The examiner. (Hartford, Conn.) 1881-188?, 1886-07-03
A POLITICAL ESSAY.
IN FAVOR OF THE PROGREssTVE
PARTY.


republic like ours, every man should
stimulated and encouraged to acquire
homestead for himself
2.-Articles of necessity shall not |
taxed, either directly or indirectly, by til
United States or by any State. Every goV
ernment shall raise its revenue by taXin
the luXuries, not the necessaries of life
3.-The United States Senators shall b
elected directly by the people, and not b
the Legislatures of the different States
AT present members of the Legislature ar
apt TO be bribed and bought, either directl
or indirectly by rich political scoundrels.
4.-After the year 1890 no man shall b.
appointed an officer in the United States
until he has served with honor and credi
for three years in the ranks. The officer
OF our Army at present are altogether tot
aristocratic for republic like ours.
5.-Both the old political parties hav1
become corI upt with age and are controlled
by rich men and powerful corporations
and are no longer worthy of the support OF
the free citizens of free republic.
o.-Ihis country for the futne shall be
governed, not in mere words but in real
acts, for the greatest good of the greatest
number.
plan by which the profits resulting from
the combined use of labor and capital shall
be more equitably divided between the
laborer and the capitalist.
We propose to present few simple argu-
ments in favor of some of the principles of
the above platform. We will say nothing
whatever about the last resolution, as we
cannot do anything like justice to it in this
short article. We will merely call atten-
tion to the sixth resolution, the truth of
which all lovers of republican institutions
will admit. Still the >tru II inculcated in
this resolution has, in our opinion, been
lost sight of in many years. Indeed, ever
since the war. this country has been man
aged, not in the interest of the people gen.
orally, but in the interest of rich men and
powerful corporations. We therefore
think 1t advisable to admit this resolution.
although 1t is a mere truism, into the
platform and keep it before the eyes Of the
public. We have also but little to say
about the fifth resolution, which is mat
ter of fact and observation rather than of
argument The tendency of all parts is to
fail into the hands of professional politi-
clans and to become corrupt with age.
Neither of the old parties seem TO be an
exception of this general rule. Besides, in
our opinion, there is no occasion whatever
for the continued existence of these old
parties. What grand and glorious object
have they in view F? What noble cause are
they now advocating? What are they now
contending with each other for {? Their
existence is prolonged for no other reason
than TO give professional politicians a
chance to get or keep ia office. These par
ties are now like old worn out-men, and
the best thing they can do is to die and
t7S : IasoIutfon, 1sAfter the year
1890 no man shall be appointed an officer
in the army of the United States, until he
has served with credit and honor for three
years In the ranks" is one of considerable
IMPORTANCE The officers of our army at
present are too aristocratic for republic.
Our army was originally modelled from the
English army. England at that time was
by far the most aristocratic of countries.
and the officers of her army were especially
aristocratic. These officers consisted most
exclusively of the sons and other relations
of the nobility The officers were gentle
men, while the private officers were COM
posed of the very dregs of society. The
strength of the army consisted almost en-
tirely of its officers. The soldiers were
mere living machines who were urged on
and compelled 10 do their duty by the
officers. This was well enough for an aris-
tocracy, but ought a republic TO initiate
England in this respect We do not want
our captains and lieutenants to stand be-
hind their soldiers, and compel them to do
their duty ON the battlefield. We want
our line officers to 60 ahead when danger
is in front, and expect, as matter OF
course, to be boldly followed by their SOL
ders. The strength of republican army
should depend quite as much upon the prl-
Yates of the officers. There should be
marked distinction between the army of a
republic and that of a king or emperor.
The latter may be a blind machine, COM
pletely under the contral of its officers, but
the former should be composed of proud
intelligent men, who realize that they are
the free citizens of free republic. Our
army, however, at present resembles too
closely that of aristocratic governments.
1t is composed of two distinct classes, OF
nf
who do not even claim to be gentlemen.
This is all wrong. In the army of repub-
lie there should only be one class of men,
and the private soldier should be much
of gentleman as the officer. Now, the
gulf between the officer and the private
soldier is very wide and almost impassible
No matter how deserving private soldier
may be, he stands almost no chance o.
becoming an officer. What is the conse'
quence? No man with the least pride OF
ambition ever becomes a soldier in the reg
ular army. We then are in favor of re
modelling the army, and making it more II
harmony with other republican institu
tions. We are in favor of increasing TIN
pay of the private soldiers and diminishin!
that of the officers, and of requiring ever
man to serve as private for three year
before he can become an officer, thu
bringing the two closses more nearly to al
equality.
we are dISO III IdNOA O1 SOGbAh3 AAu
superhuous officers who do not earn tn
salt they eat Many of them, by petticoa
influence, linger for years in Washington
They spend their time in loafing, smoking
drinking, gambling and dancing with hal
naked society girls, and we pay them tc
leading this kind of life from five to te
times as much money as laboring ma
can make by hard work from mornin
until night. Although they lead such col
temptible, useless and silly lives, they haV
a most exalted opinion of themselves, an
fancy they are superior to ordinary mel
Most of them would pc ashamed to
seen walking arm and arm and talkin
Familiarity with an honest mechanic. The
are willing enough to take our money an
spend it in their pleasure and vices, b'
they have kind of contempt for ourselve
They call us the ''plebs," that is. the con
mon people. Most of us regard this arrC
CANT pride of these officers with goo
naured contempt. We merely wond
why they have not more real pride al
true manliness, why they do not .reali
that they are the officers, not of king
emperor, bat of u e greatest of all rrpu
lies. This aristocratic feeling is the resu
of their education. West Point is nu
sery of aristocrats. A boy goes to tn
academy. In less than six months he
a contempt for every man not an office
He puts ON his uniform with its brig