People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1892-09-09
No Hope in the Democratic Party.


No Hope in the Democratic Party.
Mr.. EDITOR 1t is evident that
the last ray of hope of ever accom-
plishing reform through the Demo
cratic party has vanished. While
we hold that the Republican party
is mainly responsible for. our class
and oppressive laws, yet we hold
that the leaders of modern democ-
racy are responsible for a full share,
especially from an indisposition to
attempt to repeal them. We have
been admonished by the press and
modern leaders to stand by the party
and we could get our reform de-
mands. Have they proven by prao-
tice what they preach? With a ma
jority of 148 in the lower House, led
by Tom Reed, they defeated tie sill
yer bill passed by Republican Sen
ate, one of the least of reform meas
ures. They also defeated bill to
repeal the 10 per cent. tax on State
banks, both of which were prominent
planks in our State and national
platforms. But can we be much
surprised, For thirty years we
have had meaningless platforms and
have been fed on unfaithful prom
ises. Democratslvoted to repeal the
income tax (among whom was our
much loved Gordon), the only
method by which the millions of I'M
taxed property could be reached.
Democrats, our Gordon included,
voted On the side of the Pacific rail
road steals. Democrats voted for
the act calling in the greenbaoks, and
having millions Of them burnt, carry
ing out the policy outlined in 1862
by English bankers to American
bankers in the Hazard circular.
Democrats are responsible, as much
so as the Republicans, for the de-
monetization of silver, as there was
no opposition vote against it. Now
they say they did not know the act
demonetized. Yet they say intelli-
gence must rule. q reckon they
were under q maudlin sleep or at the
horse races.) But still they, with a
majority of 148, refuse to remone-
tie, and worse still, have voted an
international conference by which,
if there should be a treaty between
nations, siill-,3eros~ doom lis fixed al
agriculture robbed. This will per
petuate the power Of English lords
to rob by depressing the price of our
products. Of recent date, modern
Democrats, led by r, Hobbs e Co.,
enacted a force bill, connected with
a party gag oath, to-wit: 81 do
solemnly swear that | am a citizen
and resident of this county and pre-
cinct, and endorse, and will support
the Democratic platform adopted at
Chicago this year, and the Demo
cratic candidates upon same for Presi-
dent and for Congress, and have not
voted in any other primary election
for faid delegates now being elect
ed to represent this county at this
convention to be held at Albany
Aug 18th next" Yes, they swear
us to support the platform and can
didate of the bosses. They take away
by force the time honored usage of
county sovereignty to fix the time
and mode of choosing delegates.
They also, by force under the Al
beny police, or Pinkerton's, suppress
a minority of free speech. In plain
terms the Hobbs force bill and gag
oath has robbed large class of vot-
ers of an honestly expressed will at
the ballot box. Any party SO full Of
corruption, and which SO far forgets
the fundamental principles of our
American liberties should die. They
are no longer the representatives Of
the House Of Jefferson and Jackson.
For thirty years they have been
drifting with the tide Of COR
ruption as practiced by the Repub-
l1can party with nothing IN view but
party success. We have followed
blindly like good boy. But the
veil has been lifted from our eyes,
and because we refuse to be led fur.
Their hence the Hobbs force bill and
gag oath. But thank God as this
old house have decayed and rotted
we have foundation left whose
builders were Jefferson and Jack
son, the pillars of which is equal
Rights to all and Special Privileges
to None" Upon this foundation, the
Peoples party is founded, and will
press forward for the rights of the
people until our government is res
cued from the clutches of English
noblemen and American plutocrats.
G. W. CRAPP.
Fort Gaines, Ga.