The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-08-07
KANSAS DEMOCRATS.
The Democratic Editors Of the
State Issue an Address.

ot6t6 1S8U6 an AQQr6sSs
No Confidence In Alliance Reform-Fusion
With the so-Called Peoples Party
spurned-The sub-Treasury Plan
Conference.-The National Adj
ministration Arraigned for
It's Shortcomings.
The democratic editors OF Kansas
gathered themselves together at To-
peka on the appointed date, coming in
full force from every portion and cor
ner of the state. Other democratic
leaders, orators and advisors were on
hand and altogether it was decidedly a
democratic day. The one remarkable
thing about the gathering was the una
nimity with which they opposed fus-
ion with the alliance and favored an in
dependent stand on true democratic
principals, pure and simple. If the
fuglemen Of the alliance party expected
a helping hand from the democrats this
fall they counted without their host as
there will be no fusion unless the alliance
joins the democrats under the banner
OF true democracy.
The committee that had been ap-
pointed TO prepare an address to the
democrats OF Kansas ard the nation,
considered every point carefully and
the document reads as follows:
THE ADDRESS.
The democratic editors of Kansas, in conven-
tion assembled in view of the fact that a large
conservative element of this country is becom-
ing seemingly innoculated with doctrines for
eigr to the genius and fundamental principles
upon which our government Is founded, issue
the following address to the democracy Of the
state and nation:
We hail with delight the awakening of the
American people to a realization of the wrongs
they have suffered, which are the direct result
of ideas and doctrines antagonistic TO democrat
ic principles.
fhe evils that affiict the country are not the
result Of fixed limitations upon governmental
authority and upon those who exercise power
but precisely the reverse.
These evils are the spawn OF that latitudi
rian and licentious idea which holds that the
government should not be restrained, and what
ever those in authority believe or profess to be-
Iieve for the welfare Of the country should be
done.
How then can these evils he cured?
BY a resort to remedies of like character, but
of greater extent than those which produce
these evils?
How can monopoly be remedied by more mo-
nopolyf
How can thu evils of too much government be
remedied by still more government?
How can wrongs inflicted by stretching and
violating the constitution be righted by sus-
pending or abOllShing the constitutions
l. ow can industrial emancipation be effected
by a system that would place all the CONNER
cia activities and industrial forces of the coun-
try under the control of those in authority
How can despotism be avoided by system
which would increase the public patronage, and
hence the power of those in authority a thou
sand folds
How can the evils Of class legislation. partial
ity in administration, corruption and universal
decentralization in finances be avoided by sys-
TEN that encourages every man in the country
to seek aims, and makes the government pub
lie aims giyerg
How can that individuality. that personal self
respect by which alone freedom is maintained
be preserved by system which makes every
man a mendicant and the government vast
paternal power dispensing favor to the maSSeSs
Under such system, with such vast pat
ronage at its command with such unlimited
power In its hands, party once in power could
never be dislodged except by revolution.
We therefore profoundly sympathizs with the
aspirations and aims of all who hope and sin
cerely strive for better conditions of the mass
es of mankind, but cannot subscribe to doc
trines that are identical in character, and In
tensified in degree with those ideas and doc
trines that have produced the conditions COM
planned OF. We cannot shut our eyes to the in
dictment presented against the existing wrongs
by the peoples party as complaint against
the wrongs perpetrated by the republican party
and continuously objected to and pointed out by
the democratic party.
And while these wrongs were accomplished
with strong hands unlawfully. over the united
principles and best efforts of the democratic
party. it was largely by the aid of those who
now clamor for redress Of these wrongs by a
species of communism and state socialism that
are foreign to American traditions and the con-
stitutional principles upon which this govern
ment was founded. These demands Of the peo-
pie would. as a necessary sequence,i IL carried to
their legitimate consequences, result in sub
yeTting and revolutioniZing the government it.
self. Neither are We unmindful of the fact that
OF all the demands made by those who have re
Gently discovered these great wrongs there is
not one that can be described as national. and
which is within the bounds of possibility. but
what has been made over and over again by the
democratic party.
Neither are we blind to the fact that this lat
ter day movement Of those who were until re-
Gently the political associates of the perpetra-
tors of these wrongs is simply desperate eff
fort to get the benefits OF democratic measures
and democratic policies. without abating their
partisan prejudice sufficient to vote the demo-
cratic ticket: We say to all who hope for bet
ter things, all hail, brother: but we cannot con-
sent to withdraw from the field of activity at
the very moment when the triumphs Of demOc-
racy make reformatory reliefs possible.
After thirty years OF devoted adhesion to
principles and measures through misrepresent
alton and obloquy, the old veteran in the war
fare for liberty cannot be carried aside by new
recruits and amateurs who werJ auxiliaries OF
the enemy in the great battles of the past.
The reason that the democratic party has sur
vived for a century is because IL has deserved
to survive; because it is the only party in this
country'S history which has stood up for the
people against centralized power, for men
against man official. 1t has steadfastly declared
for fixed and definite limits of power, and has
set its face like flint against every alluring and
enticing pretext for the indulgence Of the doubt
full and excessive governmental powers upon
the vague and dangerous excuse OF accomplish
ing public good.
In country and under a government the
object OF which is to preserve freedom, the
very genius Of the constitution must be re-
stricted
The democratic party is, therefore, and
ever has been, the constitutional party Of
this country and its opponents, whether fed
eralist whig, knownothing, republican or
what not, have been and are now the enemies
of these salutatory restraints and sound con-
stitutional principles. the maintenance OF
which is necessary to the protection Of ths in
dividual against uSurpation, corruption. eX-
travagances, Righteousness and crimnality of
those in authority. Through all the past in
every free government the question has been
and throughout the future will ever be; what
measure OF power dare we intrust to those in
authority.
Back Of every question OF what it is wise to
do lies the question what is it safe to intrust
the official to do,
Questions of jurisdiction and power are pri-
mary in their nature and in the very nature OF
things underlie the inquiries as to the wisdom
of policies in themselves.
party therefore like the democratic party
which has clear and defined views respecting
the nature, doctrine and powers OF government
must be permanent party and will endure as
long as the people have sufficient intelligence
to appreciate the primary importance OF strictly
limited governmental power.
The democratic party stands for individual
ism against inStitutionaliSm or the scattered
and segregated individuals who constitute the
great mass Of society as against corporations
and all manner of concentrated forces by which
the united energies OF the many are nodded by
the few.
1t believes in the freedom Of each individual
so long as il results in no possible or palpable
wrong to another; it believes that each individ-
ual is entitled to that large liberty which he
may enjoy without denying to another equal
liberty. 1t realizes that modern progress has
brought US face to face with new conditions
and problems that imperatiyely demand solu-
ton, but il is not prepared to assent to the
proposition that the solution of these problems
involves the shutting up Of our eyes to the ad-
TnonitionS Of n story We believe in ahOliS hing