New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-12
THOROUGH CHANGE DEMANDED.
AN ARGUMENT TO SHOW THAT THE WHOLE
SYSTEM OF PROPERTY RIGHTS
NEEDS REVISION.

70 the EditO- Of The Tribune.
sir: with thousands more Of Your readers whose
lives and dearest concern, are identified with the Re
publican party i have read with deepest interest the
conclusions The Tribune ard other papers upon the
cause Of our defeat Of lat November and The daty Of
the party In view Of the situation. The general opn-
ion 10 fX upon the Mckinley IAs.u act q, the
cause Of the disaster: set u papers aveTing It's
vicious and necessarily unpopular nature, while The
Tribune and other, hold that the defeat was due 10
misrepresentation and TO MISREPRESENTATION of It,
bcnchccut provisions. and THAT, consequently tc way
10 restore Republican supremacy is first and mainly,
to Xpan and defend that exponent OF the Republican
policy Of protection, suppcmcntnS tn7 with the Ecc-
lion bill.
Important as these two measures are, permit me
10 cNpr-,, the modest opinion that they arc not The
most important subjects now demanding political
action that the Mckinley bin wa, not the prime ciu-'
ot our defeat and that the rank and he Of the i,pub
lean party anNiou-y waiting for II 70 Lake pro-
uouuccd and actively aggressive position, not merely
i'm PLATFORM but in earnest practice, upon questions far
moro vital 10 Tie Nation. am sorry 10 add that
there seems 70 DO a determined effort on the part Of
leading politicians and papers, Republican ana Demo
ciatlc to ignore the issue, vital to the times. and TO
switch or public attention and Thought from greater 10
less Important questions from the living issues ot
to-day 70 those OF the times Of Henry Clay and Of
Thaddcl, stevens.
The stay at home decided the last election.
all admit The Republican strOngholds are the rural
homes OF the Nation, and the Democratic the sIums Of
the city. The stayathomc vote was mainly tine Re
publican or rural vote. II RETAINED from voting, not
from ignorance Of the situation lazy Indifference,
but mtecntly and designcdly. IL meant decided
condemnation Of the party management, aud felt the
necessity Of rebuke. 1t did not mean preference for
the Democracy. though recognizing the necessity Of
short amt thorough course Of bad medicine To effect
cure The first dose has produced effect distinctly
Tt,ts .ffr tc mn 1fn ap
bitter pill, follow or Is the patient past cure
The farmers and other WOrlungmen have long rec
ocnzcd the fact that, while our National wealth Ia,
been rapidly increasing the result Of their abors,
the increase has been mainly diverted, under color OF
law but in the most nagrant defiance Of right, from
II, producers, and absorbed by gigantic combinations
Of capital. preventing crushing ont all competition,
and 80 levyinc practically unlimited tribute from the
Nation. The morality and justice OF the proceeding Is
exactly that OF highway robbery without its risks to
the operator. The reward Of one course OF cNt0ron
is the state prison. Of the other frequently,
seat I'm the United states senate As necessary
sequence gigantic fortunes are accumulatins as never
before and pauperS multiplying at the other end OF
the lne-a thousand FOR every millionaire Farmer,
and labOring men have 70 believe that this rapid
Capitalization Of wealth Is the greatest danger threat
cning themselves and the Republic aud the most I'M
p0rtlnt subject Tor legislative attention. demanding i0s
It's proper consideration, not "a senate compo-cd ~
mllllOnares but representing The millions Cl The
people and not mere organized capital. The views
aud demand, OF the farmers have been no secret.
In the action Of state and National Oranges, Alliances
and other Ike organizations, tine political parties have
long been requested and urged 10 forward their just
measures. With few slight exceptions. their request,
have been treated With indifference and contempt. Is
il ,urp.l.inc that their party zeal Ina, become cool
The Industrial AID economic situation is far different
that OF hundreds OF year, ago, when thr present
lcsal axiom, governing property E-t- were settled
Tacy worried well for the aud condition oi Affairs
for which they designed. But the liliu1l. inc
TELEGRAPH the manufacturing corporation, the lpl!. aud
allow. an the trust had not then been invented aud
Iut in operation. Legal ralc, which then gave only
proper aid last protection "a property aud eucouri-~
ueit TO prOcrcs, have. under different conditions, b..
come sirouphOlds Of robbery and ulHud'r We need
and must have a new Of foundation principles
upon which to base the property rights and relations
growing out Of the changed condition of society, and