THE SUXDAX OREGOtflAU,, P0ETLA2O), AUGUST 19, 1900.
15
SSUES OF IMPENDING ELECTION
jEx-Govcmor Sylvester Pennoyer
Oregonian on the Questions Dividing the Parties in
the Presidential Campaign of 1900.
I will speak briefly upon soma of the
:ala Issues Involved In the pending
gPresiaentlal election.
Two important questions the use of sil-
ccr as legal tender, standard money, and
Ithe ratio or 16 to 1 between gold and su
ffer money which were prominent in the
Blast Quadrennial campaign "between the
7o great political parties, have been
liminated from the present one and are
z.zvr no longer at Issue, The act of June
SIS, 3S9S, passed by the present Congress,
z.v.& approved by President McKinley, un-
Ithorlzed the coinage of standard silver
Idollars, at the established ratio or 1G to
11, and this provision of law was reaffirmed
fby the financial act of March 14, 1300.
The Republican party having thus
frecognized the necessity of the coinage of
c:.ver Into full legal tender money, at
ithe before mentioned ratio, and the Dem-
locratlc party favoring the same policy, re
Imoves the status of silver and its ratio
irith gold from any further present con
sideration, and leaves for determination
iwo most Important questions which have
pcen evolved and now confront the peo
plethe question or colonial expansion,
land the question of trusts.
Colonial Expansion.
Under the present Administration, a
gnew policy has been adopted by the Fed-
sral government, fraught with most im
portant and dangerous consequences. The
I boundaries of the republic have been ex
I tended by conquest and purchase beyond
-he limits of the American continent, em-
Bbraclng the islands of the Philippine
rchlpelago, peopled by inferior races, un-
isslmilativo with our people, ignorant de-
aased and Idolatrous a people that can
Inever be brought up to the standard of
lerican civilization, and a people to
fern which will require a large standing
ay and tne continued imposition of
icavy taxes upon our already overbur-
lened taxpayers.
This, perhaps. In all Its varied conse
quences, is the most Important issue be
fore the people, and should therefore be
lost carefully considered. And It must
so noted at the outset, that this expansion
13 entirely without warrant of law. The
i ederal Government is not one of Inherent
sovereignty. All the powers that It pos
sesses are delegated powers. It has no
irtner or greater powers, tl was brougbt
into existence by the sovereign states
rr.lch achieved their Independence from
Sreat Britain, and It possesses no power.
authority or sovereignty not expressly
lelegated to It by the F&deral Constitu-
ion. It was created by that instrument
to be the agent of the States for certain
3eclfled purposes, most carefully enume
rated. For those purposes alone it is a
sovereignty. Beyond and outside of them
at has no power "whatever as a sovereign
ty, the Constitution expressly declaring
mt the powers not delegated to the
Jnlted States by the Constitution, nor
prohibited by it to the States are re
served to the States respectively, or to
le people." The Instrument will be
searched in vain for authority for the
Lslatlo expansion policy of the present
Administration.
But it Is urged that tho Federal Gov-
3rnmcnt has heretofore 'expanded Its
joundary. and the Louisiana purchase
tinder the Jefferson .administration has
seen cited as a precedent. It must bo
frankly conceded that the Louisiana
purchase, liko the purchase of the Phil
ippine Islands, was without any authority
f Constitutional law. But that purchase
s no precedent or Justification for the
Philippine purchase.
Xecenslty Required It.
There is an old adage that 'necessity
las no law." Tho Louisiana purchase
was consummated, not under Constitu-
ional law, but under a moral necessity.
paramount to all law. The territory
purchased by Jefferson controlled the out-
Set of the Mississippi River, and was in
-he possession of a foreign power which
iad already inturrupted the trade of the
restern portion of the republic, and the
arbitrary conduct of which was liable
provoke war. To get control of this
luable domain and so prevent war.
10 Jefferson administration, outside of
he law of the Constitution, but Inside
le requirements of necessity, mado that
lost desirable purchase.
The territory was contlgious to our
awn; It was peopled by a race asslmlla-
ive with us, and It opened for our people
rich region capable of settlement and
levolopment. Its purchase Is no prece
dent whatever for the purchase and re-
lentlon of tho Philippine Islands. That
panslon "was American expansion: the
Salter is Asiatic expansion. That was
le to prevent war, with Its horrors
id expenditures; this expansion invites
:ho horrors of -n-ar and entails upon the
jovcrnments both loss of life and vast
expenditures of treasure. The Jeffer
;onianexpanslonwasin accord with both
he spirit and letter of "Washington's
areweii address, which enjoined us to
Lvoia complications with foreign powers,
hlle the McKinley expansion is violative
-X its injunction to not quit our own to
tand on foreign ground, and to avoid
n'crweavlng our destiny with that of any
-n oi Europe, or entangling our peace
-.a prosperity in tne tolls of European
ir.bltion. rivalry. Interest, humor or
iprlce.
Thcro is one other most grave and Im-
i'crtant difference between the two pur-r-.-ises.
The territory embraced In the
Louisiana purchase was susceptible of
n:ng urougnt into the Union as a sov
ereign state. The territory embraced in
She Philippine purchase can never become
sovereign state, as Its people are entire
ly vrSX for such a privilege; and. so, as
-igress nas aeciaea in regard to Porto
J, It must ever be hold as a subleet
cny. to be governed for all time by
poorness oi tne .federal uovernment,
kid up and supported In power by a
rco standing army.
Xone Should Countenance It.
j There Is not one single citizen within
"o domain of our broad Republic, no
"titter what his previous political pre-
ri.ons nave been, who should rive
p-ir.tenance and support to this anti-
uepubilcan and nnti-Aroerican policy of
I e McKInlev Administration.
In Jne, ISO, the first National con-
r-tlca of the Republican party was
Sr.d at the City of Philadelphia. It re-
".ved In favor of the maintenance of
e principles promulgated In the Dec-
f Kit' in of Independence." Can those
:c"rks be maintained by holding a
rcvased people in involuntary subju-
lit protested agslnst slavery In tho ter
Itcrles j-r the United States, and de-
rr .ei -pismve legislation, prohibiting
s x.stcnee or extension therein." Has
3t tho McKinley Administration proved
's? t- Its Republican doctrines, by pen-
o ;-tg tne sultan of Sum. with his har-
anl his slaves?
(It denounced the Ostend manifesto as
fr- w .rihy of American, diplomacy," and
i. lared that "it would bring shame and
f sianr on any government or people
I t gr.ve it their saactioa.'
T.o Ostend Manifesto, as will be re-
k'mbered, was a Joint letter, addressed
II in. William I Marcy. Secretary of
from James Buchanan. Minister
I reat Britain: J. T. Mason. Minister
IYr.ce and Pierre Soule. Minister to
r wh. upon the suggestion of Pres-.-T
Fierce, had been requested to meet
bgcttcr and exchange views, antlclpa-
Contributes His Views to The
tory to the negotiations with which Mr.
J Soule had been charged, with reference
j to the acquisition of Cuba from -Spain,
! by purchase, or otherwise. In pursu
I ance of such suggestion, tho three Am
I bassadors met in conference at Ostend,
I in Belgium, In October. 1S31, and at the
conclusion of the conference, the letter
above referred to was written.
It was a lengthy ,able and exhaustive
document. In which it was most strongly
urged that the acquisition of Cuba was
of paramount importance to the United
States, upon the great principle that
self-preservation is the first law of na
tions. Inasmuch as Its close proximity
to our shores while in, the possession of
a foreign power was a constant menace
to our repose and security.
Bold Sngrcextlon.
It was suggested that Spain be offered
"a price for Cuba far beyond its present
value." and that, If that be refused,
then, by every law. human and divine,
"we shall be justified in wresting it from
Spain, if we possess the power, and this
upon the very some principle that would
Justify an Individual in tearing down the
burning house of his neighbor, if there
were no other means of preventing the
flames from destroying his own house."
It will be observed that the Pierce
administration based the acquisition of
the American island of Cuba upon the
same ground upon which Jefferson based
the acquisition of the Louisiana terri
tory, and the only ground upon which
either could be defended, the demand of
necessity and of self-preservation, and
yet the Republican party, in its first na
tional convention, denounced the scheme
in most vigorous and vehement terms.
How then, without stultification, can
that party favor the acquisition of Asi
atic islands, when the claim of necessity
can in no wise be urged?
Lastly, the holding of the Philippine
Islands as colonies, as proposed by the
McKinley administration, is a policy so
un-American as to almost make the
bones of the Revolutionary heroes turn
uneasily In their graves. They were
citizens of colonies. They rebelled
against colonial government, and the
adoption of the McKinley colonial poli
cy by the people would constitute a
most wanton insult to the valor and pa
triotism of the men of 1776, who gave
their lives and their fortunes to destroy
a colonial system of government so re
pugnant to every freeman.
Control of Trusts.
Within the last few years trusts have
been organized in this country, with a
nominal stock of over eight billions of
dollars a sum largely in excess of all
the gold and silver money of the whole
world. The main purpose of all the
trusts organized is the realization of
greater profit, by the procurement and
establishment of monopolies, than could
otherwise be derived by ordinary le
gitimate business competition.
Tho tendency and effect of such and all
monopolies is the enrichment of the few
inside, at the expense of the many out
side. Some of these trusts and monop
olies are the legitimate spawn of the
protective tariff system; some of gov
ernment subsidies; some of the prosecu
tion of business which the Government
itself should really perform such as the
transmission of intelligence and the is
suance of currency while others, not
fostered by tariff, subsidies, or other
governmental Instrumentalities, have been
brought into existence during the dull
times and lack of trade resulting from
a most vicious system of legislation, in
order to continue business without actual
loss.
Next In Importance to the stamping out
and the utter extinguishment of the an
. tl-Republlcan and antl-Amerlcan policy,
that would tax our people to keep other
peoples under colonial .and military sub
jugation and despotism, comes the ques
tion of the abolition of those trusts and
monopolies which have so recently sprung
up In our Government, and the baneful
effects of which have already been felt
by those outside of trusts, by the In
creased prices they have to pay, for arti
cles which the trusts have to sell, and
by the decreased prices they receive for
what they sell and the trusts buy.
How then, to control the trusts and de
stroy monopolies, becomes a most im
portant question. Involving a most im
portant duty. As a matter of course,
those monopolies resulting from tariff
laws op subsidies should be weakened,
if not destroyed, by the entire abolition
of duties on all 'articles controlled, and
by the withdrawal of all subsidies, while
those monopolies basking in the exer
cise of Governmental functions should
be removed, through the exercise by the
Government Itself of these particular
prerogatives. These, and all other mo
nopolies, of whatever kind or degree,
should be destroyed by the strong hand
of the law, exercised in behalf of free
trade and fair play.
Remedial Legislation.
All the trusts resulting from the vicious
legislation of the Federal Government
can be partially, if not entirely, de
stroyed by that Government, through
the necessary remedial legislation, but
there are other trusts which can alone
be controlled by the sovereign states,
the Federal Government not having been
delegated with the power to enact the
necessary legislation. The state gov
ernments, through the exercise of this
sovereign power, reserved to themselves,
can alone effect the annihilation of all
commercial monopolistic combinations.
For several years past and In several
notable instances, state Legislatures have
passed laws for the, control of monopo
lies, as they had the most undoubted
right to do, but In no important Instance
have they been of any avail, as the mo
nopolies sought to be controlled have
brought suits in the Federal courts, and
such legislation has been nullified by tho
opinions of the Judges of the Federal
Government, which Government, In
neither the legislative nor judicial de
partment, was ever entrusted with the
power to nullify state laws.
The framers of the Constitution, by di
rect vote, refused to give to the National
Legislature a negation on the laws of a
state, and yet the National Judiciary has
exercised that power, without authority
of the Constitution, and which, if exer
cised at all by the Federal Government,
should, as a matter of right and reason,
ba exercised by the legislative Instead of
the Judicial department of the Govern
ment, as it most clearly requires the exer
cise of legislative power to undo what
legislative power has done.
STere, then, is tho great stumbling
block In the way of the necessary con
trol of monopolies. The state Legisla
tures have the power to control them, but
have been b'alked In the exercise of such
power by the Federal courts, which have
no right to balk them. The remedy, then.
Is a very plain one. The Federal Judi
ciary must be restrained from the exer
cise of the unconstitutional power they
have exercised over state Legislatures
and then the several state Legislatures
can most effectively control all monopo
lies not dependent upon Federal legisla
tion. Congress Can Clear the Road.
Congress has the undoubted right, un
der Sec. 2, Art. S. of the Constitution, to
"except" from the Jurisdiction of the
Federal courts all questions regarding the
Constitutionality of both the laws of Con
gress and of the state Legislatures, and
by the simple exercise of this power, not
only can Congress pass whatever Income
tax it may desire, without any constitu
tional amendment, but it can also clear
the road for the exercise by the state
Legislatures of necessary legislation in"
control of monopolies.
The clear and undoubted possession by
Congress of the right to restrain the Fed
eral courts from inquiry into and pass
ing Upon the constitutionality of either
the laws of Congress or of the state
Legislatures, most conclusively indicates
that the framers of the Constitution never
Intended the courts to exercise such
power, for to presume that they intended
for the courts such power not expressly
granted, while, at the same time, they
gave to Congress power to. prevent its
exercise, would be to charge the framers
of that instrument with a duplicity of ac
tion of which they were not guilty.
Congress not only possesses the power
referred to, but it has already exercised
It. In "an act to declare valid and con
clusive certain proclamations of the
President, and acts done In pursuance
thereof, or of his orders In the suppres
sion of the late rebellion," approved
March 2, 1SS7, It was enacted that "no
Civil court of the United States, or of
any state, or of the. District of Columbia,
or of "any district or territory of the
f sWl? -" r iiKJSs KvBI M:- ' stA "$ ife: " wl
EX-GOVERXOIt SYLVESTER PEXXOYEIt, FROM HIS LATEST PHOTOGRAPH, TAKEN FOR THE OREGONIA?".
United States, shall i have or take juris
diction of, or In any' manner reverse any
of the proceedings had or acts done as
aforesaid, nor shall any person be held
to answer in any of said courts for an
act done or omitted to be done in pur
suance of or in aid of said proclamation
.or orders, or by authority, or with the
approval of the President within the pe
riod aforesaid." During the last Presi
dential campaign the condemnation by
Republican orators, of the just criticism
of the Income tax decision, in the Demo
cratic platform, was a clear case of the
pot calling the kettle black, as a
Republican Congress had already pre
vented by law, as it had an undoubted
right to do, the unwarranted interference
of the Federal judiciary with the action
of a co-ordinate branch of the Govern
ment. How to Do It.
Thus it will be seen that the only mode
by which the trusts can be controlled Is
through the exercise of legislation both
by Congress and tho state Legislatures.
Congress must destroy the monopolies de
pendent upon Its acts of omission and
commission, and It must restrain the
Federal courts from unlawfully interfer
ing with state Legislatures in the exer
cise of their undoubted powers of sover
eignty, and then the death warrant of all
monopolistic trusts will be duly Issued
and executed.
Tho question before the voters In the
coming election is as to which party will
most likely perform tho necessary duties.
Will it be the party dominated by Mark
Hanna, who introduced in the last session
of Congress a subsidy bill calling for
$9,000,000 annually- to bring Into existence
a trust of most gigantic magnitude, and,
who, although it failed to pass at the
last session, confidently predicts that it
will be passed at the next session? That
Is tho question that every voter should
most carefully consider before he casts
his ballot at the forthcoming election.
Just one century ago Thomas Jefferson
was elected President of the United
States. For 12 j'ears the Government had
been under the control of the Federal
party. The tendency of the legislation
of that party had been to centralize
power In tho Federal Government. A
large bonded debt had been created,
which caused even the elder Adams to
express the grave doubt as to whether
"the tyranny of national debts, taxes,
funds and stocks" was not worse than
"feudal tyranny."
A National bank had been created; tho
Federal courts, by law, had been given
power not given by the Constitution; the
alien and sedition law had been passed,
and. In the last hours of the last session
of Congress before Jefferson was Inaugu
rated, a large number of Federal Circuit
Courts were brought Into existence,
which, under Jefferson, were very soon
let out of existence. Offices were multi
plied and taxes were Increased.
All "Was Changed.
With the advent of the Democratic
party, under Jefferson, into power, the
whole system of government was
, changed. The Federal Government was
kept entirely within the scope of its dele
gated powers, and economy In the admin
istration of government was strictly en
forced. From 1S00 to 1S60 the Democratic
party was virtually In the control of the
government, and In no period of the Na
tion's history has there been such anoth
er of general peace and prosperity.
It was indeed the golden era of the Re
public The National debt was extin
guished, and Federal taxation was so
light as to be unfelt. In 1S50, when the
government was turned over to the Re
publican, or old Federal party, the aver
age rate of tariff taxation was only 14
per cent, while the entire expense of tho
Federal Government did not exceed $60,
000,000 annually.
Never was a peoplo so prosperous or
happy, never a government more frugal
ly administered. There were, however,
during this period, two severe money
panics. In 1S37 and 1S57, for which the
Government was not responsible through
any act of commission, and the causes
of which should be ascertained, in order
to avoid their repetition.
The panic of 1S37 was caused by the
Government requiring payments for pub
lic lands, to be made in specie, as it
was compelled to do in self-protection.
This precipitated the panic. It Was pre
cipitated also by a redundancy of non
legal tender, bank paper money, and by j
the lack of sufficient specie. Has not the
late financial law of Congress prepared
the country for a. similar condition of
affairs.
The panic of 1S57 wa3 precipitated from
a like cause. Congress, by the act of
February 21, 1S57, demonetized foreign
coins, amounting- to several millions of
dollars, which had theretofore been full
legal tender money by law, and to maKe
a bad matter worse. It is stated, in Har
per's Magazine of May, 1857, that "from
California the shipments or gold have
thus far fallen considerably below those
of last year, the difference by five ar
rivals being about $1,500,000." The panic
of 1S57 was caused by a contraction of
legal-tender money, while the business
prosperity of the country most urgently
required an expansion of such money.
This is a lesson that should tie heeded.
Prosperous Conditions.
But, notwithstanding these two great
drawbacks, the country under Democratic
rule was so prosperous, that when Gov
ernment securities had to be sold just
prior to 1800, to secure funds with which
to pay the expenses of the Utah war, the
Government was compelled to pay from
10 to 12 per cent interest, as investments
in private enterprises were so remunera
tive as to prevent the sale of Government
securities at any lower rate.
From I860 to 1900 the Republican party
has virtually controlled the Government,
No exception should be made, as Presi
dent Cleveland, although elected a Demo
crat, was really a Republican on the
main Issues of the day. Like the,Federa.
party, of old, It has been centralizing
power in the Federal Government, until
the President has, through his immense
patronage and power, really uecome ai
Emperor. The tariff duties, which av
eraged 14 per cent In I860, now are about
BO per cent. The first Republican tariff
placed such duties on shipbuilding mate
rials as to destroy that Industry and give
the carrying trade on American products
to foreign ships, and tho protective tariff
policy then inaugurated and since fol
lowed has tended to secure the Impov
erishment of the unprotected many for
tho enrichment of the protected few.
The National debt, which was complete
ly wiped out, now rests like a huge in
cubus upon the industries of the land,
and official positions have been multiplied
without number. Over $3,000,000 have
been paid to various commissions appoint
ed by President McKinley. Even our own
Binger Hermann, Commissioner of the
Land Office, employed last year 44 timber
rangers and three supervisors, at an ex
pense of $110,000, to prevent the giant
firs of the Cascade Mountains from top
pling over, and ,in his last report ho
stated that the force of agents should be
largely Increased, if not doubled.
Money Squandered.
Money wrung from the people through
all modes of taxation conceivable, except
the just mode of an Income tax, is squan
dered on favorites without stint or limit.
Even Charles Foster, Secretary of the
Treasury under Harrison, who, through
his arbitrary ruling in October, 1891,
brought the country practically to tho
gold basis, Involving tho whole Nation
in distress and disaster, and bankrupting
himself as well as President McKlnlej-,
has been permitted by the President to
recuperate his fallen fortunes by drawing
a salary of $10,000 a year, at the expense
of the taxpayers, on one of the commis
sions appointed by the President.
There has been a very great deal salo
about the McKinley prosperity. To be a
recipient, however, of this prosperity, it
is absolutely necessary to be either an
office-holder, a bondholder, a national
banker, an army supply contractor, or a
member of some of the various trusts
hatched out through Republican legisla
tion. The ordinary citizen, the farmer,
the mechanic, and the day laborer, have
neither of them grown wealthy and purse
proud by reason of that delusive prosper
ity. Tho great masses of the peoplo
which, in I860, found constant employ
ment at fair remuneration, find only fitful
employment now at even scanter wages,
while compelled to pay higher prices for
necessaries which they are compelled to
buy.
All the comic pictorials In every lssuo
havo laughable Illustrations of the
"tramp," a new species of American citi
zen brought into existence by the Repub
lican incubator. The Federal taxes which,
In lSGO. amounted to less than J60.000.000,
was an average of less than $2 per cap
ita. The appropriation of the last Con
gress was $709,729,476, or an average of
over $9 per capita, assuming the pop
ulation of the United States to be
now 75,000,000. And If appropriations
had been made which were purpose
ly withheld, and which must here
after be made, it would have made the
total over $379,000,000, an average of over
$11 per capita. Under Republican rule,
the bankers have control of the money
of the country, and the trusts have con
trol of the business of the country, while
the Administration Itself Is marking out
for the Nation an imperial policy, burden
some to the people and fatal to their lib
erties. Thus, in brief, the policies of the two
parties have been contrasted, and the In
dependent voter between the two must
make his choice.
Financial Legislation.
The financial policy of the Republican
party is outlined In the act of March
14, 1900. Ths good feature or that policy
was the practical recognition of silver
as standard money, at the ratio of IS to
1. The immaterial feature was the rec
ognition of the gold instead of the silver
dollar as the unit or standard of value,
for, so long as both metals are coined at
a given ratio, Jt makes no difference what
ever whether the gold or silver dollar
is the standard.
Very much has been said about that
bill having established the gold standard.
Thi3 is a mistake. The first coinage acts
of Congress made the sliver dollar tho
unit of yalue, but since the coinage act
of 1873, the gold dollar has been the unit
of value. The bad features of the law
are the placing of the bonds authorized
by It upon the gold basl3, and the giving
to the banks the, issuance of the required
paper currency of the country. Every
other creditor of the country under the
law can be paid In silver except the bond-
holder, who is the especial favorite of all
Republican legislation. N
But even this placing of the bonded
debt alone on the gold basis has actually
compelled the Administration to proceed
beyond the requirements of the law In
the coinage of the silver bullion In the
treasury, In order to avoid being caught
In a corner.
Tho revenue act of 1S9S required the
coinage of at least one and a half mil
lion dollars monthly. A Washington dis
patch to tho New York Herald, of March
3, stated It to be the purpose of the
Treasury Department, upon the passage
of the financial bill" then before Congress,
to coin monthly 4,030,000 silver dollars,
effecting retirement of all treasury notes
within a year and a half.
Effects of tne Mcnsnre.
The effects of that vicious financial
measure of the Republican party have
already been most seriously felt. On tho
very day the bill passed the house there
was a slump In tho stock market of
New York of over $1CO,000,000. And in
the financial report of R. G. Dun & Co.,
of July 6 last, It is stated that the fail
ures in the first half of 1W0 were 5362;
liabilities $100,570,134. These failures in
cluded 30 banks and financial associa
tions, representing $23,822,S52.
The report further stated that Iron
and steel had declined about 25 per cent
since January 10; that the Fall River
committee had decided to close tho cot
ton mills for a time; that some of the
largest woolen mills have closed or re
duced forces, and that a large share of
the boot and shoe Industry is inactive.
Is this McKinley prosperity? If this
is the result of bringing the favored
bondholder to a gold basis, what would
be the result of bringing the whole coun
try to the gold basis? The Treasury
Department, according to the Herald
dispatch, is doing all it can to prevent
the stagnation of business by coining
legal tender silver dollars far beyond the
requirements of the law. It is coining
them so fast that, in a year and a half,
all the silver bullion will be coined.
What then? What will be the result
of the stoppage of the coinage of legal
tender money. If times are so dull now
with the present rapid coinage? Let tho
experience of '37, '57, '73 and '93 give
answer. Is it this- Impending catastrophe
that already throws Its baleful shadow
athwart the business Interests of tho
land?
An Un-American Alliance.
That therei is a secret alliance be
tween the McKinley Administration and
the British Government is a generally
conceded fact. In the July McClure's
Magazine, the American corespondent of
the London Chronicle has an article,
giving several additional confirmatory
particulars.
As the coalition of the lion and the
lamb resulted in the lamb's getting In
side the lion, so that between the pres
ent Republican Administration and
Great Britain results In our own humili
ation. And the people of thiS country
have been humiliated by Republican
toadyism to the English Government
In the first speech mado by Ambassa
dor Choate in London, at a Chamber of
Commerce dinner, he said that "when
the British lion was about to roar, even
the American eagle should hold Its
peace," and at the following Fourth of
July dinner of the American Society In
London, at which the Ambassador was
present, the Queen was first toasted, and
then the President. The Paris La Patrle,
In March, 1SS9, stated that from Janu
ary to August, 1S9S, Colonel Hay, then
Ambassador, spent more than $15,000,000
on the British press.
Why should we toady to the English
Government? It Is the whlted sepulchre
of our planet, beautiful outward, but
within full of dead men's bones and
all uncleanness. It is tho Shylock of
nations.
The imperial edict of the Emperor of
China against opium was followed, In
1846, by a war with the English, who, for
greed, desired a Chinese market for the
drug, regardless of Its malign conse
quences. A professedly Christian nation
made war upon a heathen nation, not
for the spread of civilization, but for the
sake of opium. The drug was forced on
the heathen; Hong Kong was seized, and
an Indemnity of 521,OCQ,0'0 ws collected.
The more than 60,000,000 people now starv
ing In India are the napless victims o
the English greed and sold standard.
In Blackwood's Magazine, October, 1S66,
the statement is made "that "Lord Crand
bourne, a night or" two ago, Informed
the House of Commons and the country
that a revenue of 5,300,000 Jper annum
was paid by the poor people of India as
a tax upon the sea salt, almost the only
condiment which they use with their
wretched dinner of boiled rice." Ana a
New Haven dispatch of August 21. 1S99.
states that "250 tons of coper coins have
just been unloaded from a ship which
made a trip to Bombay, India, to pur
chase these for manufacturing purposes
in this country, as they were cheaper
than native copper. In all 1939 bags of
coin were brought. They were struck
about 50 years ago."
Brutal Financial Greed.
The English Government not only
taxes without mercy, but. In, Its worship
of gold, It dishonors and depreciates the
bulk of India's circulating medium. Is It
any wonder that millions are starving
there as the result of that most brutal
and fatal policy? And yet it, tho proud
est and richest government of earth,
stands Idly by and permits the charity
of other nations to relieve the starving
millions of its subjects, while it is spend
ing exhaustless treasure and sacrificing
countless human lives to drive from their
home in South Africa a God-fearing yeo
manry to get possession of some rich gold
mines.
Such Is the character of the government
to which the McKinley Administration
is playing toady today. It has borrowed
from It its ruinous financial policy, and
it now proposes to borrow from it its
colonial policy. A Hong Kong dispatch
of May 30 last states that "tho British
colonial officials are extending every cour
tesy to the McKinley Commissioners, en
deavoring to familiarize them with the
colonial methods of the English."
Has our Government already become
an imperial government? The President,
without declaration of war and without
authority from Congress, has dispatched
troops to China, ostensibly to protect tho
lives of American citizens there. Can It
be possible that by virtue of the un
doubted disgraceful secret alliance be
tween the McKinley Administration and
the Government of Great Britain, which
does not desire to weaken its forces in
South Africa, the American troops have
been sent over to China, really as a Brit
ish contingent and catspaw?
On the Other Foot.
Fifteen years ago next month more than
50 citizens of China were massacred at
Rock Spings, In Wyoming. Would China
have been justified in sending troop3
thereafter to San Francisco, in order to
punish those guilty of the crime and to
avenge the death of Its citizens? Would
our Government ever have sanctioned
such procedure? We forbid the Chinese
to enter this country unarmed, and Is
it fair to en.ter their country by forca
of arms?
The McKinley Administration ignores
the divine precept that "whatsoever ye
would that men should do to you do ye
even so to them," and follow the English
maxim to do to others what you would
not allow them to do to you. It ignores
the sound policy of America for Ameri
cans, and China for the Chinese. It
ignores the warning of the Father of his
Country to "avoid sympathy for a favor
ite nation," to "not quit our own to stand
on foreign ground," "to not interweave
our destiny with any portion of Europe,
and to steer clear of alliances with any
portion of the foreign world."
In the face of these solemn warnings,
the Administration is the very foremost
factor in the existing Chinese imbroglio.
A Washington dispatch of July 7 states
that Japan is put forward by other pow
ers to do the chief work in China; that
"Japan is to be compensated for the
work," and that our own State Depart
ment "is disposed to feel pride in the
fact that it was through tho Initiative of
the United States that this happy accord
has been brought about."
The McKinley Administration, through
tho assumption of regal power, has fully
embarked the country upon a most dan
gerous and fatal Imperial policy, and un
less sternly rebuked by the American
people, it will end in the establishment
Pof an empire upon the ruins of our re
public. Should not that rebuke be given?
Earnest Words.
This may be the last time when I shall
speak upon political topics, as such du
ties will devolve upon younger men. In
what I have said, my only purpose has
been to do what I may to secure for our
selves and for those who follow after us
the blessings of a free and just govern
ment. My years have now quite nearly
filled man's allotted span of life, and
when, before long, in the ordinary course
of nature, my name shall be reached on
the roll-call of the death angel, whatever
else my wrongdoings and short comings,
I can respond to the summons with a con
science clear of the offense of having done
injustice to my fellow men, by giving
countenance or support to any tariff or
subsidy taxation that robs one class for
the benefit of another class, or to any
financial policy that surrenders the gov
ernmental function of furnishing curren
cy for the people, to an oligarchy of pri
vate citizens for their own enrichment,
gives to the wealthy and fortunate own
ers of governmental securities grants and
immunities not vouchsafed to others, and
that seek to strike down one of the money
metals of the Constitution to the loss of
the debtor and tho benefit of the credi
tor. I could Implore of a kind Providenco
no greater earthly boon than that my life
might "be spared to seo the day when,
through the enlightenment of the people
and the justice of the government, its rev
enues, by an Income tax, will be gathered
from Its citizens according to their abil
ity to pay, and its currency be furnished
by itself alone, every dollar of which will
be an honest, debt-paying dollar.
One more word to men who havo
rounded out their full three score years.
You reached manhood while yet the coun
try was under Democratic rule. Do you
not remember that there was opportunity,
without wealth. In the various avenues of
Industry, to secure a comfortable Inde
pendence for your declining years and a
wherewithal to start your children in life?
Then no unjust tariff subsidy or finan
cial legislation had piled up fortunes for
the few, and put up bars against the
prosperity of the many. When you con
trast the abundance of privileges then
possessed by those just starting in life,
with the inequality and disadvantages
now surrounding our children and grand
children, after 40 years of Republican rule,
is it not impossible to stifle your sympa
thies for the youth of our land, and must
you not realize that there is resting upon
you a most solemn and Imperative duty?
For the benefit of coming generations,
the obligation is Imposed upon yon by the
experience of your years to resolve for
yourselves, and to give counsel to younger
men, to oppose that policy which Is fast
consigning us and our posterity to the
relentless enthrallment of trusts and
monopolies, and to labor for the restora
tion of that better policy, which, for CO
years, gave to our' people an equality of
laws and privileges, and placed our gov
ernment, without either unprovoked wars
of conquest or dishonorable secret alli
ances with monarchies, to the very fore
front among the foremost nations of tho
earth. SYLVESTER PENNOYER.
Fathers Will nave Preference.
The town of Glvette, in the Ardonnes,
is taking steps to put an end to the depop
ulation of France. Hereafter for all town
offices fathers of more than three children
will be picked first, and all married men
will 'be preferred to bachelors. Prizes
will be awarded yearly to those parents
who have sent the largest number of
children to school regularly, and scholar
ships in the National schools will he given
only to those children belonging to house
holds of more than three in family. Fath
ers of families will also have the first
chance of admission to almshouses and
old people's homes.
IRRIGATION It ITALY.
LATE KmJG HUMBERT -A CHAMP! 03l
OF IMPROVEMENTS.
Methods of the Romans How Peopl?
' of Italy and India Greeted :
Openiner of Canala. w
WASHINGTON. Aug. 18. Through th
assassination of King Humbert of Italy
the poor people of that historic land testa
conscientious friend. Although Rome,
and later Italy, hava supported. many ty
rants who have trampled upon the-necks
of the people as upon worms, others of
its rulers. King Humbert among tho"
number, have had the good of the peas
ants thoroughly at heart and have en
deavored to improve and ameliorate theJr
condition. Especially notable as a means
to this end have been tho irrigation
works of Italy, largely undertaken and,
fostered by her successive monarehs and
ministries.
The early Romans were careful irri
gators and Italy is known in history a
the classic land of Irrigation, tlthough
it is not believed that any large lrrlga-
tion systems or great canals were- con
structed until In comparative recent"
times. As In tho far East, springs,,
well? and small streams, easily diverted.'
from their channels, were tho sources off,
supply; but in the last few centuries
Italy has developed soma magnificent ir
rigation systems. In the districts off
Piedmont and Lombardy hundreds off.
thousands of poor peoplo havo found re
lief and comfort through the revivifying
Influence of water, great tracts of marsh
and waste land having been reclaimed'
to Irrigation. Nothing could bo mora
striking than the contrast between soma
of tho irrigated and the unirrigated dis
tricts. Many of the latter are among"
the most densely populated regions off
Europe Their soils have received! just
the element neeed to call forth their
Inherent powers and Instead of arid
wastes and extensive marshes, corn-
fields, rica grounds, flax fields and greea
meadows producing wonderful crops,
cover the face of tho country, with pros
perous, farms and cottages surrounded,
by the vine and the fig. and inhabited by
happy families. It is only necessary
to compare the present condition of tho.
provinces where irrigation exists with,
their destitute past to see the good which,
a wise government policy has wrought
for the people. Nearly 600 years have,
been required to perfect the splendid
canal system of Piedmont and to change
Its once arid wastes and dreary marshes
into sheets of cultivation. Tho moral
presents Itself that to Irrigators in the
United States, who are but beginning
this work, they may havo cheerful hearts
In sight of what has already been ac
complished in this country by prlvato
capital in a fiftieth part of that time.
The late King always evinced a par
ticular interest In the Irrigation work
of tho State and in the possibilities off
rural Improvement through water recla
mation. While about 7,000,000 acres off
land in Italy are already reclaimed un
der irrigation, thi3 Is by no means all
the land subject to reclamation, and pro
jects are now on foot for additional de
velopment, the possibilities of which are
very great. The great government Irri
gating canals In Italy have a length of
over 140 miles and the vast network of
distributing channels aggregate a total
length of something over 4000 miles.
It is understood that the new King.
Victor Emmanuel HI. will devote him
self largely to Internal improvements,
first breaking away from the staggering
expense to the State of foreign entangle
ments and alliances.
Italian history contains many Interest
ing accounts of wars and strifes over tho
sources of irrigation during" the days off
feudalism and of conflicts with foreign,
nations. An Interesting- incident is told
of the temporary destruction and im
mediate repair of the Navlgllo Martesana,
the large canal of Milan. During tho
last century, owing to excessive pressure,
about SCO feet of the channel near Milan
was carried away, cutting off the water
supply of the city, and, occurring in
April, just as tho demand for irriga
tion was commencing, it necessitated the
utmost energy to complete the repairs
in time to save the great crop dependent
upon Its waters. It was considered nec
essary, among other things, to repines
the ancient earthen embankment by a
vast retaining wall of brick mnsonry.
The government acted with great vigor
and the work was successful, 'six weeks
of tremendous effort sufficing for Its com
pletion. At such times tho people of
Irrigated countries appreciate the exer
tions of their governments. When tho
British government In India reopened
tho Delhi canal, great concourses of peo
ple accompanied the waters a3 they
passed slowly along through the new
channel flowers were thrown Into tho
stream, and the multitudes loudly ex
pressed their joy, and welcomed with glad
cheers the sight of the long-desired wa
ters. Similarly the Inhabitants of Milan
collected In vast numbers along the banks
of the Canal Martesana upon lt3 reopen
ing and cheer after cheer arose as tho
waters poured past. All classes and par
!., -nUtn in bestowlnz the highest pralso
upon the engineers and the Administration
for their energy nau. euveu. " -j -the
year. GUY E. mTCHELL.
CONDITIONS IN CUBA.
Must Be Assured a. Stable Govern-'
ment Before It Will Flourish.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14. A prominent
American coal merchant of Havana was
-ecently in Washington discussing busi
ness conditions In tho Island of Cuba,
and his testimony but bears out asser
tions that have time and again been mads
that business in Cuba cannot nourish
until there Is some deflnito disposition
mado of tho Island by the United States.
This gentleman said that while there was
considerable business being done in Cuba,
there could be no real prosperity until
the uncertainty as to the incoming gov
ernment Is ended. "A feeling of unrest
pervades all classes." he said and men
with money hesitate to make invest
ments until it is determined how much
of stability the new government will have.
The greatest need of Cuba now, asldo
from assurance of a stable government,
is for capital and labor in the Interior off
the island. The cities are doing very well,
but the interior needs development. The
Cubans themselves do not take very
kindly to labor, and It will mostly havo
to be Imported. There are now many
laborers coming from Span. which pre
sents the peculiar picture of the former
proud owners of the Island returning to
serve as laborers in its sugar fields under
Cuban employers,
"I do not expect to see the day when
the island is completely out of American
control. By our pledge to establish a Cu
ban republic and afford It protection wa
are as much bound to protect the Cubans
against themselves as against foreign na
tions, and that they will need the ono
kind of protection as much as the other
there seems not the slightest doubt. Most
of the offices will undoubtedly be filled
by Cubans, but I believe there will havo
to be a general American oversight for
many years to come. Any other policy
would be a wrong to ourselves and a
wrong to the Cubans. Maximo Gomea,
will undoubtedly be the first President
of the Cuban Republic."
So Sad!
Somehow the rumor had spread that ha
Had sold conceald about;
He let this harmless story stand, ,
And presently his nieces and
Hl3 nephews sought him out
They took him home and housed htm well"
And tried to make him glad;
Last week he died today they know
Ho had no money hidden oh.
Their loss is very sad! v
Chicago Tunes-Herald, j