The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-10-25
The Iowa Lessen.


Too much woman suffrage and pro-
hibitioa and not enough Grccnback-
ism in the campaign Of the Iowa
Greenbuckers Is what cut the vote
down from $4,000 70 $4,000. Howcv-
er, ii the lesson is not lost on the
next national convention, it may
prove benefit in the end.
The Greenback party was organ
lied for Il certain specific purpose
viz, that OF reform in such matters
as finance, labor, transportation,
CORP orate monopoly aud taxation.
The party was not organized us a
Prohibition party, nor as Il Woman
Suffrage party. No matter how
meriterious these Issues may be. they
have no rightful place in Il Green
back platform-and the leadership
which places them there IS bad.
We will grant for the cake Of argu-
ment Tor rather to rrevent argument
that Woman Suffrage an Prohibition
are right and ought to prevail.
They are, however. distinct issues
upon which there is an honest differ
cnee ofopinion among Grccnbackers.
Whenever and wherever, therefore
they are introduced they cause dis
sention, disagreement and democrat
iZation.
II there are 100 Grcenbackers, &C
OF whom are prohibitionists, and e
both Woman Sufrragists and Pro.
hibitionists, the - have no right Il
force suffrage plank upon the Il
prohihitionists who are not Suffrag,
lists; nor have the 80 Il right to force
a prohibition plank upon the II
Greenbackers who 10 not believe ii
prohibition. Every question tina
can possibly disturb the harmoni
Gus feeling Of the 100 Greenbacker.
should be eliminated. Ii is easieI
to find 1000 men who agree upon on,
issue than it is to find 50 who vii
agree upon three issues.
There is n prohibition party in tn,
United States. and we say to them
Go on with your work, we will throw
no stones in your Way.
There is Woman suffrage part,
and we say to them also: Go on witt
your work and God speed the right.
But, do not let us put too man,
different kinds Of meat into the hash
| one kind ut Il time Is enough.
There are a hundred needed reforms
there are ten commandments them
selves. aud yet they have no prope
place in Il platform devoted to TIL
idea OF reform in certain other spe
citic things.
Nor is there any force in the argu
ment that by the adoption of prohi
bition and womau-su!Irage the .sup
port" OF prohibitionists and woman
lsuffragists can be obtained, for nine
) tenths of them are Democrats an
Republicans, and hate Greeubacker
rs intensely us the devil is said t
hate holy water.
II there is Il Grecnhack paper tha
believes in prohibition as well u
Greenbacaism let it preach prob
hision to its hearts content, but Whe
1t comes to adopting platform Il
the party to 60 into campaign Of
the question Of prohibition SHOULD |
made Il separate issue and be keI
out of the Greepback platform.
Another fatal error Of the Tow
: campaign was that. after adoptin
, the prohibition platform, the Greer
| hackers practically joined hands wi,
the Democrats who had adopted
strong anti-prohibition platform.
turned the prohibition professions
I the Greenhackers into riaicule, ar
: gave their leaders the appearance
being demagogues.
We believe that the campais
should have been made solely up6
Greenhack issues and il it had be-
we have not the slightest doubt b.
that $4,000 votes would have be,
polled instead of 25.oa0.
Ii there is not life enough left
Greenbackism on which to condu
n campaign. then indeed, as Butt
said, "the mission OF the Greenba'
: party is ended"
Ii But we are not of that opinio
We can sec rs clearly as we can 5
the noon-day sun that the gle
. questions on which til. Greenba
party was founded are rapidly a
irresistibly coming to the front. L
!, inevitable logic Of events is forci
= the question OF labor and finance l
- form upon the consideration Of I
people.
All that is needed is rcsolute Il
- uniliaching adherence to tho IL
- trines Of the party. This il the til
X OF all times when Greenhack,
= should stand iirm-for there is goi
to be more discussion OF the mon
question in the next two years tn
there has ever been befoIe.-Chic;
Sentinel