Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-07-05
Renouncipg Democracy.

Hon. John Boyd, prominent and
influential Democrat of Pinckneyyille,
ILL.,, has, after mature elaboration re-
nounced all allegiance to the Demo
cratic party, and in two column letter
which he publishes, gives his reasons
for so doing.
He charges the party with inconsist-
ency on all questions that affect the
publiciweal, but the principal points of
his disagreement with the Democratic
party is upon the question of the tariff
reduction and the internal revenue tax.
no that the position of Demo
~ c IN these questions
VI "'i0 p"i'y y. '0u"y wrong,
is not only inconsistent ana ~
but is antagonistic to the fundamental
principles of Democracy itself.
A few points that he makes against
the great bandanna party are:
Not only in my opinion, is the Dem
ocratlc party acting contrary to the
fundamental principles of our govern
ment, and inconsistent within itself.
but it also seems to me to be clearly
acting in bad faith towards long suf-
fering people.
The people are demanding something
to be done, and crying loudly for relief.
and yet will some kind hand point to
one single practical. feasible or obtain
able measure, which has either been
suggested by the president, or attempt
ed by Democratic lower house of
Congress designed to give relief? All
bills pertaining to revenue must origi-
nate in the House of Representatives
the lower house of Congress. Yet
while it is an historical fact that for
the last 10 or II years the lower house
of Congress has had a good working
Democratic majority, no measure of re-
lief ever seems to have been attempted,
or even suggested, save the one single |
exception Of the partial remonetiZing |
of silver, until 1t became necessary to |
use the accommodating surplus in the |
treasury, as a leverage for the sole pur-
pose of stab at the tariff, OF rather at |
the producers of raw wool.
Again the Democratic party assumes
not to be party with free trade ideas
or free trade sentiments, but that its
principles are simply for tariff reform
and reduction, so that the tax may be
reduced to the basis of revenue only
with protection as an incident. Yet
While this is their motto they deal out
from this stand point to the people.
pure and unadulterated free trade doc
trine.
Mr.. Boyd in parting company with
the British sympathizers is only doing
what thousands of other Democrats
Will do in the next four months. All
is not serene in the Democratic camp.
The high-handed, usurping actions of
President Cleveland have alienated a
large number of his. followers since 1884.
Then they slowed him for the enemies
he had made" and for his loud pro-
LESSONS of civil service reform. The
have been found to be censid-
erably more desirable than many of
5he friends he has made and the civil
service is more notably an asylum for
broken down wire-pullers and political
hacks than ever before in the history
If the Democratic administration: so
he love for Grover is cooling in a very
,reat degree.
More than this, the pronounced free
rade policy outlined in the Presidents
Message and In the st. Louis platform
will drive from the party those who.
While inclining to favor Democracy. ,
annot sit quietly by and see our in
ustries and our markets turned over
0 the hands of the English lords and {
ukes, who are only too eager to re- /.
GIVE them. :
Mr.. Boyd is but one among thou {
ands OF thinking men who will in this :
ear OF grace renounce Democracy and b
j its works.