Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1892-09-01
SOME REASOlIs WHY.

A Sound Statement Of the Objects of the
Peoples Party.
In taking upon ourselves the response
bilities Of political reform and the fo,-
nation of new party, we should feel
assured that the necessity exists, and
especially should we be certain that the
platform of principles enunciated by tie
new party will insure the perpetuation
of republican form of government and
contains the elements Of speedy cor
rection of the evils complained Of.
Does the necessity for new party e1-
list? Let the conditions of the country
at large answer. From Maine to Cali
fornia and from Michigan to Florida
comes the cry of stagnation in trade,
financial distress, fast increasing pop
ulation of paupers, with grim visaged
want lurking in every city, town and
village. These are the conditions which
surround us, appealing for redress, and
there is none so bold as to doubt the
evidences of his own personal knowl-
edge.
In country like ours, with all the ele-
ments of prosperity inherent in climate,
soil and citizen, with an unbroken chain
of twenty five years of unprecedented
yield of farm, mine and loom, no ade-
quate reason for existing conditions can
be assigned except in vicious legislation.
To the thinking mind this is self evident.
There is no natural cause for the want
of prosperity in the United States, and
the responsibility for present conditions
must rest upon the leaders of the two
old parties which have been charged with
the administration of the government
conformity for the last twenty years.
Neither can escape or dodge the record
they have made. Our general laws are
the result Of their united work, and
each will have to face the history as it
has been made.
The three great questions upon which
they agree involve all Of the active
economic polity of our government. To
vicious and corrupt legislation on these
three questions is attributable in the
main our present deplorable condition;
and the history of and the declarations
through their national platforms make
it absolutely certain that there is no
hope of relief or reform, through either
of the old parties; hence the necessity
for a new party, organized for the spe-
cial purpose of obtaining the enactment
of laws corrective of the abuses COM
planned Of.
Are the demands of the new party
based upon Just and sound democratic
principles, and are they in conformity
with the federal constitution and the
genius of our government? Will they
bring Gf enacted into law the relief
sought? These are all questions that
should be answered and we confidently
believe have been time and again
through the reform press and from the
rostrum.
The position of the party on transpor-
tation is but the logical sequence of the
policy of government control, and needs
only to be stated to become apparent to
all thinking men.
On taxation reformers hold that those
who own and control the wealth are the
greatest benefciaries of good govern
ment, and should be made to contribute
to its support in proportion to their
benefits. That a thorough revision, OF
present methods of taxation as now ad-
ministered is needed is patent to all.
The tax rolls of every county in the
United States furnish that proof.
They are a blasting and whitening ar
gulnent against the present tax laws,
and furnish strong proof in favor of just
and equal distribution of governmental
burdens in this irection.-Southern
Mercury.