The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-09
Congressman Livingston Says We
Are Upon the Road That
Ends in Ruin.
"Class Legislation" That Is, Legis-
lation for the Few Against
the Many.
Tho Financial and Taxing Systems Of This
Country at Fault-The Source of
Remedy. as-#J
written for TIE HELENA INDEPENDENT /

Written for TIE HELENA INDEPENDENT
ycV-NHAT Is THE ATTITUDE OF TIE
AIVk alliance people at this time to-
oIsyc ward the great questions that are
agitating the public mind. and what isthelr
condition and strength, n what OF the
future? Ths alliance peoples of this coun-
try are thoroughly aroused and extremely
sensitive touching political questions and
methods. This grows out Of their pecullar
circumstances and recent education. They
believe that all effects are traoeable to
causes. The Impoverished condition of the
masses ID not an exception to the rule. 1t
has its cause, md in their opinion can be
as clearly defined and US unquestionably
demonstrated as any other philosophical
proposition. Much thought and extended
education as to the discovery OF the cause
or causes that have led mp to the pres
emit condition of the people i'll this country,
have obtained for the last two years. L nd-
nit that the conclusions drawn may be TO
some extent strained and mixed slightly
with error, but upon the whole the causes
now assigned by Alliance men everywhere
are ~inaisputahle. They believe That while
many minor missteps on the part OF ma
tionala and state legislation and political
parties have had moro or less to do with
the condition Of things. yet the fact re-
mains that the two great causes of poverty
and want now spreading over this land like
q dark pail. producing unrest and lnstabii-
ity among all CLASSES ana in all sections,
are the financial and taxing systems of this
country. Indeed, in the light OF history
they have concluded that they have
reached that portion of the highway
upon which all other nations have been
wrecked that havs dared to travel it thus
FAT. "Class Observation-Disclosures for the
poverty; patricians versus pleblans. inns
has brought them to the condition of des-
marathon. They are very much IN the con-
dition Of q man passing down the descents
of a cIaccy mountain. when suddenly ne
stors atthe edge of an unfathomed preclplce'
with death staring him in front and no
phygicsl force to regain the summit. No
wonder political parties are unsettled; no
wonder that hangs III unce tain
balances; no wonder that this people nave
SO little confidence III any mortal man or
party. From this unrest and uncertainty
either much good or the obstruction
of the liberties of this country, with
all its cherished forms and pres
tipe, will evolve. The great question
with statesmen and patriots as we'll as
alliance men is, which of the twain shall be
tho result. This mast be settled and solely
So, BY the methoas used to- dlsplace the
nisleeielation and recover to the People
their constitutional and i~nalienable rights
the undisturbed and unobstructed per
mission to pursue their lawful vocatlons
under q common flag OF equal rights to
all and special fayors to none" Men and
nations have frequently done what the OK
universally does when i'll the mlre-syery
effort to extrioats sinking them deeper and
deeper into the slushes. Hence the abso.
Lutte necessity for sober, careful and
common sense consideration just at this
point in our history. We have men and
parties who prefer to fight, quarrel and
crimipats and recriminate. Such mon
and such parties n.ver lifted a
people ont OF trouble. While all
this goes on reason and Judgment
are dethroned, and the inspiration 80 mneh
needed from the skies never penetrates
their intellects. Theirs are others who SIT
down by this hard and stony pathway and
complain Of its rou2hness and linposslbiil-
ties and while away the passing opportunity
to save n nation or g people. Neither the
one nor the other can settle the great ques-
tioRs that are upturnlng and upheavlnR a
nations hope and destiny. The remedy
lies to-day in the hands OF those who must
go untAanked aud unhonored for the
present. The settlement of the questions
If settled at all with advantage to the
people and a retention Of our present form
OF observation-disclosures be left in the hands
of cool, deliberate and brave mcn-men
who dare to cross public oplnlon-men who
dare to face public scorn and ridlcule-
men who dare to do their duty. If this
whole people could be brought to a sober
standpoint, and if We could eliminate from
the public Iostrun and pubic press men
and matter that tend to in1a1no and mys-
tify, and in their places could get advisers
and teachers who are moved alone and in
cited exclusively for the public good, this
country could be tu' ned about and once
more peace and prosperity would perch
upon our banners and the glorious sun
shine OF contentmtnt would rest upon
every section of this land. Whether the
alliance people, with their irresistible power
in the form of ballots and u righteous
cause, can be held down to q judicious and
safe exercise of that power and influence, is
the question. have great confidence in
the masses Of tho people when a degree Of
intelligence exists sucA as obtains among
our people, and | sm satisfied that,
in the near future. If allowed to dc
go, will cluster around a peaceful and
profitable solution of this ouestion-a
solution that will not harm any section or
any class of our citizenship. This depends
very largely upon thoss WHO are now lead
ing Or endeaporlng to lead the masses of
the people. A people often do what midi
viduals do-t liter away their strength and
Opportunity irving 10 accomplish impossl-
bilitles. ! know one poor mortal lpan who
spent thirty years, i'll this prime of life, try
Ing to invent perpetual motion. to be APP
p!lso to machinery. He was honest, earnest
and confident, and yet he died p~reInatut ely,
unhonored and unagng, with the great
object of his llfe wrapped in y shroud of
eternal darkness. Ii may bs possible that
the alliance people will. like this man, fol-
lowing IN the footsteps OF some honest,
candid aid confident lenders, waste their
youth and strength, and disappear whilo
the p ocesslen goes by. j hope not
and believe not. | repeat that / believe
tbs alliance people to be- ala hoatst people,
MI earnest leeple ana q confident People,
and as the same time 4 cautious and think
ing people. Those VINO are now dlckerluu
with them. whether for the Uutpoge of
breaklnG up their organ ZN.ion or tor per
sonal ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS or from misplaced
judgment and conviction, may for Il while
excite them and mIs.ead thea: but sober
sense VIII soon return, and fLey Will ask
these important gESStIons: hro your
nlstnods and Your plans tor our relief gaIe
and advisable? and can you guarantee
ability to iGud uc through the wllastnsss,
over tic Jordan and into tho land OF
Canaan? In other words, method. may
be apparently all right, consistent and
plsusible. and ut tho sgna time with
10 force or power OF execution. There
are three political parties organized in this
country. Two OF them are powe ful and
controlllng--the other is weak and lnpo-
tent. The great question that Is disturbing
the alliance people to-day 10 to which of