The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1891-09-11
THINKING AND ACTING"

THINKING AND ACTING"
just a Word for tho Benefit of the Ignor>
ance Of tho Demo-Reps.
Under the above title the Kansas
City Times reviews the criticisms of
The Topeka Advocate upon former
editorial in that journal, and this re-
view contains a few statements that
merit consideration. The Times claims
to be consistent in its change of atti-
tude towards the Alliance. We are
not prepared to dispute this PROPOSE
ton. 1t was undoubtedly consistent
for the Times to pat the Kansas Ali
ance on the back when it proposed to
defeat the Republican party in our
state, audit Is also undoubtedly consist
ent in its opposition to the Alliance
when it threatens the integrity of the
Democratic party of Missouri; but this
can disprove the claim of The Advocate
that a change has taken place in the
attitude of the Times towards the or
ganization. That change, according
to it's own statement, dated from the
Cincinnati convention, when the Peo-
pies party became national.
The Times says it is the Alliance
that has changed-that 'when the
movement was first organized it anx-
iously proclaimed an intention to keep
aloof from politics" When and where
did it make any such proclamation?
We are we'll aware that our enemies
have made this proclamation. for us
frequently and insisted that we should
father it; but neither the Times nor
any other opponent of the Alliance
can show where the organization
itself has ever set up any such claim.
The assumption is altogether gratui-
tOus.
One Of the purposes set forth in its
fundamental declaration is
To labor for the education of the agri-
cultural classes in the science of economi-
cal government in a strictly bipartisan
spirit, and to bring about more perfect
union of said classes.
One of the great objects of the Or
ganization has been to bring Demo-
Gratis and Republicans together In a
common brotherhood. and so educate
them that they would see the decep-
ton that has been practiced upon
them by the two old parties in keeping
them in a fight over the tariff ques-
ton while the politicians and their
allies. the gamblers and money chang
ers, continued to rob them; and this
system of education has been wonder
fully successful. While the Alliance
claims to be non-partisan, it never did
claim to be non-political. 1t has
many members to-day who still vote
the Democratic and Republican tickets.
and the order is so non-partisan that
those members enjoy full fellowship
and all the rights and privileges that
are enjoyed by other members. The
Times must not confound the Alliance
with the Peoples party. It constitutes
but one of the factors that compose
that party. A recollection of this dis
tinction may save many mistakes
The Times thinks the great bulk of
Alliance voters do not agree with us
upon the sub treasury and government
ownership propositions. Then why
do they continue in their conventions
to ratify and approve of these PROPOSE
tions? We take them at their word
and believe they know what they are
talking about.
The Times entirely fails to compre-
bend the chief issue of the Peoples
party. It is neither the treasury
! scheme, the land loan scheme, gov
eminent ownership of railroads and
telegraphs, nor is it tariff reform.
While we recognize all of these as
remedial measures of more or less i'm
portance they are not the main issue.
The great fundamental and all absorb
ing question before the American peo-
| pie to-day is the question of finance.
The Peoples party demands that the
power to coin money and regulate the
value thereof shall no longer be dele
gated to corporations but that this pre-
rogative shall be resumed by the peo-
pie through their representatives and
be exercised by congress as the con-
stitution provides; and that a suf-
ficient amount shall be coined and sup
piled to the people to enable them to
transact the business of the country on
cash basis. This is the one supreme
| issue. The sub-treasury and land loan
schemes are regarded as practical and
equitable means by which this money
may be placed in the hands of the
people; and the government ownership
of railroads and telegrapbs is proposed
in order to prevent corporations from
stealing it from the people after they
have got it. This is the situation to-
day, and this is the situation of the
Peoples party, and The Advocate
stands squarely on these fundamental
planks of the platform. No tariff dust
will blind the eyes of the people either
this year or in 1892
About Pensions.
The only bill brought before the state
legislature last winter for the benefit of
old soldiers state agent at Washington
was killed on motion of Speaker Elder
Tho fo1>