The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1892-05-21
MEASURES NOT MEN.

A
A leading democrat of Lexington
thinks that the editorial in last weeks
INT~ELLTGENCER entitled, s'Thou Shalt
Not Steal" is calculated to do the
democratic party in Lafayette county
much harm.
The INTELLIGENCER does not share
the gentleman'S apprehensions.
/. The INTELLIGENCER fully indQrsed
what MIR. Wallace said upon the issues
before the people, but its complaint
was that he did not go far enough and
present all the issues. This paper is
not in favor of the cowardly surrender
OF leading democratic issues to suit any
one man or set of men.
BY using the phrase, ''Thou shalt
not steal" Mr.. Wallace designated the
character of the people he was fighting,
and the INTELLIGENCER simply ac-
cepted the designation, for nothing is
truer than this: If the men and corpo-
rations who have profited by the tariff
laws, are stealers, so are the men who
have profited by the outrageous finan-
cial legislation that obtained during the
war, and for twelve years afterward.
Years and years ago the democratic
party begun a warfare against this out
rageous financial legislation. From
1868 until 1883 there was not a demo-
cratic state or national convention
whose platform failed to ring out in no
uncertain sounds against it, and in
favor OF currency reform. In every
one of these conventions the cause of a
better financial condition for the peo-
pie, held equal honors with that OF
tariff reform, and the twin issues after
yearc of hard fighting finally crowned
the efforts of the party with success.
In 1888 the party foolishly abandoned
the cause of currency reform,tand was
overwhelmingly defeated as if in pun
ishment of its folly and bad faith to the
peoplep
The most important thing to the
democratic party This year Is success.
The INTELLIGENCER is brave enough to
declare that success under any possible
leader is far preferable to defeat under
any, but 1t is not yet ready to sell the
party to Shylock in order to down the
robber Tariffa, nor would it make an
alley of the latter to see the other de-
throned.
There ought not to be any installing
of the issues upon which the party is
strongest before the people Precedent,
history, every landmark of the past,
every political signboard established by
experience and set to guide the traveller
Alright proclaim what these issues are,
and in no instance do they ignore that
of currency reform.
The question to be decided very soon
is, shall the folly of 1888 in renouncing
the money issue be repeated, or shall
the party, ignoring the personality of
candidates rand their predictions,
stand true to its convictions and present
in its platform measures that will
afford the fullest relief to the people.
The danger the party is approaching
is the intent to make a platform to
suit one man and one section. This is
not democracy. Democracy is the
belief in certain principles, holding to
certain measures, and not fidelity to
some big party chief.
We may desplse the assassin, but we
cannot help but admire the patriot
who, holding in his hand the glittering
blade, yet reeking with imperial Cesar's
blood, exclaimed, 81 loved not Cesar
less, but Rome the more"
The Chicago convention must be
democratic, and its platform must be a
reflex of the broadcast principles of
democracy, and it must be broad
enough to carry all the democratic
measures. This is of far more impor-
tance. than any man who may be
named.