Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-06-14
WHAT SHALL IT BE.
Editor Lender:

| H6rIu6rS AIuduCey organize q new POLITICAL
party" Is being so much agitated in Chase
county as well as elsewhere that cannot re-
frain from expressing my opinion in regard
to it; and as it is impossible for me to reach
| any considerable number through the meet
| ings of the Alliance, if you Will kindly grant
me space, shall adopt the plan which prom
Uses to reach the greatest number by speak
ing through the columns of the Leader.
That the Agricultural and other productive
industries of our county are In a depressed
condition is a fact so well established and
generally admitted that it needs no comment
from me. That relief must come largely
through the powers and functions of the gov
eminent is also so generally accepted, espe-
cially by the members of the Alliance, that
We virtually stand as a unit. The all-import-
ant question on which we differ is, ''Where
and how shall the remedy be appGed? In
determining this important question, we
should have thorough knowledge of the
evils which beset US. When doctor under
takes to cure patient, the first thing that
he does is to make thorough diagnosis of
the ailment. Having carefully determined
the nature, seat, and cause of the disease, he
can then apply his curatives with some hope
of success. Would it not be wise for US to
pursue the same plan in politics? The great
Body Polite of this country has been sick
for years and is still sickening. The case is
an extremely bad one, for signs of mortifca-
ton are already setting in. After futile
trial by both of the "Grand Old PARTIES" the
Farmers Alliance proposes to step in as the
doctor to effect cure. What method shall
we adopt? Shall we go about it quack fash
ion? Shall we take the advice of the quack
politicians and resort to their universal elixir
for the cure of all political ailments-the or
ganization of new party? Or shall I'VE go
about it nationally and make diagnosis of
the ailments of our government that we may
be able to apply our cordials so intelligently
that the pnblic shall have reason to hope for
a cure?
Some of the main faults, as far as the gov
eminent is concerned, from which arise
most of the evils that aff1ict US, conceive to
he as follows:
First, Disproporhonate representation in
the government, especially in the Legislative
branch, of the various industries of our ma
ton.
Second, Glass legislation;
Third, Excessive party spirit;
Fourth. Dishonest legislation:
Fifth, Hasty and ill-considered legislation;
Sixth, Incompetent officials, and
Seventh, The barter of votes by legislators.
A full discussion of any one of these would
take up several columns in newspaper, and
would require more information than / can
command, and more intelligence than pos
sess. All that I shall attempt is to try to
direct the thoughts of the reader into what l
believe to be the proper channel, leaving each
one to deTelope the subject for himself.
Each item may be considered in three diff
ferent lights: first, in its relation to the now
existing state of things; second, how would
it be affected by the organization of the pro-
posed new party should it become dominant;
and third, its best remedy.
The first fault mentioned is, perhaps, not
so much an evil in'itself as that it is the great
brooder of host of other evils both great
and small.
The best interest of country demands that
every industry, business, or occupation that
progressive civilization has given birth to, be
in vigorous, constant and harmonious opera
ton. These are the vital organs of the state.
By their activity we measure the vital force
of a nation. If the action of any one be sup
pressed, the others, also, will be affected by
it and lose vigor. To protect or stimulate all
alike, is the imperative duty of any govern
ment as far as it has any right to exercise au-
thority over their operations; and every fair
minded advocate of representative govern
ment must acknowledge that that t0ilL not
and can not be unless all are represented,
and that, too in the exact proportion of its
| importance as a factor in the industrial life
| of the nation. Do the new paralysis aim to
accomplish that? No. Nothing seems farther
from their minds. l have talked with good
many of them, but have yet the first one to
hear advocate reform on that principle. If
the advocates of a new party hope to accom-
ptish anything, it Is, as an Alliance, to get
control of the government, and then, as only
farmers and a few others are eligible to
membership, the government would virtually
be in the exclusive control of the representa-
| tives of one kind of occupation. Just think
| of it! A farmer for president; all farmers for
his cabinet; all farmers on the supreme bench
and all other benches; all farmers for for
eign ministers; all farmers to fill the hun
dreds of different offices at home; all farmers
to general the army; all farmers to man the
| navy; all farmers to legislate in the interests
| of every industry; farmers to stimulate COM
merce on sea and on land; farmers to regu-
late the finances; farmers to build up our
mining industry; farmers to promote manu-
featuring; all farmers to look after and faster
every industry, the farmers to have sole
| power in the government, to be the lords of
all, and to make the representatives of every
other occupation to bow at theirlordly shrine!
| May God deliver US from such government!
In the old parties the principle of justice is
at least maintained, and representation of all
industries possible. In the proposed new
| party, all possibility of representation would
be precluded by the strong bars of secret
brotherhood. No, we don't want such a rule.
Patriotism scorns the thought of it. Justice,
Honor, Liberty, writhe at the very mention
| of it. The bleached bones of the patriot
fathers, whose almost infinite wisdom and
unbounded love of truth, justice, and liberty
| conceived and eStaOnSn6d form or govern
ment granting to all equal rights and privi-
leges, would proclaim curse upon such an
infringement of the sacred principles of our
government, and the spirits of the departed
heroes, whose blood was the price of our
national heritage, would voice, from their
spirit home, their indignation into our con-
science, were we to appropriate to our own
selfish desires what is the common heritage
of all. If, when the political parties are d.
vided merely on the basis of principles set
forth in their respective platforms, corrup-
ton creeps into politics, and Determinations
are tolerated, and class legislation is possible,
how would it be if we were to stand divided
on the basis of classes, or occupation? Would
not some one industry swallow I'D all the
others; and yet, like the kline in Pharaoh's
dream, be lean? Would it not become anoth-
er Jacobin rule? To suppress such elements
has ever been the chief task of advancing
civilization, and to overthrow such rule the
browning glory of any nation.
From the same point of view, should ike
20 comment on each of the other topics
enumerated, but space for bids it this time
I will say this much, however, that if the read
er viii only take for himself fair, candid,
and impartial view of them in their relation
20 the proposed new party, that he will not
lind anything very promising. All power
1 e<,kk 3d. 81 4