The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-11-30

A LETTER FROM AN OLD FRIEND
CoLDWATER. KAN, Nov. II, 'S9,
DEAR lNTELLIGENCER:-Sitting here
III western Kansas, as the shadows ol
evening are gathering around us, here
! where the party of prohibition and ol
high protective tariff has so manv fol.
lowers, we are thinking of the late
elections, and of their effect upon the
future OF our country. Little things
as they may seem TO he little, often.
times turn the whole course OF moviuo
events and become the cause of great
changes. 80, we think, the late elec-
tions la Iowa and in Ohio and in some
parts OF Kansas may be the canse of
huch change III the future politics OF
our country. But my object is to
| write 10 you about what seems TO MS
10 ne some OF the probable resuItants
ot the late elections Already, in Kan
8as, many Ill the republican party are
calling Tor resubiBissi0n OF the pro-
HiDltory amendment. Many democrats
mere are ciamOring for resubmission to
be included in the democratic party
platform. General Clarkson, whom
many former democratic postmasters
remember to their sorrow, gives a wall
oil anguish over the prohibition senti-
ments that have been taught by the
party to which he belongs, aud boldly
ch" -es the loss of Iowa 10 his party's
vieI IN this subject. The papers all
over Ine land seem TO be echoinp these
opinions. Now, having known the
lntelligencer for many wears, and hav-
| ing known Its LIBERAL views on all
matters ol public policy, | desire to
give what conceive to be the true
poiicy Tor democrats 10 pursue in Mis-
| souri,, and indeed all over this country.
in regard to this question. 1t MAY
seem To many, and no doubt will, to be
| 'he heleht OF presumption tor us to do
thls But, we generally act without
regard To mems criticism, If we are
sure we are right. Now to the matter
III hand: To us il seems perfectly
clear that the republican party must
change its position. both on the probi-
oltlon and the tariff question. If they
do not change ground here, they will
inevitably suffer defeat Their leaders
know this, and the wall of General
Ciarkson Is the note OF alarm that will
arouse them to action. Republican
poililclans will be found all over the
land advocating a reform of the tariff.
ihey may be rather quiet upon this
point, but we venture the assertion
that they will put it in nearly all their
state platforms, and in the national
platform OF their party prior to the
ear 1892. This will be a sly way OF
stealing from the democrats Then,
YOU will see them if we read the siuus
correctly, rejecting prohibition and de-
nounclng the temperance advocates.
This they will do, to get once more the
German vote. and recIify their loss in
Iowa and Ohio. Right here comes
the danger to democracy. The major. |
NY OF men are so much occupied with |
their daily avOCations, that they do not |
take time to think long and Closely on |
matters of legislation. Bnt they are
guided largely by their early princi.
pies and by the influences of some
cherished friend. Many men think
that human government is given i'm
order TO legislate religion into men
And owing to this belief thew are
ready to affiliate with any party which
seems to te in favor of a system ot
laws which are intended to circum-
scribe man as TO the individual sub
)ecllVe exercise OF his appetites. Then
here is another class who believe that
avs are Tor the purpose of enabling
one portion of society 10 gather wealth
Dy any system OF action and taxation.
regardless OF any equitable rights that
Dihers may claim by virtue of their
;ltlzenship or by virtue OF the rights
pertaining to the universal brotherhood
1t man. Other men hold that human
government is given to man for the
purpose OF enabling men to better ac-
luire property and personal rights and
o protect men in the ENJOYMENT of the
same. And the latter class hold that
hat government is best which will ,
pest secure men in these rights, and
which will secure ''euuai and exaci
ustice to all" They also hold that M
more laws than are necessary 10 secure
hese ends should ever be ems cted. | do ,
loI think claim too much in asserting
nat me democratic party is built on
he latter conception of human govern
hent' but let us never forget thai
Vhile democracy is, III its very essence,
opposed TO the principle OF legisating
ellsloh INTO men, 1t is, and to be snr-
esstui, must ever be opposed 10 incor- :
)oratIng into its platforms or it's creed. s
lhyihlug which commits its followers
gainst either morality or religion.
iere our leaders must have great care. S
ne mission of democracy is to secure |
equal and exact rights" under the law,
or every citizen, the full enjoyment
u every God-given or justly man-ac {
Inired right. This, | understand, is $
rue democracy as taught by its found a
rs ana this Is in harmony with the ,
ternal principles of government which /
must underiie the Divine Code itself. c
1et then the democratic leaders leave /
ne question of prohibition and resub G
Mission entirely alone. On this aues d
ION, their record is known now of all
s being opposed to all sumptnary \
avs This is well. But let us rcmem- I
er tn there are thousands in their i
anks awho are in favor Of ''tcmper- II
nee in all things and who are op a
0sed to the open sale of alcoholic I
ilmulants. Democracy does not wish Ii
, hastily adopt any platform which o
Iay even seem TO be opposed to tenn +
erance, or which can be distorted into u
lVorlng drunkenness. Let the demo I.
rats then. if they would be the domi Il
ant party OF the future, shnn the T
e. lila OF narrow legislation. and be v
u eiul that they permit not the SIRENS G,
olce 10 lure them unto the Charybdis o
endorsing anything which might b.
'mmlt them to the defense of uues- W
enable traffic. In other words. Il
not democracy commit itself TO
Iner prohibition nor other narrow W
SisialloD, and let It arcfullv re- vi
a. al" from endorsing StiOnable NOR Ell
ny or wrong-dGir any kind. If NJ
does these thing. ihen we have an III
'ldlng faith in its future success. and OF
ei sure that "nnder this banner we az
all conquer" Very Truly, mr.
WIN II. CARTER. W
u Fon need anything in the can and oI,yo no
YOU can ini Il large assortment nj , r.- on
,rkghl Inv nrira II Sin.,,,