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W : " ' - ' ' <r v :^v. if*' ' IBB | Formally Accepting Demo? cratic Nomination. | IS A CONCISE DOCUMENT Issues Clearly Set Forth. Honesty, Economy and Peace His Plea. H IP' At Bsopus, N. Y., Sunday night, Judge Alton B. Parker gave out his formal letter of acceptance of the democratic nomination for president. The document contains about 7,500 words, and, part, is as follows: ffo the Honorable Champ Clark and Others, Committee, etc.:? Gentlemen: In my response to your committee, at the formal notification } \ proceedings, I referred to some matters not mentioned in this letter. I iesire that these be considered as m corporated herein, and regret that lack of space prevents specific reference ? to them all. I wish here, however, to |?*. again refer my views there expressed | as to the gold standard, to declare again my unqualified belief in said standard, and to express my appreciaii" tion of the action of the convention in . reply to my communication upon that ||I|t subject. Grave public questions are pressing for decision. The democratic party appeals to the people with confidence |p., that its position on these questions | will be accepted and endorsed at the polls. While the issues involved are I numerous, some stand forth pre-emi?|| aent in the public mind. Among these jpv are; Tariff reform, imperialism, ecoK| nomical administration and honesty in v tne puDiic service, i snan Drieny consider these and some others within the necessary prescribed limits of this ^ letter. Imperialism. While I presented my views at the H; notification proceedings concerning jjjp this vital issue, the overshadowing r; Importance of this question impels me I to refer to it again. The issue is oftentimes referred to as constitutionalism jrs. imperialism. If we would retain our lioerties and constitutional rights unimpaired, we cannot permit or tolerate, at any time or for any purpose, the arrogation of unconstitutional powers by the executive branch of our government. We should be ever mindful of the words of Webster, "Liberty is only to be preserved by maintaining constitutional restraints and just divisions of polit- j leal powers." Already the national govShiment has become centralized beyond any point contemplated or imagined by the framers of the constitution. How t- tremendously all this has added to ; the power of the president! It has dep yeloped from year to year until it ak' d most equals that of many monarchs. Tfrhile the growth of our country and jj& the magnitude of interstate interests may seem to furnish a plausible rea son for this centralization of power, ? yet these same facts afford the most potent reason why the executive should not be permitted to encroach upon the other departments of the I; ' government and assume legislative, or a':-' other powers, not expressly conferred by the constitution, jp: The magnitude of the country and Its diversity of interests and populav T tion would enable a determined, am? bitious and able executive, unmindful of constitutional limitations and fired | . yrith the lust of power, to go far in |&s' . the usurpation of authority and the aggrandizement of personal sower be fore the situation could be fully appreciated or the people be aroused. The issue of imperialism which has been thrust upon the country involves a decision whether the law of the land . or the rule of individual caprice shall govern. The principle of imperialism day give rise to brilliant, startling, lji> flashing results, but the principle of democracy holds in check the brilliant executive and subjects him 10 the sober, conservative control of the people. The people of the United States etand at the parting of the ways. Shall we follow the footsteps of our fathers along the paths of peace, prosperity and contentment, guided by the everliving spirit of the constitution which they framed for us, or shall we go along other and untried paths, hitherto shunned by all, following blindly new ideals, which, though appealing wtih brilliancy to the imagination and ambitioh, may prove a will o' the wisp, leading us into difficulties from which It may be impossible to extricate ourselves without lasting injury to our national character and institutions? The Tariff and Trusts. Tariff reform is one of the cardinal principles of the democratic faith, and the necessity for it was never greater than at the present time. It should be undertaken at once in the interest of all our people. The Dingley tariff is excessive in many of its rates, and, as to them at least, unjustly and oppressively burpi . fc: dens the people. It secures to do- 1 < niamifar?t-iirorc einclv nr ill I 1 combination, the privilege of exa;;t- 1 ing excessive prices at home and ; prices far above the level of sales ] made regularly by them abroad with ; profit, thus giving a bounty to for- < eigners at the expense of our own ; people. Its unjust taxation burdens 1 the people generally, forcing them to i pay excessive prices for food, fuel, i clothing and other necessities of life. < The two leading parties have a!- 1 ways differed as to the principle of i nnctrmna favatinn. Our nart.V has al ways advanced the theory that the object is the raising of revenue for sup- j port of the government whatever oth- 1 er results may incidentally flow there- < from. The republican party, on the ; other hand, contends that customs au- ; ties should be levied primarily for pro- i tection, so-called, with revenue as the 1 subordinate purpose, thus using the power of taxation to build up the busi- .< ness and property of the few at the expense of the many. i In the words of our platform, we i demand "a revision and a gradual reduction of the tariff by the friends r* the masses, and for the common weal, and not by the friends of its abuses, its estortions -and discriminations." 1 Trust Remedies. I pointed out in my earlier response the remely which, in my judgment, can effectually be applied against mo- 1 nopolies, and the assurance was then 1 given that if existing laws, including both statute and common law, proved inadequate, contrary to my expectations, I favor such further legislation, within constitutional limitations, as will best promote and safeguard the i interests of all the people. ' Reciprocity. In my address to the notification I committee I said that tariff reform "is demanded bv the best interests of both manufacturer and consumer." With equal truth it can be said that the benefits of reciprocal trade trea- j ties would inure to both. That the j 1 I consumer would be helped is unques- j j tionable. That the manufacturer would j I receive great benent by extending nis i < markets abroad hardly needs demon- I stration. His productive capacity has j ; outgrown the home market. If we would run our mills, to their full ca- ' pacity, thus giving steady employment to our workmen and securing to them j and to the manufacturer the profits accruing from increased production, othther markets must be found. Furthermore, when our manufacturers are dependent on raw materials in whole or part imported, it is vital to the extension of their markets abroad that they secure their materials on the most favorable terms. Our martyred president,William McKinley, appreciated this situation. He : pointed out in his last address to the people that we must make sensible trade arrangements if "we shall extend the outlets for our increasing surplus." This argument was made in the interest of our manufacturers, whose products, he urged, "have so multi- 1 plied, that the problem of more mar- ' kets requires our urgent and immediate attention." He had come to realize that the so-called "stand pat" policy must give way ? that there must be a reduction of duties to enable our manufacturers to cultivate foreign markets. The last words of this president?who had won the affection of his countrymen ? ought to be studied by every man who has any doubt of the necessity of a reduction in tariff rates in the interest of the manufacturer. The persistent refusal of the republican majority in the federal senate to ratify the reciprocity treaties negotiated in pursuance of the policy adcated alike by Mr. Blaine and Mr. Moj Kinley,and expressly sanctioned in the ! fourth section of the Dingley act it! self, is a discouraging exhibition of j bad faith. Nor does the republican i platform contain a favorable reference to one of the suspended treaties. This i section of the Dingley act stands forth i as a monument of legislative cozen! age and political bad faith. Independence for the Filipinos. | In some quarters it has been as! sumed that in the discussion of the I Philippine question in my response, j the phrase "self-government" was in,tended to mean something less than ' independence. It was not intended . that it should be understood to mean, nor do I think as used it does mean less than independence. However, to . eliminate all possibility for conjecture. ! I now state that I am in hearty ac' cord with that plank in our platform that favors doing for the Filipinos I what we have already done for the j Cubans; and I favor making the promj ise to them now that we stall taKe ' siifh action as soon as they are rea ' sonably prepared for it. If independence, such as the Cubans enjoy, cannot be prudently granted to the Filipinos at this time, the promise that it shall come the moment they are capable of receiving it will tend to stimulate rather than hinder their do9 velopment. And this should be done not only in justice to the Filipinos, but to preserve our own rights; for a free people cannot withhold freedom from another people and themselves remain free. The toleration of tyranny over others will soon breed con- ^ tempt for freedom and self-government, and weaken our power of resistance to insidious usurpation of our constitutional rights;* j American Citizenship. ; The pledge of the platform to se :Mire to our citizens, without distinction of race or creed, whether native born or naturalized, at home and abroad, the equal protection of the iaws and enjoyment of all the rights and privileges open to them under tnc covenants of our treaties, as their just due, should be made good to them. In the accomplishment of that result, it is essential that a passport issued by the government of the Un.t3d States, to an American citizen shall t Vi Ck urnrlrt OVPr 2S Proof uc 4 of citizenship. Civil Service. The statute relating to civil service is the outcome of the efforts of thoughtful, unselfish and public-spirited citizens. Operation under it has frequently been of such a character as to offend against the spirit of tr.o statute, hut the results achieved, even under a partial enforcement of the law, have been such as to both deserve and command the utterance 01 the democratic party that it stands committed to the -principle cf civil service reform and demands its just and impartial enforcement. Reclamation of Arid L.ands. \ vast expanse of countfy in the west, portions of which are to be found in each of the sixteen states and territories mentioned in the law, is directly affected by the national statute?the outcome of intelligent and persistent efforts cf the leading citizens, providing for the reclamation of the arid lands for the benefit of home-seekers. Whether the purposes of the bill will be fully accomplished must depend in large measure upon the ability, sobriety of judgment, independence and honesty of the officers of fee interior deDartment having iXis Lt ?at work in charge. Panama Canal. An isthmian canal has long been the hope of our statesmen, and the avowed aim of the two great parties, as their platforms in the past show. The Panama route having been selected, the building of the canal should he pressed to completion with all reasonable expedition. The methods by which the executive acquired the Panama canal route and rights are a source of regret to many. To them, the statement that thereby a great public work was assured to the profit of our people is not a sufficient answer to the charge of violation oi national good faith. They appreciate that the principles and healthy convictions which in their working out have made us free and great, stand firmly against the argument or suggestion that' we shall be blind to the nature of the means employed to promote our welfare. They hold that adherence to principle, whether it works for our good or ill, will have a more beneficial influence on our future destiny than all our material upbuilding, and that we should ever remember that the idea of doing a wrong to a smaller, weaker nation that we, or even all mankind, may - have a resultant good is repugnant to the pnaciples upon which our government was founded. Under the laws of the United States tho dntv Is imnosed oil the executive ? T . . J to proceeil with due diligence in the work of constructing the canal. That duty^ should be promptly performed. American Shipping-. Our commerce in American bottoms amounts to buX 9 per cent of our total exports and imports. For forty years prior to 1880, when the republican party came into power, our "merchant marine carried an average of 75 per cent of our foreign commerce. By 1877 :It had dwindled to 27 per cent. Now we carry but a contemptibly small fraction of our exports and imports. It is an arduous task to undo the effect of forty years of decadence, and requires the study and investigation of those best fitted by experience to find the remedy?which surely does not lie in the granting of subsidies, wrung frcm the pockets of all the taxpayers. Investigation of Departments. Recent disclosures, coupled with the rapid augmentation of government expenditures, show a need of an investigation of every department of the government. The democrats in congress demanded it. The republican ? ?5X1? J + Virt /I m f? n H HPh a I uiajurity iciuocu cue; ucuiouu* auv j people can determine by their vote in November whether they wish an honest and thorough investigation. A democratic congress and executive will assure it. Army and Navy. We are justly proud of the officers and men of our army and navy. Both, however, have suffered from the persistent injection of personal and political influence. Promotions and appointments; have been frequently based on favoritism instead of merit. Trials and court martials have been set aside under circumstances indicating political interference. These and other abuses should be corrected Pensions far Our Soldiers and bailors. The national democracy favors liberal pensions to the surviving soldiers and sailors and their dependents, on the ground that they deserve liberal treatment. It pledges by its platform adequate legislation that end. But it denies the right of the executive to usurp the power of congress to legislate on that subject. Such usurpation was attempted by pension order iVo 78, and effect has been given to it by a congress that dared not resent the usurpation. It is said that "this order was made in the performance of a duty imposed upon the president i - - 'a---* by act of congress," but the provision making the imposition is not pointed out The war closed nearly forty years ago. In the meantime many of our soldiers and sailors long survived the age of 62, and passed away without receiving any pension. Skilful pension attorneys hunting through the statute failed to find there a provision giving a pension to all who had reached 62. Many prominent veterans urged the instice of congressional action giving a service pension to all veterans. Bills to that effect were introduced in congress. And not until March of this year did any one ever claim to have made the discovery that the president fcvd power to treat the statute as if it read that when a claimant had passed the age of 62 years he is necessarily disabled one-half in ability to perform manual labor and therefore entitled to a pension. This suggests the suspicion at least that the order was made to create an issue?that it was supposed to present a strong strategic position in the battle of the ballots. On the assumption that the order, as stated by the aatninistration, is revocable at the pleasure of the executive, it having been an attempted, though perhaps unwitting encroachment upon the legislative power, and therefore unwarranted by the constitution, I accept the challenge and declare that if elected I will revoke that order. But I go further and say that, being done, I will contribute my effort toward the enactment of a law to be passed by both houses of congress and approved bj the executive mat win give an agtpension without reference to disabll ity to the surviving heroes of th? civil war; and under the provisions of which a pension may be accepted with dignity because of the consciousness that it comes as a just due from the people through their chosen representatives, and not as largess distributed by the chief executive. Foreign Relations. The foreign relation? of the 'government have in late years assumed special importance. Prior to the acquisition of the Philippines, we were practiaclly invulnerable against attacks ny foreign states. Those tropical possessions, however, 7,000 miles from our shores, have changed all this and have, in effect, put us under bonds to ke^n the peace. It is essential, therefore, more than ever, to adhere strictly to the traditional policy of the country as formulated by its first president and neve* in my judgment, wisely departed from?to invite friendly relations with all nations while avoiding entangling alliances with any. Such a policy means the cultivation of peace instead of the glorification of war, and. the minding of our own business in lieu of spectacular intermeddling with the affairs of other nations. - - , Reform In Government Expenditures. As the expenditures of the last fls cal year amounted to the enormous total of #582,000,0$), it is evident that a thorough investigation of the public service and the immediate abandonment of useless and extravagant expenditures are necessary.. This astounding increase is out of all proportion to the increase of our population, and finds no excuse from whatever aspect we view the situation. The national democratic platform declares that "large reductions can easily be made in the annual expenditures of the government without imj pairing the efficiency of any branch of the public service." Can there be any doubt of the accuracy of' this statement? Between the expenditures of the year 1886, amounting to #242,000,000, and those of the last fiscal year?the seventh after Grovei Cleveland ceased to be president?aggregating #582f,000,000, there is a difference so great as to excite alarm in the breasts of all thoughtful men. There is not a sentence in the republican platform recommending a reduction in the expenditures of th government; not a line suggesting that the increase in the cost of the war department from #34,000,000 in 1886 to #115,000,000 in 1904, should be inquired into; and n?t a paragraph calling ftfr a thorough investigation j of those departments of the governj ment in which dishonesty has been ! recently disclosed. The. people, however, can by their votes, if they desire it, order such an investigation and inaugurate a policy of economy and retrenchment. It is safe to say that this will net be accomplished by endorsing at the polls the republican majority of the house of representatives which refused the investigation and made the appropriations, nor by continuing in power the administration which made the disbursements. Reform in expenditures must be had in the civil, military and naval establishments in order that the national expenditures may be brought to a basis of peace and the government maintained without recourse to the taxes of war. Conclusion. I have put aside a congenial work, to which I had expected to devote my life, in order to assume, as best I can, the responsibilities youg convention put upon me. I solicit the cordial co-operation and generous assistance of every man who believes that a change of measures and of men at this time would be i wise, and urge harmony of endeavor as well as vigorous action on the part I of all so minded. ? " I The issues are joined and the people must render the verdict. Shall economy of administration be demanded, or shall extravagance be encouraged? " j Shall the wrongdoer be brought to bay by the people, or must justice wait upon political oligarchy? ! Shall our government stand for equal opportunity or for special privilege? | Shall it remain a government of law 1 or become one of individual caprice? i Shall we cling to the rule of the people, or shall we embrace beneficent despotism? With calmness and confidence, we await the people's verdict. If called to the office of president,; I shall consider myself the chief mag- j istrate of all the people, and not of any faction, and shall ever be mind- ; ful of the fact that on many ques- j tions of national policy there are hon- j est differences of opinion. I believe in the patriotism, good sense and absolute sincerity of all the people. I , shall strive to remember that he may j serve his party best who serves his 1 country best. If it be the wish of the people that I undertake the duties of the presi- j dency, I pledge myself, with God's help, to devote all my powers and enoro-rr tn thp duties of this exalted office. Very truly yours, ALTON B. PARKER. . THE BUILDING >J1* BIG SHIPS. Indication That We Have About Reached Limit for Present Time. i It is a much discussed question ' where the building of bigger ships is to end. Various authorities in engineering have attempted to predict the future rate of progress in marine ; construction, and the fact that at a ' single stroke 3,000 tons have been j added to the size of the record vessel will doubtless be made much of. Nevertheless, there is much reason to believe that we are near the limit in size of ships, for the present ait least, and there may even be a reaction. The size of ships is governed by the depth of the channel entrances to seaports, and these latest huge vessels draw so much vater thati they can only enter a few ports and at only a very lew can cargo or j passengers sufficient to flir^them be secured. ' Besides this, it .will readily be conceded that the reason why bigger I and bigger ships have been built is purely a commercial one. The qneation: "Will it pay?" is the question to be answered in determining whether the size of ships , is to go on increasing, and if so to -what extent. It will be readily granted that a ship of 10,000 tons can be operated more cheaply per ton of freight carried than one of 5,000 tons, provided the volume of .traffic is sufficient to keep . her employed, and provided,-also, that1 j cargo-handling appliances are such as to keep down delays in port. But, granting, this, it will readily be seen that t^ere is hot a like'saving to he made in again doubling the size and going from 10,000 to 20,000 tons. Perhaps under certain circumstances the 200j0d0-;t<m vessel msty be worth' while, but even if this is the case it does not fallow that a sSill bigger, vessel would f be still more pro'fitabe. It must be remembered that thes? ' very large vessels cost considerably more to build per ton of freight capacity than vessels of modern size.? The Engineering News. , Cut His Cortib. iv"~ *H. W. Fortinej of Chicago, is a . guest at.'thd Republican House. He ( is representing the manufacturers-of drugs and nTedicines and calls upOn the leading physicians and drug stores. "There is something new every trip," he said, "some new preparation for the ailments which beset mankind. I don't sell to the doctors, but call on them to show and demonstrate to them h-ow the medi cine acts and what effects it has on 1 different diseases and so forth. I ' find that the best men in the profesi sion, the most able and the busiest, i those who have the largest practices f are the easiest to approach and ini terest, while the little two-by-four i doctors who have one or two cases a week, are cranky and chesty and imt portant and claim that they have no time to give to detail men. One sucll . man was properly treated by a traveling man in Minnesota a few days ago. ? The doctor noticed the man's case when he entered his office, and said, 'You are a detail man? Well, I have just one minute for you, as I am 1 very busy.' The man looked at him a second, and then said, 'Doctor, you i ! have more time for me than I have ' for you,' and turned around and walk! ?d out."?Milwaukee Wisconsin. Street Lamps in Sahara. [ The Sahara Desert lighted by acetriene street lamps is a novel conception at which, says the New York Globe, the mind hesitates. Yet that ?s ( what the traveler would see, thanks to the ingenuity of Commandant Pujat, of the French Army, should he visit .the Oasis of Tougcurt in the far ' south of Algeria. Tougourt was remarkably unhealthful, but the commandant, by diligent sanitary work, has overcome that trouble. To make the place more attractive and pleasant for his garrison, he has mounted 1 large acetylene lamps high on the 1 stems of the gigantic palm trees that1 ! shade the market place, and thus has ' given this mid Sahara camping place quite the appearance by night of an j American village. MEi- M life 'MMxSM V -/'V . / TALE8 OF THE INDIANS. 9 /here Were Some in 1806 Who Had Never Heard a Qun Fired.' Eyen as late as the year 1805 there were Indians on the North American continent who had never seen or heard a gun, had never seen tobacco Bmoke, and wart capable or worship ping the white men who controlled these wonders. The Rev. A. G. Morice tells of some of the adventures of Sion Fraser, wh# has stamped his name on Canada. Father Mo- I ' rice writes as fellows: "On landing at Lake Stuart Fraser's men, to impress the natives with a proper idea of their wonderful resources, fired a volley with their guns, whereupon the whole crowd of Indians fell prostrate to the ground. To allay their fears and make friends, tobacco was offered to them, which, on being tasted, t was found too bitter and thrown v away. Then to show its use, the crew lighted their pipes, and at the sight of smoke issuing from their mouths the people began to whisper ^ that they must come from the land of ghosts, since they were still full of fire wherewith they had been cremated. Pieces of soap were given to ) the women, who, taking them to be cake.s of fat, set upon crunching them ^ causing foam and bubles in tfca mouth, which puzzled both actors and ^ }wefanri?ir? All thPT!P nhenom'ena. however, were soon explained away, ./ leaving no suspicion in the native mind, but a most profound admira- 1 tion for the foreigners and their wares." " Sir Alexander Mackenzie^ had an idea that the Indians of the far north- , west were partly Jewish in origin. From Lake Athabasca in 1794 he set out at the head of an expedition "in a birch bark cance, twenty-five feet * long, four and three-quarters feet beam, and twenty-six inches hold, with 3,000 pounds of baggage and pro| visions and a crew of nine French . Canadians." He reached the Pacific coast and returned, he aboriginies he met were "fior the most part possessed of strongly religious instincts," . said he in .his report. "With regard to their origin all we are prepared to state, after a careful survey of ; their language, manners and customs | is that they are undoubtedly of a I mixed origin; come fnom the norifcj northwest, and hai commerce, in their j early history, perhaps, through inter! marriage, with people of Jewish per- y " suasion or origin." New Year's Da7,1811, In the Canadian northwest was described by D. W. Harmon as follows: "This being the first day of a new year, our people have passed it, according to the cus- - . torn of the Canadians in drinking and fighting. 'Some'of the principal Indians of Fraser Lake desired to allow them to remain at the fort that they might see our people drink. As soon as they began to be a little intoxicated and to quairel among their- y selves the- natives began to be apprehensive} that something unpleasant might befairthem also. They, therefore, hid themselves under beds and elsewhere, saying that they thought the white; people had run mad, for they appeared not to know what they were about It was the first time that they had ever seen a person in- '] toxichfe^.'* i*y ' Birds and Their Song. 1 It may well be doubted if birds are t musical connoisseurs, or have any* g , thing like human appreciation of their own pr of each other's songs. My reason for thinking so is this? I have heard a bobolink with a defective instrument so that its song was t broken and inarticulate in parts, and yet it sang with as much apparent .Joy and abandon as any of its fellows. I have also heard a hermit thrush with a similar defect or impediment, and yet it too, appeared to sing entirely to its own satisfaction. 'j. It would be very interesting to know if these poor singers found mates as readily as their more gifted brothers. If they did, the Darwinian theory of -A?t j _ "sexual- selection" m sucn matters, according to which the finer songster ' would carry off the female, would fall > to the ground. Yet it is certain that it is during the mating and breeding season that these "song combats" occur, and the favor of the female would seem to be the matter in dispute. Whether or not it be expressive of actual jealousy or rivalry, we have no other words to apply to itHarper's Magazine. ^ HER EXPRESSION. Mamma?Did the teacher express surprise when she found you hadn't your lesson? Johnny?She boxed my ears, if you call that sending a thing by express. . ?Boston Transcript. ? WORLD'S PAIR ST. LOUIS. Louisville and Nashville Railroad. } If you are going to the World's Fair you want the best route. The L. A N. is the shortest, quickest and. best line. Three trains daily. Through Pullman Sleeping Cars and Dining Cars. Low Rate Tlokets ^ gold dally. Get rates from your local agent and ask for tickets via L. A N. Stopoyxe Allowed at MAMMOTH GATE. All kinds of Information furnished on application to J. G. HOLLENBECK, run* A?snt. Atlanta. G*. TWO GIRLS. "Engaged to Jack! Why, you're the fourth girl he's been engaged to this summer." "Well, dont you think there must ^ be something very attractive about a man who can get engaged to four girls in about two months?"?London Punsk. * -- - v