Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 August 1901 — POLITCS OF THE DAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

POLITCS OF THE DAY

New Declare t on. When In the course of human events 1t becomes necessary for one people to slissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to -assume that position as vassals of the United States, to which the laws of nature and of nature's God condemn them, a decent respect for the opinions of mankind demands that they should -declare and maintain their enthusiastic loyalty to their new lords and masters. We declare these truths to be selfevident; that all black, brown and brludle men are created unequal to the task of self-government, and unalienably subject to such rules, regulations and restrictions as the President and Congress may, establish. That, to secure obedience to such regulations, the Government of the United Stntes is revamped, deriving its new powers from the desires of the protected trusts and the agility of the Supreme Court. That, whenever any form of government becomes destructive or obstructive of commercialism, It is the right of the trusts to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such policies, and organizing its powers in such form as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and dividends. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that principles long established should not be changed for light and transient causes, and, accordingly, experience hath shown that capital is more disposed to support existing conditions, so long ns they are profitable, than to right the people by abolishing forms to which they are accustomed. But, when a long train of chances and opportunities, promising Invariably the same inducement to concentrated wealth, emphasizes the necessity for reducing certain peoples under absolute despotism, it is the right of might, it is the duty of riches to throw off the mask, and provide new safeguards for their future security. Such has been the inducements for establishing these colonies, and such is now the necessity which constrains ns to alter their former system of government, and ignore all the traditions and implications of our own. The history of the present administration at Washington is a history of usurpatory innovations, all hav4ug in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these islands. To prove this let facta be submitted to n candid world. It has called together legislative bodies and coerced them into passing measures dictated from Washington. It has erected a multitude of new ofll--ces and sent swarms of new officers to harass the subject peoples and eat •out their substance. It has kept among them standing armies, In times of peace, without the consent of their legislatures. It has affected to render the military Independent of and superio? to, the -civil owner. It has sanctioned measures— For cutting off their trade with all parts of the world; For imposing taxes upon them without their consent; For denying them the benefit of trial by jury; For transporting them beyond seas in punishment of nuproved offenses; For suspending their legislatures and •declaring itself invested with power to legislate for them in all matters whatsoever. It has plundered their seas, ravaged their coasts, burnt their towns, and deBtroyed the lives of their people. In every stage of these oppressions they have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms; their repeated petitions have Iteen answered only by repeated Injury. An administration whose character Is thus marked by every act that may define a tyrant can he justified only on the ground of commercial expansion, but that is all sufficient. Nor have they been wanting in attentions to us. They have warned us, from time to time, of attempts by our legislature to extend an unwarrantable Jurisdiction over them. They have appealed to our native Justice and magnanimity, and have conjured us by tire ties of that human brotherhood which •our forefathers declared. The voice of the Almighty Ticker has justly silenced their Impudent Importunities. We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, In general congress assembled, appealing to the supreme court of the land for the legality of our Intentions and the inherent Justice of the Anglo-Saxon race, •do, In the name of sugar, tobacco, fruits and patronage, solemnly publish aud •declare that these heretofore mentioned ■colonies are, and of right ought to be, vassal and dependent states; nnd we are absolved from all obligations to maintain the civil or political liberties ■of their people, and that all political ■connection between them and this government Is so much, nnd only so much, as tuny be for the best Interests of our traders nnd politicians, nnd that, as vassal and dependent States, they have full power to pay such taxes as wa may Impose,nnd obey such laws as we may enact for ouy own benefit. ' And for the snpport of th* declaration, with a firm reliance upon a subservient congress and a demoralized judiciary, we mutually pledge towacb other oar Influence, our attorneys and a reason-

able assessment upon our sacred fortunes.—Working Democracy.

Republican Tariff Vict'ms, , The movement within the Republican party for a reduction of the Dingley tariff may be described as a Northwestern movement. It Is mainly, though not wholly, a movement among Republicans west of the State of Ohio and north of the Ohio River and the §tate of Missouri. The people of this region, which for convenience we may call the West, were never protectionists of the bigoted sort. Their Interests have always been chiefly agricultural, as they are still, nnd they have never taken very kindly to the Idea of having to pay extortionate prices for manufactures In order that capitalists In the northern Atlantic States might thrive. The Republican party of the West originally was a party opposed to the extension of slavery, not a party of tariff robbery. It attracted to itself multitudes who were Democrats on the tariff question because they were victims and not beneficiaries of protection. It became the dominant party In the Western States as the party opposed to the extension of slavery. It waxed stronger as the party which stood especially for the preservation of the Union. It tolerated high tariff as a war revenue measure and not as an economic policy. It exacted a promise that as soon as the war necessity should pass the war duties should be reduced and the revenue tariff restored. It exacted a partial fulfillment of the promise In the early 70's, hut lapsed into tolernuce of the high rates under stress of a shortage of revenues In the years of depression following the panic of 1873. But Western Republicans continued to exact promises of reform, and their leading newspaper organs vigorously assailed both the principle and the practice of protection. Meantime the Pennsylvania and New England I>eneflciarie9 of the system by a judicious use of part of the spoils were getting the party under complete control, nnd in 1880 they felt strong enough to repudiate all their fine promises of reform. It was then that the Republican National Convention In Chicago declared that all Internal taxes should he repealed rather than yield one jot of protection. , The Western Republicans were beaten In convention, but In 1884 nnd 1802 they showed what was liable to happen to a party which repudiated Its agreements. They have not been deceived by false pretense that the panic of 1803 was due to the success of a tariff reform party, and the indications are that they mean to make something happen again. Representative Babcock is not walking in the dark. His proposal that American manufacturers who can sell their goods all over the world without protection shall not have a tariff to enable them to exact from 25 to 100 per cent more from Americans than from foreigners shows what is going on in the Western Republican mind. Mr. McKinley is so far in touch with that mind that he knows something is sure to hit the party very hard unless the protected sliylocks make some concessions. This Is why he is no longer ,the extremist of 1800. Thnt Is why he has come over to the Blaine Idea of reciprocity. But Western Republicans will not be satisfied with so small a concession. They will domnnd that the trusts be deprived of the tariff lancet with which they are bleeding the American people Mr. McKinley suspects ns much. Ho suspects that neither he nor any other Republican can win In 1004. Hence this “patriotic self-abnegation.”—Chi cago Chronicle.

Plain I'utf ut I,ant. On the third anniversary of the lauding of the American troops In Porto Itieo, President McKinley Issued a proclamation fulfilling our ‘'plain duty” to give the Island free trade in the American market. It Is thought that the coincidence of these two memorable events will make the day a great popular anniversary In Porto Rico. Free trade will mean much for the Porto Ricans, and also much for us. In the first place, it will give the Island a prosperity which In a few years will make it the envy of all the rest of the West Indian archipelago, Not only St. Thomas, but Martinique, Jamaica and the rest of the European colonies will feel drawn by irresistible attraction toward us. Annexation sentiment will be strengthened, too, in Cuba. Again, Porto Itlco, flourishing and happy, will become an Interpreter for us to all Spnulsh-Araerlca. She will help to clear up mlaunderatandlngs. She will spenk to the Latin American republics In their own Language nnd tell them that they hare nothing to fear from American ambition. Finally, the continent will share equally with the Islniul In the benefits of Increasing trade. Our manufactures will be stimulated and our shipping Increased. Commerce Is like sirnkspeare’s quality of mercy—“lt blesseth him that gives and him that takes.” We nre sacrificing nothing In opening onr market to Porto Itloo—we arc bestowing benefits upon her nnd ourselves together.—Chicago American. Self-respect Is the corner stone of all virtues.— John Henchel.