The Commoner.
5
Aro American
Wage workers
"Hogs?"
Shut Out
the Honest
Horaeseekers.
Mr. Schwab, president of the steel trust, is
taking a little vacation in Europe, and according
to the cable dispatches is enjoy
ing himself hugely. While In
Paris he submitted to an inter
view and is credited with saying
that "when people earn good
wages their rights do not trouble them." Accord
ing to Mr. Schwab the American wageworker for
he was speaking of American wageworkers is like
a cow or a hog perfectly contented if given a
full stomach. It remains to bo seen whether this
viow will be indorsed by the wageworkers of the
country.
Over seven hundred relinquishments have al
ready been made in tho land offices at El Reno
and Lawton. This means that
over seven hundred men who
drew farms in the government
land lottery have sold their
claims. It will be remembered
that the lottery plan was adopted as the best means
of, shutting out land speculators. But it seems to
have been a great failure. It was just as easy for
speculators to line up at the registration offices as
it was for home-seekers, and the speculators stood
an equal show. Now honest home-seekers are
privileged to buy homes in the territory if they
can raise the price demanded by the speculators.
It is evident that the transportation lines
are opposed to the construction of any isthmian
canal, and it is fair to assume
Push the that they are b.ehind the Panama
Nlcaraguan route, not because they prefer
Canal Bill. that route, but for the reason
that agitation in its behalf gives
the best promise for the most delay. It is signifi
cant that the offer of the Panama canal stock
holders was not made until it seemed. .certain, that
the Nlcaraguan route would be adopted by the low
er house of congress. Having considered the,,
points in favor of the Panama route, the canal
commission, that recently made its report, up
proved the Nlcaraguan route. It seems that those
who have been most earnest in advocating, the con
struction of a canal are practically unanimous in
favor of the Nlcaraguan route, while the present
advocates of the Panama canal are largely made
up of those who have been opposed to any canal at
all. It is to be hoped that the Nicaraguan bill
will be pushed through the senate at an early
day. The American people are very generally in
favor of an isthmian canal and the NJcaraguan
plan offers the best method of a prompt realization
o.f a very popular plan.
The republican leaders are said to favor an
abolition of the duty of 10 cents a pound on tea.
The New York World points
The Tariff out that this duty last year
on yielded $8,000,000 in revenue.
Tea. The World says: "The United
States, it is true, consumes some
85,000,000 pounds of tea annually, and the hot-bed
tea 'plantations' established in the south and in
California by our paternal agricultural department
probably do not produce, all told, over eighty-five
pounds a year." The World protests against this
total indifference to the tea growing "infant" and
asks how it would be possible for that infant to
grow up without a protective tariff. This protest
would seem to be a wholly appropriate one. If
there is no prospect for the .tea growing infant
in this country, the department of agriculture
should abandon all encouragement on this linel
If this infant does have prospects, then why should
it not be protected even to the extent of enormous
taxes upon consumers of the country? To be suro,
this tax would cost tho consumers $8,000,000 per
year, but what's a few dollars when it comes to
"protecting home Industry?" In all seriousness,
the consumers of this country will welcome any
tariff reduction that will give them relief; but is
it not strange that those who have boon heavily
burdened In procuring the necessities of life, be
cause of the high protective tariff, have not sooner
learned the absurdity and Iniquity of a policy that
takes enormous sums from tho pockets of tho
patient many to place fortunes in the pockets of
the greedy few? If the" republicans put tea on tho
free list they will show more consideration for tho
public generally than they aro accustomed to show.
Commenting upon tho latest Philippine news,
the Houston (Tex.) Pos't suggests that we have
captured the Philippines from
How Wb Spain, purchased tho Philippines
Secured the from Spain and fought for the
Philippines. Philippines with the Filipinos.
The Post overlooks the fact that
in addition to capturing the Philippines, purchas
ing the Philippines "and fighting with the Fili
pinos for the Philippines, we also had the Philip
pines thrown into our laps by Providence. It
would seem that the Philippine commission should
try to impress all of these facts upon the minds
of our Filipino subjects.
Referring to the war in the Transvaal, the
Kansas City Journal says: "The United States
is not, going to interfere in the
Dollars affairs of foreign countries with
vs. which it is in no way legiti-
. Republics. mately connected." Perhaps not,
but that it not proof that the
United States should keep hands off. The United
States have interfered under like circumstances.
The maintenance of republics should, certainly,
interest the United States as much as the main
tenance of a monarchy -like China, and wo .have
heard many administration voices praising the
republican .administration for . preserving the in
tegrity of China. But, perhaps, a matter of dollars
and cents is of more concern to, some of our citi
zens at this time than the further spread of self
government. Next to a fat "commissionership," and there
are many such under a republican administration,
tho delectable task of "repre
Amoricans scnting" this government at
Dancing coronations promises to be the
at Court. most sought after. The selection
"' of representatives to attend the
coronation of King Edward will necessitate the
Selection of similar representatives at other coro
nations. The King of Spain is soon to be crowned,
and that will afford another opportunity for
American flunkies to kow tow and salaam at the
feet of royalty. It seems, too, that there is no
lack of Americans anxious for the job. We may
confidently expect to be represented at the coro
nation of the Grand Panjandrum of Begum, the
elevation to the throne of the High Cockalorum
of Kibosh and the conferring of the sceptre upon
the Ahkoond of Swatunless the American people
recover from their spasm of imperialism and in
sist upon a return to the plain, simple, honest
" and unaffected ways of the fathers.
A subscriber asks The Commoner to explain
the "City National bank deal" so often mentioned
of late in connection" with Sec
retary Gage's retirement1 from
the cabinet. The story is a
short one, but extremely inter
esting, and serves to show tha
hold that the great financial institutions have
upon the republican party. A few years ago tho
government sold the New York customs house
property to' the .City National bank of -that city
foj.- $2,265,000, Secretary Gago, by virtue of his
position, having charge of the transaction. No
Some
Republican
Financiering.
Weylerism
Under American
Authority.
money changed handh Mie bank merely landed
tho representatives of the treasury department &
certificate of deposit to $2,215,000. The bank re
tained tho money and vanned it out at the usual
rates of intorest. Tho certificate of deposit being
made out for $50,000 ltsa than tho purchase prlco,
tho government retained the title to the property.
But tho bank took possession. As the government
held the title tho bank escaped city, county and
state taxes. And tho government, not being ready
to vacate the premises, rented them from the bank,
paying a rental of $130,000 year. Now note tho
facts carefully: Tho bank, by not holding the
title, escapes paying $B,O00 a yoar in taxes. By
giving a certificate of deposit that bears no in
terest it is enabled to lean the purchase price of
tho property at the usual rates of intorest, and
by buying the property before the government was
ready to vacate It draws $130,000 a year rent. As
an example of financiering (on the part of the
bank) this, undoubtedly, ranks at the head.
The American people have been greatly stirred
recently by the announcement of General Bell's
reconcentratlon order to apply
to the Philippines. The Wash
ington correspondent of tho
Chicago Chronicle, speaking of
this order, says: "Its frank ad
mission of intention to impose penalties upon in
nocent women and children and Its encourage
ment to subordinate officers and others to arrest
non-combatants upon mere suspicion has excited
intense indignation." The same correspondent
quotes Seator Hoar as haying made a dignified,
manly and vigorous protest against this wicked
ness. Senator Hoar said: "The people will sooner
or later awaken to the. atrocities that are being
committed in the name of liberty. They will soon
understand that there IS no difference between
Weylerism under the stars and stripes in the
Philippines and Weylerism under the Spanish
flag in Cuba. Weylerism has been practiced in
Cuba in various forms for years before the. con
science of the American people finally revolted
against it. Now, however, that we understand
what It means that same conscience will operate
more quickly, but with equal certainty in behalf
of the Filipinos who aro being herded In recon
centratlon camps."
General MacArthur, in ' his report concerning
the Philippines, said: "To doubt. the wisdom of
the United States in remaining
In the islands is to doubt the
stability of republican Institu
tions." This is a strange state
ment. What American or Fili
pino can have confidence in the "stability of re
publican institutions" in those islands while the
United States are engaged in striking blows at
republican institutions? The "stability of repub
lican institutions" is in danger whenever men
who profess to adhere to those institutions do
things repugnant to the republican spirit. Mr.
Jefferson on one occasion said that it was Im
portant "to fortify republicanism behind as many
barriers as possible, that the outworks may give
time to rally and save the citadel should that bo
again in danger." At another time, speaking of
tho ship of state, he said, "Wo shall put her on her
republican tack and she will show by the beauty
of her motion the skill of her builders." If wff
manifest jealous concern for the "stability of
republican institutions," we will avoid anything
inconsistent with republicanism as the fathers
understood .it, and as tho school children of
America, for more than a century,, hayq. learned
it. If we are anxious to preserve the "stability or
republican institutions" ye will keep the good ship
of state. .on -the republic? n tack in order that she
may show "by the beauty of her motion the skill
of her builders." '
Showing the
Skill of
tho Builders.
I
i