tlieir successors the policy of Micawber McKinley might be sustained. And It is Just as well. There Is apparently need of still more rope for the men behind McKinley. That they will be their own executioners is more than probable. But the people have given evidence of such demoralisation that all who would see our Institutions preserved nnd the nation once more respected throughout the world must possess their souls in patience. In the good time that is coming there will be excuse for repetition of that old line from Virgil. “Forsitan, haec olim memmlnlssee javabit.” Which being translated is, “Even this may pass away." It will take a long time for the odor to be lost. But that is only because the carcass of McKinley Is thoroughly saturated.— Johnstown Democrat. Republic or Monirchj. The mind of the average reader can hardly conceive anything more selfcontradictory than an absolute monarchy within a republic; yet such a state of affWrs is not so anomalous as at first •glance appears, judging from the recent action of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, which has Issued a circular addressed to all employes of the goad, forbidding them to engiqp in oil

or other ventures. This order was called forth by the fact that one of the experts employed by the company was recently sent to Texqs to look after some matters in connection with the oil-fields. Being a level-headed chap, he not only performed his duty toward the company, but also made a little Investment for himself, and acquired oillands which have since netted him the handsome profit of $200,000. Matters have indeed come to a pretty pass when a corporation shall dictate to Its employes what they shall do with their earnings. We are already cursed with trusts and monopolies. They are the first step towards imperialism, not fancied, but real; and this latest order of a railway corporation is but the second step in the same direction. Where are we to stop? Whither will the next step lead us? These are questions worthy the earnest consideration of all thoughtful men. That an shall dictate what wages he shall pay his employes Is a matter of business; but when he dictates how his employes shall spend the wages earned, he leaves the field of legitimate business and assumes the role of despot. It Is no wonder that the industrial world Is threatened by upheaval when such practices as the one quoted are permitted.—Buffalo Times. Fomeraaulta of Supreme Court. The New York World declares that the Supreme Court of the United States is the one tribunal In the universe which can give one judgment at one time anti an opposite one at another and be right at both times. For example, the World gives a list of the somersaults executed by the court: 1. It has decided (Dartmouth college case), that a State charter is a contract which the State may not break, and later that the State may break it. 2. It has decided that Congress has exclusive authority to regulate commerce on all our navigable waters, and later that it had not. Later yet it has reversed that reversal and reaffirmed its first decision. 3. It has decided that stock certificates may not be issued under a State law, aAi later that they may. 4. It has decided that any State may prohibit the importation of alcoholic liquors, and later that no State may do so. 5. It has decided that Congress has no power to make paper money legal tender for debts Incurred before its issue, and later that it has unlimited ■power to make paper legal tender in peace or war. 6. It has decided twice that an ineonfe tax is constitutional, and once—the last time —that it is not. When the record of the court is considered the American people can not be blamed if they regard it as a sort of teter board which goes up and then down on all important questions and points in one direction and then in another most absurdly.