Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1891-07-08

( others. Efforts are again being made
to have the campaign of 1892 a repeti-
/ ton of this character. Is such course
/ fair to the people, and can the old par
ties afford to continue it are questions
I which the sagacious of either party
/ should consider carefully. During the
I past twenty years of tariff discussion
l the people have grown poorer and their
/ burden of indebtedness has grown
| larger Neither the force of argument
nor the result of experience has settled
/ the questions or decided definitely to
| the satisfaction of the il terested as to
| what is really the proper course to pur-
| sue. In fact, as an economic question
| 1t is no nearer than it was a century
| ago. 1t would be very difficult lust
now for anyone to clearly define what
constitutes republican protection to
home industry or democratic tariff re-
form. The people have discovered
that this tariff contention is to a
large extent like the beating of drums
and blowing of horns to attract
attention, while other legislative meas
ures are being enacted. Following up
this discovery they have found that
whatever faults may lie with the tariff,
there are other important factors which
experience and information enable
them to know positively contribute to
their distressed and unhappy condition.
These factors and demand for their
removal have been plainly set forth in
the demands of the alliance and the
| platform of the peoples party. The
situation summed up is about as fol-
lows: The republican party is defend
ing the doctrine of protection and ig-
noring everything else, while the dem
ocratic party is advocating tariff re-
form and straddling all other ques-
! tions. In opposition to both is
the peoples party demanding re-
forms in economic conditions which
the old parties ignore and neglect. The
strength of both the old parties lies in
the partisanism of it's members and not
their devotion to principle 1t is the
love of party and the strength of party
ties that bind them together, and not
fealty to the doctrines of free trade or
protection. The question for politicians
to consider is how much longer will
party bonds withstand the present ex-
treme tension? Is it probable that
partisanism can be depended on as
against inte ligence and real desire to
better conditions? In Kansas last fall
the republican party started out on
campaign of tariff and bloody shirt.
As a result the people refused
to attend their meetings, and f1ocked
by thousands to listen to alliance and
independent speakers discuss the liv-
ing questions of financial and other re-
forms Does any one doubt, if the
democratic leaders in Mississippi had
confined their speeches to the questions
of free trade and the force bill and ig-
nored the sub-treasury plan and other
alliance demands, that the same condi-
tions would have been repeated? Had
1t been done Senator George and his
adherents would have met with the
same fate that overlook ex-senator
ingalls, and his friends. 1t is no longer
a theory that can be con-
tinued with fne-spun illusions that
confronts the politician, but a con-
dition grounded and buttressed in
facts that threaten their very existence
What they may say or do should be
measured by the exigency of the occa-
sion, and not by apparent candor or
earnestness. In view of this the duty
eral reckoning should be made and the
bearings taken in accordance with the
best information and thorough knowl-
edge obtainable. 1t should be a con-
scientious, intelligent and fearless con-
clusion, backed up by honesty and con-
tinuity of purpose. Such a reckoning
would avoid the quicksands and shoals,
the rock and breakers and lead
on to safety and quiet
harbor. VIII not the intelli-
gent, Independent producers of
this country begin such an investiga-
ton? Would it not be entirely proper
to say they had already begun, and
that evidences of such an effort could
be seen on every hand? Should such
course be undertaken, which of the
three parties now before the public
would be the beneficiary? Would the
republican party gain through a thor
ough discussion of the tariff? Could
it bring over to its membership any
that now hold to the doctrine of
tariff reform? Or could it induce the
alliance or the peoples party to
once more trust its financial
policy? These questions answer them
dertaking. How would such an effort
result with democracy? Could it bring
to its ranks any considerable number
of those who now hold opposite views
by continued contest over the tariff?
Would republicans in sufficient numb ber
desert their party to cut any figure in
the result of the coming national cam
paigu? No one believes it possible. 1t
would be another drawn battle as
in the past, and as such would best
serve the interests of the party lead
ers. suppose again strong third
party should take the field, backed up
with the Knights of Labor and both the
white and colored Alliances, the Farm
ers' Mutual Benefit Association and
other similar organizations; and sup
pose they should ignore entirely the
question of tariff and discuss finance.
land, transportation and other live
questions, what would be the result?
Can either party stand a discussion of
those questions2 Or have they a record
touching them that they can success.
fully defend2 The alliance believes
and demands reduction of
tariff on the necessaries, and
tnat all revenue should be reduced
to the needs of government, econom-
ically administered, but it will not,
neither can it be driven to consider that
question only as subordinate to num-
per Of others. No matter what poll
ticians may do or say, the alliance is
determined to have finance, land and
transportation discussed and settled fn
preference to all other economic aues.
tons This is the condition at present.
IL Is eylt.S>n event ihat some new angnment
on economic principles is imminent in
the near future, or rapid and radical
concessions must be made This lattee
event can hardly be expected, as the
success of trickery and corruption,
the power of intrigue and manipula-
tion, and the potency of money have
as yet. gone on from conauering 20 con-