The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-11-09
THE STOCK OBJECTION.

Independent voters! You will meet
with opposition from both the two great
parties OF politicians. Some will charge
you with deserving your party. Such
men esteem party line of more impor-
lance than sound principles. Others will
tell you. ''Our party is pledged to Re
form. aud what more can you expect of
the independents" Bnt the stock obs
lection, which we took our pen Just now
to write about, and which you will hear
from both parties al Ike, is that call the
votes given to Cooper will be thrown
away" This means that the Indepen-
dent party is not strong enough to elect
its candidate. This may be true but
even if it is, the assumption is not true
that the Cooper vote is thrown away,
merely because it does not help to elect
one or the other of the candidates of the
two parties manipulated by the wire pull
lers. There are other objects to be se>
cured in voting besides the election OF
either Republican or Democratic adj
ministratlon. 1t is sometimes necessary
for IN honest man to stand up tor princi-
Pile though that is what political hacks
who have always lived and moved and
had their being for party have no con-
ceptlon of. They sheer at the idea.
Nevertheless there are thousands Of vo-
tiers in this country who are bound to en-
terrain this idea and be governed by it
in their political action, sheer or no
sneer And this presidential campaign
is going to bring out those voters more
than any other proceeding campaign in
the history of this country, since the
reign of party tor the sake of party"
began. Aud this is because right here
in this presidential campaign an issue
has arisen which is destined, sooner or
later, to take the precedence OF all old
party sues, and overshadow all the old
party lines. 1t is involved in this qves-
ton: ..Shall the legislation of this coun-
try and the administration of the gov
eminent be tor the greatest good OF the
, greatest number. or tor the profit and
. advantage of select iew?" In other
words, shall we have the class legisla,
ton which has been in vogue sincc the
, war, at the expense OF every other inter
.. est of the country, or shall we have q
.. legislation that shall make its first and
last aim the development of the mate,
, rial sources OF the country and the pro
lection of the rights and liberties of thu
people? This is the issue which ha!
come to the front for the first time sine
the struggle OF American independence
was fought out. 1t is the issue which !
: involved in the nomination of Pete
Cooper for the Centennial President 0
: these United States. Votes are no
thrown away that are cast for the people
as against monicd aristocracy, IN sue
4 1 Al IN - loo rod
!. Your vote might be thrown away. whe
given to Cooper, il two things were oni
). true that are not true. First, it the di
: vision OF the vote were sure to turn ID
Q scale in favor OF the Republican cand
u date when it would otherwise prepon
IL derate tor the Democratic candidate. {
vice versa, and. Secondly, il the electio
1. of either of one these candidates could t
lie pronounced greater calamity to til
:, country than the election of the 9th,
v would have been. But neither OF the.
le positions are true The division OF Il
at vote on Cooper will not seriously chaas
if the complexion OF the result as betwet
De the two great parties. and there wou
be no risk involved If it should. II
1e difference between them is not worth Il
ne toss Of copper. They will both sho
s. loudly for reform until alter the eleelie
he and will take nominally differing issu
,e on the fir ancial question. but after Il
a. election they will both play rs they ha'
i'd done at every opportunity. Into the han
L. OF the monied class. This has been 4
n uniform experience OF the country sim
be 1868. Never once in that time has Z
a. financial question or any other auesti'
that remotely affected the financial que
all ton been touched. but that the resa
lat reached had been to iroreaee the imm
OF mites OF those who are called the cres
OF tors OF the governmental the expense
a. the producing classes. and consequen:
nv the industrial enterprises OF the counts
nd 1t has come 10 tho pass. that one or (
tn other OF these two parties is scarcely 4
in sirable even - . choice OF evils, mn,
i've lcss q q consummAkion to b rejoicod