Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 March 1902 — POLITICS OF THE DAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

POLITICS OF THE DAY

Not a National Embassy. Here is a so-called ‘special embassy” appointed by the President to the ceremonies of the coronation of Edward VII. of England. Naturally, an overture of such splendor and significance should be a national affair. Tliis Is a government of the people. It follows, therefore, that nothing, no matter how important or unimportant, done without the formal sanction of Congress can possibly be regarded as significant or even valid In so far as it relates to a foreign power. It seems clear to us that the embassy, going to England without the recognition of Congress, can represent nothing. It Is in no sense national, and can, in the nature ot things, amount to little more than an expression of personal good will on the part of the President who appointed tlie members and the executive department out of whose secret fund tiie expenses may be paid—Washington Post.

Knee Breeches and Pumps. It appears to have been settled that our official representatives to tlie coronation must wear knee breeches, after all. Their toggery will be an ordinary black evening dress coat and waistcoat, with tight-fitting black cloth knee breeches, black silk stockings and pumps. Tlie special and regular representatives of the United States will be the only people at the coronation thus attired, since everybody else Is required to be either in full uniform or in what is known as court dress. They say that Ambassador Choate has been appearing at all court bails, state concerts and dinners given by the sovereign in these clothes, in which he looks well, being endowed with a particularly plump pair of calves.—Boston Herald.

Our Progress in Toadyism. With colonies amid the seas, with flunkies commissioned to join in the barbaric ceremonies of an imperial coronation; with sedition laws against those who dare to talk for freedom; with a constitution which has been riddled by Presidential usurpation, and with our privileged classes clamoring over questions of precedence, it is quite the tiling that Bishop Grafton’s clergy should kowtow before bim and pay him honor* befitting his station. But just the same, if Bishop Grafton was a real American he would feel like slapping the face of the first surpliced toady who so far forgot the decencies of American citizenship as to address him as “my lord.”—Johnston Democrat.

Not 8o Much Fun in That. So fascinating is the humor of our tariff that our German brethren are seriously contemplating the adoption of some of our best jokes. The cardinal principle of protection is to restrict, if not to prohibit, purchases from foreign nations. That strikes the Teuton as such excellent fun that his parliament is about to apply to the United States the same prlciple which our Congress has applied to Germany. “We will take our schedules,” says the Reichstag, “and enforce them ngalnst all American goods imported into Germany.” That may not provoke laughter on this side of the Atlantic, but why shouldn’t It? The German is quite as much entitled to his little joke as we are,—Baltimore Sun.

The Republican Dilemma. A large number of Republicans are convinced that they must face one of two things—either a substantial reduction of the protective tariff, beginning with the Cuban schedule, or invite such an assault on protection as would endanger the whole institution. Either prospect is good for the country. The best thing that could happen would be a deliberate wiping out of practically the whole protective system, but the thing that will make that ultimately possible Is such a beginning as seems Inevitable as a result of the Cuban question and the specific demand for a removal of a part of the outrageously discriminating duties on steel and Iron.—Kansas City Star.

Object to Our Own Medicine. The effect of the proposed German duties would be to exclude from Germany American products, which are very largely used there nnd which It Is very profitable to us to sell there. But how can we complain while we have so many tariff duties that are prohibitive and hamper the commerce of other nations, however friendly they may be to us. We cannot Justly object to taking our own medicine, but we are greatly Irritated whenever any nation adopts or even threatens to pursue a tariff policy that will Interfere with the sale of our products among its people.— Atlanta Journal.

A Hint to the Trnata. Wisdom and prudence dictate that obvious and notable abuses springing from combinations should be corrected now while the combinations are In good odor rather than be left to pile up for a dire day of reckoning which, If It conies, will amount to an Industrial revolution. The combinations should submit to discipline at the hands of their friends rather than wait for punishment from their euemles.— Brooklyn Eagle.

Extrsvasince of Colonialism. Extravagance seems to be Inseparable from colonial administration. In our own unhappy experience with alien colonlea this teaching has beguu early and will be continued late. The carpet-bag

element of office-seekers were swift to organize a raid on colonial offices. Their idea of colonial administration. Is that it should be profitable to the administrator on the spot. They expect to live in luxury and to spend money like princes. Rathbun in Havana was a good type of the carpet-bagger developed by our new colonial policy. He bad a royal time during bis brief swing in office.—St. Louis Republic.

Private Capital Is Willing. One of the most humiliating things about tlie present session of Congress is tlie apparent determination to compel the government to lay a Pacific cable at public expense. The only excuse for this most transparent diversion of taxes from their proper to improper ends would be the unwillingness or inability of private capital to undertake the work. That was the ground of aid to the first Pacific roads. That is the basis of government irrigation work. No such state of affairs exists concerning the Pacific cable. Private capital is not only willing, but anxious, to undertake the work. It has, in fact, already begun it.—Portland Oregonian.

What Colonists Cost Germany. The efforts which tbe German Government bas during the last few years been making toward the promotion of colonization have not thus far been a conspicuous success. The total number of Germans resident in the German colonies is said to be 3,702, among whom children, women, missionaries and <&- cials of every kind are included. The expenditures of the government for colonial administration are very nearly $5,000,000 a year, so that each German resident of a German colony costs the country about $1,400 per annum.—Philadelphia Inquirer.

An Irrepressible Issue. Tariff reform is coming rapidly to the front as an irrepressible issue in the national campaign of this year and two years hence. The opportunity of 1892 is again knocking at the door of the Democracy. Those of our leaders who are wise .and in position to seize this issue at the psychological moment will be expected to do so. By skillful handling they can make it the tmramount issue of the next campaign and force the Republican party to stand on the defensive.—Atlanta Constitution.

Yates on the Wrong Path. Well had it been for Richard Y'ates when entering upon his great office if some wise Woolsey couM have stood at his el.bow and charged him “to fling away ambition, for by that sin fell the angels.” But, with his vision obscured by self and bis mind perverted by evil and foolish advice, he forgot party and public, and therein lost all. He took the wrong path at the cross-roads and every step since has taken him farther away from the people and farther away from the right.—Galesburg, Mall, Rep.

Not the Party of Lincoln. Nothing is plainer than that the Republican party has gradually forsaken all the ancient landmarks held sacred by its founders. No one can conceive of a doubt being entertained by Abraham Lincoln as to the fundamental truth that all men were created with equal lights, nor as to the possibility of one man's governing another without his consent. But those Mho now proclaim these truths are sneered at by representative Republicans as “small Americans.”— Johnstown, Pa., Democrat.

May Be Barking Dp the Wrong Tree. The stated cause for the severing of Governor Dole’s head is that his rulings in land matters have l>een repeatedly overruled by the Interior Department. It might have lieen a commendable course for President Roosevelt to Investigate the Interior Department and learn what Influence prompted the officials thereof to overrule Governor Dole. He might have been able to remove the heads of the department.— Buffalo Times.

The Pension System. There Is no more reason why those who serve the city or the State or the general government should be pensioned than there Is that those who are employed by firms or corporations should be. They get good salaries, and If they do not choose to put by a part of their earnings for old age they ought to take the consequences. The pension system Is pregnant with evils and promises to become extremely troublesome.—Savannah News.

Blind to the Htorm Signals. Speaker Henderson, blind and deaf as the rest, tells protesting lowa merchants that the tariff must not be touched; that “It Is more Important now to reduce taxation upon ourselvea” by cutting down Internal revenue, apparently still adhering to the exploded notion that "the foreigner pays the tax.” He and his kind unhappily dominating Congress pay no heed to the storm signals flying everywhere.—St Paul Dispatch.

What la the Object? J. J. Hill with a sober face told the Commission last week that competition between railroads raised the rates and that monopoly was what reduced them. If this simple proposition Is correct why In the world arc the railroad managers trying to get the law so amended that they can pool Instead of competing? Is It because they want to reduce their Incomes?—Hartford. Conn., Courant.