Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 92, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 July 1903 — POLITICAL COMMENT. [ARTICLE]

POLITICAL COMMENT.

Spread of Mob Law. Is it the power of example, Is it midsummer madness, or Is it merely the habit events have of coining in groups? XliP public Is hardly done discussing the riotous outbreaks at Wilmington, Del., when a very similar state of affairs arises at Evansville, Ind., with the important difference that the Evansville mob did not find its victim. It Is high time the American people were thinking tnosFSeriously about the frequency of riotous assemblages throughout the length nnd breadth of the land. If they will read back something more than a century and go over the politico-philosophical discusisl ns occasioned by the founding of the republic they will note that these outbreaks would almost seem to give the color of true prophecy to those defenders of monarchy that declared it would be Impossible to govern a large extent of territory and preserve order “with the weak government of a democratic republic.” The very general prediction of European writers and thinkers outside the more or less visiouary French school was that an effort at purely popular government could never succeed, except in the case of a city or q, very small territory inhabited by a very homogeneous population; that local officers would be too timid to successfully suppress local disorder; that anarchy would follow, to be followed in turn by despotism in its worst form—namely, an Irresponsible dictatorship. The Journal does not feel alarmed for the future of the republic. We are not going to the bow-wows right away.

But we are drifting into a "very dangerous notion that any particular crowd of men, possessing strength either through numbers or wealthy may with Impunity set themselves up as superior to the law. It is time that we, as a people, should bring ourselves up standing and think on these things. The laws are our laws all the time, not onr laws when we like them and the other fellow's law 9 when we don’t. If enough of us do not like them there is an orderly and regular way for changing them. But while they are laws they must be enforced, not in a few places, but in all places; not against some that come in conflict with them, but against all that violate them; not in a halting, hesitating, quibbling fashion, but promptly, sternly, relentlessly, by men who are blind to everything but grim, cold, passionless justice. Friend or foe, weak or strong, if he violate the law, let him suffer the full penalty imposed by the law, with deliberate, unswerving action of theVhole machinery of justice. It is only thus that respect for the law because it is the law can be inculcated and maintained, and without such respect for the law —which is but the orderly expression of the popular will —no man Is safe InJife or property.— Indianapolis Journal. /

We Have the- Revolver. Lord Lnnsdowno, lu pleading on Tuesday for nn unprejudiced canslderatiou of England's tariff position, made use of a striking fl^ure. “We are among the commercial nations,” he said, “Ukc an uunrmed man who goes into a room among men each of whom hns a revolver. We ought to buy a large revolver and let everybody see It. Our market is the greatest in the world, and a threat to close fl could not be Ignored.” Lord Lansdowne had Just stated the facts that moved him to urge England to “buy a large revolver.” Some years ago Canada gave British goods a tariff preference. Thereupon Germany discriminated ngalnst Cana-" dian products. When England protested Germany threatened, If other British colonies followed Canada’s example, to deny to England herself the “most favored nation” treatment, notwithstanding England's ports are open to German exports. Im other words, Germany threatens.

If one part of the British empire encourages trade with another part, to discriminate against the products of all parts of the empire. And her free trade policy leaves England helpless to protect either her colonies or herself! The United States has Its troubles with nations which discriminate against its products, but none has ever dared to make to It such a threat as Germany has forced England to swallow. The reason is that In Its protective policy the United States has “the revolver” which England lacks. Canada has been trying to benefit England, tlßTcenter of the empire of which she is a part. Because of her free trade policy England is not only unable to return the benefit; she Is also unable to protect her benefactor. Nay, more; she is forced to submit to a threat of injury to herself If others of her dependencies offer her a benefit similar to that offered by Canada! In the humiliation of England's present position, and in the desire of her statesmen to escape from that tion, is a striking vindication of the American policy of protection. We are not exposed to such humiliating threats. We are able to protect those who confer benefits upon us and ourselves. We have “the revolver.” —Chicago Inter Ocean. Corner in Boup Bones. It is rather mean of the Democrats to blame Cleveland for the soup houses which were In fashion during his administration. Soup bones would be cor*

nered, no matter what Democratic free-twider or visionary tariff reviaionlstxvas elected to the Presidency. Mr. Cleveland “never meant to;” he was only a sure enough Democrat.— Donaldsonville (la.l Chief. Will Blunder Again. The awkward predicament of Democrats located in regions of great Industrial activity is pointed out by the Mail of Charleston, W. Va.: “West Virginia Democrats are between his Satanic Majesty and the deep water on the tariff question. They know that free trade would be the most ruinous dose the business of ,the State ever swallowed, but It is the party’s shibboleth, more sacred than the graves of the "party’s dead hopes. They can’t talk about the tariff and they have nothing else to talk about, so what will poor Democracy do?" Do? Why, do the wrong thins, of course; attack protection, demand the repeal of the Dlngley tariff and In Its plnce enact a tariff for revenue only. This at a time of unparalleled prosperity, when tho country wants the privilege of growing rich and richer by a continuation of existing tariff laws. The Democratic party can always be depended upon to mnkp a fatal blunder at precisely the right time.—American Economist.

Leave It to the Democrats. It Is perfectly in order to leave all attacks upon the tariff policy to the .Democratic party, which hns a consistent record for attacking everything which has conduced to the prosperity of this country. The Democrnt'c party will need some Issue of negntion, and the Republicans would Just as eoou whip their competitors cn the question of the tariff, as has hem dene so often before, ns In any other controversy, . Republicanism without the Idcft of protection of home Industries would certainly not be the Republicanism of or Harrison pr any of. the great leaders who have marshaled thA Republican hotta to .electoral victory.— Troy Times. ** r - Good Advice. Senator Hanna gave the'Ohio Republicans a good cry when he warned all meddlers with the tariff to keep “hands off” nnd advised Republicans to “stand guard” over that policy.— Philadelphia Press.