Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-11-20

4
a importa1t factors in American life I
| md no fault with the discrimination of
| Weaitn. ana am glad to see energy ana en-
terpriss receive their fair reward But 1 be-
Iieve that our Govern ent In its natural In
segrity II exactly suited to a frugal and
economical people; and believe 1t il safest
| In the hands of those who have been made
strong and seif-feliant in their citfxeushfp
Dy self and the surroundfngs of an
enforced economy. Thrift and careful
| Watehfulness Of expenditure among the
people tend to secure . thrifty government.
and cheap and careful living on tae part of
individuals ought to enforce ECONOMY in
the public expenditures
When. therefore. men In high places OF
| trust, charged with the responsibility OF
making and executing our laws net only
condemn but nippantly deride cheapness
and economy within the homes of our peo-
PIE, and when the expenditures of the Gov
eminent arc reckless and vasteful. we may
De sure that something II wrong with us,
and that condition exists which calls for
vigorous and resentful defense of American
Ism by every man worthy to be called an
American citizen.
Upon he question of eheapness and econ-
omy, whether it relates to individuals or to
the operations of the Government the
Democratic party. true TO its creed and ira
ditions, will unalterably remain attached to
our plain and frugal people They are es-
peefally entitled to the watchfui care and
protection of their Government; and when
they are borne down With burdens greater
| tects OF scorn by hard taskmasters we will.
not leave their side. Al the great German
reformer. insisting upon his religious con-
victfons In the presence OF his accusers. ex-
ctaimsA. 81 can do naught else. Here
stand. God help me-" so, however much
others may mock and deride cheapness and
the poor and frugal men and women of our
land We will stand forth in defense of their
simple Americanism, d eflantly proclaim ny
eve can do naught else. Here we stand "
Thus when the question is raised whether
our people shall have the necessaries of life
at = cheap rate. we are not ashamed TO con-
fess ourselves ~in full sympathy with the
demand for cheaper coats;" and We are not
disturbed by the hint that this seems
necessarily to involvs 4 cheaper man or
woman un1er the c0ats'
After referring to the utterances OF pub-
lie men the ex-President continued: What
was the occas ion of concentrations of cheap
ness and what had honest Amer can men
and women done, or what were they likely
to do that they should be threatened with
tho epithets CHEAP" nasty" and sun
Americana
1t is hard to speak patiently as we answer
these questions. Step by step vast num-
Der OF our people had been led on. follow
Ing blindIy in the path OF party. They had
been flied with hate and sectional preju-
dice; they had been cajoled with misrepre-
sensations and false promises; they had
been corrupted with money and by appeals
to their selfshness All these things led up
to their final betray al to satisfy the demands
OF those who had supplied the fund for their
cor ruptiOl.
impossible to deny or conceal the fact that
the pretended relief rendered to the people
in fulhlment of promise to tighten the
burdens of their life. made by the party in
trusted with the government. was but a
scheme to pay the debts incurred by the
purchase of party success, while it further
increased the impoverishment of the
masses
Ice
manded an explanation. They had been
taught for 100 years that in the distribu-
ton of benefits their Government should be
administered with equality and Justice.
They had learned that wealth was not in
dfspensable to respectability and that it did
not entitle its posSessors to special govern
mental favors. Humble men with scanty
incomes had been encouraged by the fnf1u-
ence and the spirit of our Institutions to
practice economy aud frugality to the end
that they might enjoy to the utmost the
rewards of their toll The influence of the
American home was still about them. In
their simplicity they knew nothing of q
new dispensatfon which made cheapness
disreputable and they still loved the cheap
coats of Lincoln and Garfield and hundreds
OF their countrymen whom they held in
veneration. And thus these unsophisticated
Americans, unconscious of their wrong do
ing, demanded the redemption of party
pledges and clamored for cheapness, in or
der that they might provide the necessaries
and comforts of life for themselves and
their families at the lowest possible cost.
The leaders of the party, which was caught
in the act of robbery, and whicn was
raigned by the people for a violation OF the
trust, were forced by their sad predicament
to desperate expedient. To attempt to re-
verse the current OF true Americanism and
diScredit the most houorable sentiments be-
longing to American manhood, were the
disgraceful tasks of those who insulted our
people by the announcements of the doctrine
that to desire cheapness was to love nasii-
or1d frny ff-o
was un-American.
Thus do we plainly sec that when the path
pointed out by patriotism and American
citizenship is forsaken by party in power
for schemes OF sel6shness and for unscrup-
ulous conspiracies for partisan success, fts
course inevitably lesds to unjust favorit SIN,
neglect of the interests of the masses. en-
tireperversion of the mission OF republican
institutions, and. in SONS form, to the most
impudent and outrageous insult to true
American sentiment.
It can not be denied that political events
in the past have gone far toward encourag-
thoughtful and patriotic man has at times
been disappointed and depressed by the
apparent indifference and democrat cation OF
the people.
Fluctuations OF tonight. This is time
when faith in our countrymen should be re-
established The noise of a recent political
revolution is still heard throughout the
land; the people have just demonstrated
that there is a point beyond which they
can not be led by blind partisanship. and
that they are quite CT mpetent to examine
and correctly decide political questions con-
corning their rights and their welfare.
They have numerically resented every at
tack upon true American manhood. and
have taught party leaders that, though slow
to anger. they take terrible revenges when
betrayed They permit us to forgive our
honored guest for all the cheap coats he
has ever worn for they have declared them
to be In fashion They have also decreed
that the decalosue has q place in our poll
tics for they have enforced the command
''Tnou shalt not steal" and have rendered
an emphatic verdict sgaip st those who have
borne false witness.
If we entertain more solemn thoughts on
this occasion, let them be concerning the
responsibility which awaits our fellow
countrymen place in our keeping their
hopes and trusts. We shall fail in our obi
CATION to them if we stife conscience and
duty by ignobIe partisansaip: but we shall
meet every patriotic expectation IL, in ali
we do, we follow the guidance of true and
honest Democracy, iIlumined by the light
| of genuine American cit Zenship-
General Thomas Ewing was on the
programme for the next toast 1t was
on the subject of THE Democratic Party