Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1890-09-10
Il Platform tor the People
Rapid City Republican.

Rapid City Republican.
A careful perusal Of the Republi-
can platform adopted at Mitchell
should cause those farmers and la
boring men who have been dallying
with the independent movement to
pause and reflect. A fair reading Of
this declaration Of principles will
cause those former members Of the
party, who have gotten too deeply
into the alliance-labor morass TO
look back with a keen regret upon
the high and dry terra firma, Of
principle which that platform pre-
sents.
It contains no unmeaning propo-
sitions framed for sound rather than
sense. II propounds no doubtful
and chimerical industrial theories,
no UtopiAn schemes OF government.
It makes no appeals to classes and
promises no class legislation. Il is
so certain and definite in terms, 81
simple in language that ambiguity
finds no Judgment in it, and the
construction Of demagogues no foot
hold among it's clear cut utterances.
Recognizing agriculture as the
chief industry Of the state. it de-
clafes for state and national irriga-
Etion. It fayors m expansion Of
currency-an increase ii the vol
ume Of real money-to meet the de-
mands Of trade, and the coinage Of
the "entire product Of our silver
mines as money"
1t reafirms its adherence to the
beneficent principle Of protection
for the shielding Of laborers, manu-
facturers and farmers from the ruin
GUS competition Of the pauper labor
Of other countries, shows it's pro-
gressive inertia by a strong indorse-
ment Of reciprocrity-the only "free
trade" safe and practicable for this
country in it's trade relations with
the wealthy, powerful and com.
mercially hostile nations of the
world--free trade which demands as
a condition that this country re.
ceive as great benefit as she confers.
1t denounces in no mild terms
combinations Of capital formed fol
the ulpose of limiting the produc.
ton or advancing the necessaries Of
life, and calls for their suppression
and punishment.
It declares for the Australian bal.
lot and demands the severest pun.
ishment for all attempts to corrup,
elections.
Upon the other live questions oil
the day it's utterances are clear.
sound and loyal to the best interests
Of the government, state and nation,
while upon those questions which
materially effect the welfare of the
farmer and laboring man. classes
against whom the wiles Of indie.
pendent demagoguery are especially
exerted, the platform is all that the
intelligent agriculturalist, artisan
and laborer could demand.
IF it is wise to follow doubtful
leadership through the widest the.
cries and mazes of experiment to-
ward the confines Of a political
Utopia, which like a mirage vanish.
es and dissolves upon approach
then it is well for the classes named
to Join the phalanx Of fanatics
dreamers and demagogues in Their
march upon dreamland--to defeat
and disappointment.
IF tried men, practical measures
Of government still commend them
selves to the good sense and judg
ment Of the agricultural and indus
trial classes, they will remain loya
to the party whose past record fur
nishes ample assurances that it
principles will be firmly maintained
and its pledges fully performed.