Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1892-05-04
ST. LOUIS PLATFORM.

ST. LOUIS PLATFORM.
Brief, Concise and Clear, Its Strength Be-
comes Moro Apparent ~ the Weeks Pass
BY.
AS the weeks pass by the strength OF
the platform adopted at st. Louis be-
comes more and more apparent. Being
confined to finance, land and transpor-
tation, it is necessarily short and COM
prehensive. Its position upon these
propositions is absolutely impBegnable
and will stand the test of discussion and
the attacks of the opposition. Its
brevity, conciseness and clearness is not
only a surprise to its enemies, but a
growing wonder to its trainers and
seems to point directly to an overruling
influence which many will consider as a
sure indication of ultimate success. As
a political platform it will stand I'M
rivaled during the coming campaign for
directncss, clean-cut declarations, and
an effort to make plain and distinct the
principles and demands involved. No
one can read it ever so carelessly and
fail TO discover its real aims and pur-
poses. 1t was written to define and not
to deceive. When the platforms of the
two old parties are prepared if the
usual methods are followed, it
will be with a single purpose to mislead
as 10 real intentions. confuse as to ulti-
mate methods, and TO straddle every
national proposition of interest TO the
people. A fair sample of this jugglery
is seen in the democratic platform late
~ adopted in the state of New York
No person has as yet been able TO inter-
pref its real meaning or give an intelli-
gent synopsis Of its aims and purposes
The people have learned to look upon
party platforms as examples of partisan
cunning and trickery, constructed for
the one purpose of obtaining support
under false prctense. For this reason
the st. Louis platform is a refreshing
reminder of those by-gone days when
political declarations of this character
meant something, when the contest of
a campaign was fought out on clearly
defined lines and the humblest citizen
knew the object Of his vote. 1t is but
fair to presume that this platform will
receive the support of thousands who
have been deceived in the past by the
concealed purpose, or unfair construc-
ton that, as rule, is applied to party
platform when its provisions are met
with the test of application.
Unless the two old parties come square
to the front with platforms unequivocal,
clear and definite upon the economic
questions now before the people, there
will be evidences of dissent coming up
from all parts OF the country. Under
the present educational status among
the people there is but one method to
confirm or defeat the demands of this
ST. Louis platform, and that is by a
legitimate contest based upon facts,
good judgment and intelligent research.
Such contest must sooner or later take
place, and the common people of the
nation will stand as arbiters of its final
result. The time has passed when ar
guments that convince the few leaders
will control the balance of the people.
Happily for the preservation of the little
remnant of liberty and self-government
that remains with the people, it is the
great body of the common citizenship
of the land that are now demanding
more light, more education, and bet
ter knowledge upon national ques-
tions in order to determine what
shall or shall not be the economic
legislation of the country. Plainly
speaking, the people are wearied of
promises unfulfilied, of resolutions
made only to be broken, and of legisla-
ton that fails in it's final construction
by the courts. They have taken the
matter into their own hands, and know
full well their strength and ability to
enforce their demands. They have
been rudely awakened from their dream
of security under the constitution, only
TO find themselves hedged about with
intricate laws and unfair conditions.
Their establishment has given place to a
determination that will never be
swerved from it's purpose until better
times and happier conditions again bless
the nation. The political bosses may
block this stream of progress for time,
but it will simply make the rush of
waters more uncomfortable, and the
consequent destruction that follows
more complete when the distractions
thus made are torn away. The hand
writing on the wal foretelling the de
struction of boss rule is as visible to-day
to those who can read the signs of the
times as in the days of scripture, unless
they heed the warnings and come at
once to the relief of the people The
st. Louis platform states clearly the
grievances and demands of the people,
and around these demands the dis
tressed and oppressed of the land are
certain to rally.-National Economist.