Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1901 — POLITICS OF THE DAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

POLITICS OF THE DAY

Hanna for President. It Is broadly, stated that I’erry 8. Heath 1s still “rooting” for Senator Hanna for next President. Mr. Hanna, though he has a commanding influence with Heath, does not appear to be putting his foot on the brake lever. Mr. Hanna hasn’t much false modesty. He would no doubt like to bear the proud title of President of the United States, ami do the business of the office at the same time. If the present reign In Republican politics is to continue, and the Republicans are to carry the country again in 1904, Mr. Hanna comes pretty near being the logical President. He is a thorough believer in himself. Nobody ought to blame him for that. Self- reliance Is one of the first qualities incident to success in life. Mr. Hanna believes that success as the leader and commander of the Republicans has excused, if not effaced, his record as a “bad man” in politics. He believes himself personally vindicated in the reelection of William McKinley. He is proud of the reception he has had as a public speaker. It was believed that Mr. Hanna was solely a “business man” in politics as well as in affairs, and that he bad no facility of expression. He demonstrated, though, in the campaign of last year that he was at least to be tolerated on the stump. At first he was a curiosity in that line, and possibly curiosity still has a large part in the desire to hear him; but he did very well. In the Senate last winter he made a speech on the ship-subsidy bill which, though in a bad cause, was impressive and argumentative—probably far exceeding as a thoughtful and practical piece of speaking anything his colleague, Mr. Foraker, ever accomplished, though he has the greater reputation as an orator. At the Republican State convention at Columbus this year Mr. Hanna laid down the party law “in good, set terms.” Of course he expanded the sophistry that the prosperity of the country was due to the goodness and greatness of the McKinley administration, and gave notice that the Republican parly would win on that platform again, and continue to give the country prosperity and honor and contentment. He did it well, thougji. Though his subject was trite there was a flavor of immediate inspiration in it that did not characterize the studied phrases of Senator Foraker, who was the other orator of the occasion, and who also went over the ground of prosperity as a result of Republican true goodness. Mr. Hanna has certainly demonstrated a quality as a party commander, and has cut a prominent figure in the United States Senate. He has been preeminent in connecting himself with those who can inflate the campaign treasury, if the political styles that have been in vogue for the last five years are to be still potent Mr. Hanna is the logical Republican candidate for President if he wants to be. He is more than logical. He can simply go in and take the prize. Occasionally there are intimations that Mr. Hanna is In a bodily condition that would preclude the idea of the Presidency. We have been hearing these stories, however, for five years, and the patient seems to be more than “holding his own.” The Senator gets a little “falnty” occasionally, but his fits of sickness would not be noticed in a person of less prominence. Keep an eye open for him. Look out for Hanna If the present drift in politics continues. Of course, if the canvas of 1904 is to be a poor man’s campaign Mr. Hanna nor no other Republican will have a chance.—Cincinnati Enquirer.

Tariff Certain of Attack. That the tariff question is to be an active subject for consideration by Congress is hardly a matter of doubt. The Philadelphia manufacturers, the Home Market Club and the Protective Tariff League may fight against the demands for a change, but a large and powerful clement In the Republican party will Join in a demand for free raw materials, If nothing more, while the Democrats will be ready to fight on old lines. The necessity of a reduction In the revenues will also have great weight. The fiscal year Is cioffing with an uncomfortably large surplus, and so great Is the increase in trade that a big balance promises to remaifi to the government's credit on July 1, 1902. Tbe petty reduction of war taxes will not offset the economies to be effected by the withdrawal of troops from tbe Philippines and Cuba, and tbe constant growth of internal receipts. Buch a surplus would lie a menace and would encourage further extravagance In pensions, if in no other direction. There Is likewise the feeling that It is necessary to open up foreign markets to our expanding manufactures, and this operates without respect to party. Tbe fact that trusts are encouraged by the Dingiey tariff is tbe final argument for revision, and! this will not down at tbe sneering of protectionists. The case agalnsKthe tariff'from this point is very strong and demonstrates Itself, as Prof. W. G. Sumner shows in an article on “The Economics of Trusts." He discusses the trusts conservatively, but points out conclusively how the protective tariff aids these great industrial consolidations. He ■ays: “The protective tariff surrounds the ‘home market’ with a tax-barrier to exclude foreign products which are «nu-

merated in It. All the industries which produce the enumerated articles are artificial monopolies, or may be made such by combining all the establishments In each line. If they are not combined, but compete with each other, they may, and often do, waste all the advantage which the law offers them. They, therefore, have the strongest inducement to combine, and this inducement is heightened by the, fact that if they combine they can use the home market up to the limit of production offered. them, and ean sell the surplus In a sacrifice market outside. The tariff then acts as a great bounty on exports, and the larger the exportation of protected commodities the greater the gift which the domestic consumers are giving to foreign consumers. The difficulty of managing a protected industry is greatly lessened when It is brought into this form. The protective system, therefore, exerts a constant pressure on all the Industries affected by it to drive them into the trust form.” Such reasoning as this cannot be con-' troverted. The people demand that If we must have trusts they are not to be protected from competition from abroad at the same time they are unloading their surplus stocks on foreign mar-kets.—Courier-Journal.

Onr Soldier# Abroad. The Manila Times is a>t Imperialist orifiamme of civilization which flickers in the wind of certain manifestations which it is forced to witness under the benign rule of the Taft satrapy. Among other things it has seen and has been compelled to note was a long procession of military prisoners marching through the streets amid the jeers of the people to whom we have carried • wealing and blessing.” A Manila correspondent tells us about these and about 725 ex-soldiers who were waiting to get out of the country. "Each day’s delay in the sailing ot a transport which can take them,” says this correspondent, “renders their, position more and more difficult. There are to sail on the transport Indiana, to-morrow, 190 military prisoners who were taken out of Bilbid penitentiary. This large num-ber-of convicts has attracted considerable attention, especially as slxty-two more military prisoners still remain In this prison, and those going Include the commissary sergeants, Meston, Woodcock and Wllsoij, who were recently convicted of stealing supplies from the goverment.” Referring to these prisoners and to the spectacle they presented to the heathen, the Manila Times, with a pathetic note in its protest, says: ’’The march of the prisoners from Bilbid to the quay was made in broad daylight, all of the prisoners being shackled one to the other. Some of the men took the ordeal sullenly, aid walked with hanging head, while others passed by wearing a look of Indifference and even contempt. Not a few were beard to remark that they didn’t care, they were going back to ‘God’s country.’ The spectacle of the march caused a standstill in the traffic of the streets through which the procession passed. The comments excited among the American and European onlookers by the strange and somewhat degrading sight, were not favorable to the mode of transportation adopted, or the manner in which the men were paraded jn full daylight. Several of the American speectators said it was a shame and a disgrace to walk the prisoners in full daylight through a crowd of gaping and curious Chinese and Filipinos. They thought we should make an effort to hide our shame, both for the sake of the criminals and the name and reputation of the United Sfhtes. It was believed such a sight could not but be demoralizing on the masses of the governed." Fathers and mothers who are thinking of pending thelr.boys put in pursuit of duty and destiny should consider this picture of the American soldier on a foreign shore and of the servtee he is doing the cause of civilization and religion as he marches “through a crowd of gaping and curious Chinese and Filipinos." With shackles upon them and with the broad light of day illuminating their sullen or Indifferent faces these evangels of liberty might well bring traffic to a standstill In the streets where Spanish soldiers were wont to parade; and It Is little wonder that European spectators paused to make ribald comments to shrinking Americans, —Johnstown Democrat.