The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-09-24

PROHIBITION AND MONOPOLY.
In q communication to the Des
Moines News. Mr.. Bellangee makes
some points that are worthy Of care
full consideration. Mr.. Belangee is q
prominent peoples party man and
an Incorporating anti-monopolist.
1t was he who some weeks ago SO
thoroughly dissected the republican
state platform and exposed the mono
polistic character Of the document,
and who spoke In such high terms Of
the democratic platform. In his let
ter to the News, Mr.. B., among other
things, says:
The anti-monopoly elements of the
republican party have been snubbed
or relegated to the rear. Since the
last election Of Allison. there has been
no hope OF relief from monopoly
through the republican party.
Mr.. b. is . strong prohibitionist and
yet, recognizing as he does that the
republican party is welded body and
soul to monopoly and its interests, he
will do oil in his power to defeat that
party at the coming election. He
further says:
The success of the republican party
may mean the continuance Of prohi-
bition. 1t undoubtedly will mean the
continuance OF mOnOpOly's power,
opposition to the Australian ballot
and the passage Of q bill for -edistrict.
ing the state, which, like the last
passed by them, will be characterized
by the greatest unfairness and the
complete perversion Of popular gov
eminent.
The practical personal question
that we should then ask ourselves
is this: Can we afford to lay aside all
other reforms and vote for the enemy
OF those reforms in the hope that we
may have prohibition for the time be-
ing Eve certainly cannot settle the
question:. / believe we cannot af.
ford to do SO. l believe that from u
prohibition standpoint vote for the
republican ticket this fall will be 4
vote thrown awayfOr the reason that
do not believe it possible for the re-
publicans to carry the legislature or
elect the governor: Nor DO believe
the fate OF prohibition ID linked with
that OF the republican party. II it
should suffer q temporary defeat this
year it will, il the people approve the
principle, find meaDs to reassert
itself under conditions In which it
will be- free from the weight Of iniqui-
ty for which the republican psrty is
responsible.
Mr.. Bellangee has little respect for
the former anti-monopoy professions
and the two-year-old prohibition
policy of the News:
The News frankly admits that its
policy this fall is nearly two years
old. Two years il long time to adj
here to policy without modification,
especially in this age Of political fer
ment.
We are told by the late lamented
Lowell that
New occasions teach new duties,
Time makes ancient good uncouth;
They must upward still and onward
Who would keep abreast OF truth. :
This is true in politics as every
where else and we can only accept
the two.year-old policy of the News
as the true one now by suppOsing
that it was prophetically inspired or,
in other words, that the News was
Just two years ahead Of the people
who have now caught up with it.
Let us see.
The News admits that Boies was
elected on the anti-lnonopoly issue.
Last year the republicans were beat
en- in Kansas and Nebraska, two OF
their stronghol.ls, and discredited in
every northern state a. no party ever
before has been. Iowa was no ex.
ception to the rule. Every one
knows who has studied politics the
| last two years what results come
from the growth Of anti-monopols
sentiment.
The News cannot pc blind to these
facts. Nor can conceive how it car
fail to note that the sentiment of anti
monopoly is stronger today than ont
year ago.
Republicans nowhere claim tina
their party is opposed to the growti
of monopoly in this country. The re
publican leaders Of Iowa tacitly ad
nit that their party wages no wa
lagainst the corporations, trusts IN,
combines that are daily and hourl.
fastening their already strong hol,
upcn the business and farming inter
est: of this country and in variou