Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1906 — POLITICAL COMMENT [ARTICLE]

POLITICAL COMMENT

Br>nn In Full Retreal. When Mr. Bryan was in St. Louis he said apologetically that he had ntgrer declared "unequivocally" for governmont’ownership of railways, “When it has been determined that government supervision does not solve the question,” he said, “then it will be' time to discuss government ownership as a practical proposition.” This sounded like a cowardly retreat from the position taken in his Madison Square garden speech. It was so miderstood. The newspapers so understood it. i . By the time Mr, Bryan reached Louisville It occurred to him that it would not help his case much -to rele= gate the government ownership issue to the backwoods. It might hurt liis reputation for “courage” and for “consistency.” it would not harmonize with liis comparatively recent braggadocio that he “never abandoned a iwsition once taken.” * So he took the matter up again in bits Louisville speech and tried to get -Jill of it in a different way. lie epitomized his foolish New York itetiverrmce by saying that he therein quoted from the Democratic platform of 1000 the declaration that “a private monopoly is indefensible and intolerablethat he laid down the principle

that “public ownership should begin where competition ends,” and that he stated his conclusion that railroads were a monopoly and must ultimately become public property. Therefore he concluded that while regulation should ho given a further trial he was satisfied it would he unavailing and that nothing short of publieownership would do. "I still advocate strict regulation,” be said to bis Louisville audience, “and shall be rejoiced if experience proves that regulation can be made effective. * * * And yet I would not be honest with you if I did not frankly admit that observation has convinced me that no such efficient regulation is possible and * * * that we must in the end look to government ownership f or. relief.”. This comes pretty close to another unequivocal declaration for government ownership, but evidently it was not so intended. It was intended to be what the other gamblers call a “hedge.” He found that he had been going too fast, lie concluded that it would be wise for him to “slow up” a little. He wanted to be “consistent,” but he also strove to retreat. —Chicago Chronicle.

Deuiocratle Party and the Tariff* In 1892 the Democrats said the country needed a chafige, and in their plattorm this is what they promised to do, If successful; \ *• We denounce republican protection as a fraud, a the great majority of the American people for the benefit of the few. We declare it to be a fundamental principle of the Democratic party that the Federal government has no constitutional power to impose aud collect tariff duties, except for the purposes of revenue only; aud we demand that the collection of such taxes shall be limited to the necessities of the government when honestly and economically administered.” The natural result of this tariff pol icy followed oil the heels of its inaugu ration just as winter follows summer Vou remember the result of the Wilson tioraaan .tariff act; No work. Xo sale for goods. Prices reduced, on everything the farmer had to sell 7» Interest rates increased. Savings in banks decreased. Frequent sheriff sales. Free soup-houses opened. Crime increased. Deficiency in treasury. -* i..c~

National debt increased. Everybody bard-up. ■ _—■ — Tramps thronging highways. National panic; 4* Blind to the ruin and misery caused in the !*)V by tlieir tariff policy, the Democrats promise again in 1900, if successful, to force bn the country the same Old Cleveland tariff program. Here's their 190fi tariff plaiek; “We denounce the hypocrisy of the Republican party yhich. while pretending to legislate against these conditions, deals only with the symptoms and not with the disease. The unfair, tyrannical features of the so-called ‘protective tariff’ have made these things possible, and no permanent relief can be secured until its obnoxious features are removed. We demand that this be done by a tariff for revenue pnl.v." The natural result of this same tariff policy which the Democrats promise to force on the country again if successful will follow in 1907 just as surely as it came in the 90's. Our experience with the Cleveland tariff is a warning which‘cannot be disregariled,—We take it no citizen: would willingly vote for the calamitous results outlined.. Yet they would follow as surely as night follows day if the Democrats carry 'out that same old

disastrous tariff program, as ffiey promise in their platform to do if successful. Maine’s Verdict and Admonition. In advance of the Maine elections it was well understood that owing to local issues the Republican majorities, both for State officers and for Congressmen, would be substantially reduced. It was not expected that the extent of theßcpublican victory would equal that of four years ago. The results of Monday's election, therefore, are not surprising nor disappointing. They indicate that so far as national issues are concerned a majority of the people of Maine are Republicans, but tbnt there is dissatisfaction with the policy of the party in the State with respect to sumptuary legislation. If prohibition bad not been in question it is safe to say that the Republican majorities would have approached their normal proportions. As to the whole result, however, it may be said that it constitutes an admonition to the Republicans of other States that narrow local Issues may exercise a dangerous influence upon the election of a Republican Congress.

Npboily doubts the Republicanism of Maine, but we have just teen that devotion to Republican principles of a national character may lie subordinated to resentment of Republican policies locally. What has happened in Maine may happen elsewhere. Similar reductions of the Republican vote in other States would give the Democrats control of the,.House of Representatives. It is of the utmost importance, consequently, that the Republican party should be right on local ns well as national issues and that It should have unexceptionable candidates for State officers as well as for Congressmen. This Is the lesson of the Maine elections and It Is no new one. If the Republicans are to control the next house they must pay as much attention to State as to national policies. The voter is not disposed to halve his approval or Ids condemnation.

-The three finest diamonds worn In London society are those belonging to the Duchegs of Westminster, the Countess of Dudley nnd the Dnchess • of Portland. It is eminently right and fitting that these lucky women should he the wives of three of the richest noblemen In the peerage. Even the most cheerful auctioneer Is always crying at a public sale.