The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-05-23
THE WORD

1t is a mistaken idea that a reform in
the administration Of the government
can come only through a new party.
There is nothing farther from the truth.
Reform has been the shibboleth IF every
new political organization that has had
it's birth in the country. 1t is always the
~watchword of the minority. 1t il a very
catching word and strikes the ear of men
with a pleasing sound. And that is the
reason political parties inscribe it upon
their banners. Now reform is a plant of
very slow growth. 1t springs from a
mighty small germ to begin with and
must be planted in the hearts of honest,
conscientious, earnest men to take root,
live and grow. And when it grows it can
find expression in shaping and carrying
out the policy of the government only
through honest, earnest men. Here we
have the whole thing in "A nutshell. TINE
reform must spring from the hearts of
the people to effect good.
Send u dozen Of the biggest political
rascals in the country to "A committee
room 10 draft a platform of principles.
Their first resolution will apostrophizc
reform: their second will promise reform.
and their third will declare their party is
the only true reform party in existence.
Give their party the election and those
same representatives of reform will dive
deeper in the public crib and bring out
more in one year than the people can put
in it in three, and yet the party
itself will swear by these same men
and reflect them if they can muster
votes enough. Is this SO or is it not SO?
Let the man who thinks it is not sit
put IN his thinking zap and call
to mind the namcs Of those in high
places who have been kicked out Of of
flee by a national administration for dis
honesty. He may 90 back to the days Of
the f"d"raIists under the elder Adams M
the time Of ~lIrlknap under Grant
without finding a single name. Bclknap
Mckay and Mcdonald of the old
ring during the same
administration complete the list.
are three and no more.
And yet 10 intelligent man will aver that
the government has not been swindlcd
by scores Of officials in high and low
But none Of them have been
brought 10 an account for their evil do
Still, during thc past third Of "A
century, and up to the billion dollar con
trcss In" dominant party has come b."
ore the people every four years with the
word "r"form" in big letters inserted in
Is platform and inscribed upon lis ban
l"rs. This mock"ry has been kept up So
ong that the word has almost become a
stencil in the n~ostrils Of the people and
hey will doubtless gladly hail the advent
I II party which has forgotten to employ
t IN formulating its t"ncts Of political
aith. !; was hoped that the aggregation
which organized the "Pcoplcs Party OF
b" United States at Cincinnati the
tlcr day would eliminate the word
rom It's platform and trust to the
sense and fairness Of the
coplc to credit II with honesty Of pur
osc and sincerity in execution in its pu
tical action, but with such old politi-
as DOnnclly and Weaver among its
'adcrs the platform makers doubtless
bought that ii little lsprinkling Of
h" word 'reform' in their resolutions
'ould swcctcn and make them
Iorc palatablc to the people. And so A.,
ne word is strung along in orthodox ;
ishion among the articles of faith ofthc
part. IT would be refreshing To see ,
ne political platform without this sold I
.ock in trade word "rcform' injected .
through it. Not that reform is not a =
'od thing; not that it is not needed in !,
ne administration Of the governments: y
NJ SIMPLY because il has become the I
oak t" hide the rascality Of politicians, !
ld has become the synonym for deceit !
ld ~trcachcry and malfcasancc in office
trough the r%ottcnncss pcrvading the q
PIPER stratum Of the party in bower. :
y
7HE LEADER'S EIGTRES. v