The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-29


lister the remedy, nor do believe that the
remedies they suggest are at all commensurate
with existing grievances. On the other hand.
/ do honestly believe that the Republican party
is on n fair way of meeting and checkmating
growing evils The Republican party has from
the day of its birth held the insercst of tho
farmer, mechanic and lahorer paramount TO
every other interest: has always legislated In
their behalf, and has succeeded in establishing
them in this country on a better footing social
ly, morally and financially than farmers, me-
chanics aud laborsrs anywhere else
Before we proceed to analyz. some OF the
planks in the various platforms framed by the
Peoples party We must first sualyEe the mean
ing OF the word government, ana determine
what can reasonably Be expected from govern
ment Whatever meaning the word govern
ment may convey in mouarchical sense, in
this republic 1t means nothing else than rep
resentation OF the people. At the Peoples
party convention held in this city saw BAN
ner upon which was inscribed the never-dying
words OF the immortal Lincoln: ~ govern
ment by the people, OF the people and for the
people" take it to be that the Peoples party
approve OF the sentiment expressed by Lincoln,
and therefore must agree that government has
no powers beyond the people.
In q true republic government il not q mys-
terious, inexplicable power, having In its pos
session the means to either enrich or impoverish
the people, and thus punish or reward the peo-
pie as it chooses. But il il a simple, plain and
visible power. deriving its wealth or poverty
from the people; is enlarged or made less at the
will OF the people; Ii composed OF a few persons
who are elected periodically by the people for
the sole purpose of protecting the life and prop
erty OF the people. Additional powers may be
given to 1t by the people, additional duties may
be assigned to it, but all such powers or duties
must be subservient to its main functions,
namely. the protection OF life and property,
thus enabling the people to pursue their several
occupations In peace and happiness.
1t Is well to bear this definition of repub-
hcan government in mind throughout our ar
gument For, If government Is nothing else
than an agency Of the people, derives ell its
power from them, and can, therefore, not rise
above them, then it is folly to say LET the gov
eminent issue and circulate money in order to
enrich one portion and impoversh another por-
ton OF the people," government of the peo-
pie has nothing to give but what the people give
IT. lts sole function Is to take enough to prop
crly do the duties assigned to il by the people.
II. on the other hand, We hold that q republican
government has the power to give and take, to
pledge the credit of the people to any amount OF
money desired to build and operate railroads
and to conduct other industries to the injury of
portion OF its people aud to the benent OF All
other portion, then its powers are beyond the
people. 1t no longer occupies the position of
an agent. but that of . master, and 10, therefore,
no longer a republican form of government, but
a monarchical form Of government
1t will, however, be argued that if the govern
ment can constitutionaliy and successfully con-
duct the business of protecting the Lie and
property OF the people, why may it not also con-
duct the business of raising food or OF making
raiment or operating the various lines oil trans
portation? II it can do one thing we'll 1t
just a. well DO another. In answer thereto we
mi hap haiti foil hath
cause few grains of quinine will relieve the
sufferings OF fever patient few ounces OF
Quinlne will totally cure him. Nor does 1t fol-
low that because = little wine will be good for
your stomach that lot OF 1t will be better There
are those who reason thus, with the result
that they fill a drunKards grave. So
1t Is with third party movements. They gener-
ally reason that because il 10 we'll to have for.
eigner reside here five years before he is allowed
to participate in our political affairs 1t would be
better still to have him reaide here twenty-one
years before We make cf4zen of him. or not
let him vote at all; that because an sight-hour
law, an anti-Pinkerton Law. an anti-eonvict
labor law, Q mechanics lien law are all good
things for society, it would be better stin to
have labor party mako every law in the land:
that because circulating medium based upon
the actual wealth of the nation 10 convenient
with which to conduct business, an unlimitabls
supply of money would be better still And 80
we ind the third party making the drunkard's
mistake, namely, that because a little is good,
plenty would be better still And every third
party suffers the drunkard's destiny-an early
grave.
There is another point We must not lose sight
OF when we are thinking of enlarging the
powers OF the government by authorizing it to
operate water. rail and wagon roads, to con.
struct ana. operate pawn shops to conduct a
general nortgaging business, and that 10 that as
we increase tho governments industrial
capacity We must also increase its military
power. OF all the advocates of paternal govern.
ment Edward Bellamy is the only one, so far a.
know. who thoroughly grasps that idea Mr..
Beilamy, In his novel "Looking Backward" ad-
vocates a complete scheme OF paternalism He
wants the government to take charge and
operate every industry in existence aud appor-
ton the profits accrued from these industries to
all Inhabitants share and share alike. He, how
ever, understands that to successfully operate
such vast scheme, the government must be be-
yond the people. Unjust have powers superior
to those OF the people and it must be in posses
sion of a force that will enable it to enforce i'm
plicit obedience to its orders Therefore he
suggests military organization more complete
than any that ever existed. Every male and
female between the age of % and 46 must serve
in the army, and serve continuously for twenty
one years. True, Mr.. Bellamy does not call his
army military. He calls it an industrial army
that to tie ones hands with q silken cord il
equally as oppressive as tying them with steel
chain. To call an army industrial does not
make 1t any less Objectionable than to call il
military, when it is we'll known that Bsllamy
exacts from his army q stricter discipline than
was ever exacted from any military organiza-
ton. In all armies q recruit 10 allowed to choose
whether he would prefer the cavalry. artillery
or infantry, but in the industrial army of Mr..
Boilamy's dream every man and woman is dis.
franchised. No vote or choice of any kind is
allowed them. To whatever occupation they
are assigned by the department officers they
must go. irrespective OF their prior instructions
or choice.
And Bellamy 10 right Absolute tyrannical
powers are Indispensable to properly conduct
any paterual government True every govern.
ment must BIO obeyed. A government that is
not obeyed implicitly is not worthy OF the
name. But the difference lies in this fact that
when the government concerns itself only with
the protection OF life and property and leaves
every citizen TO choose for himself such occupa-
ton or calling as he likes, a spirit of loyalty Ia
fostsred in the heart of every citizen, love and
respect OF duty grows up that 10 superior in
cases of emergency 70 the best drilled standing
army a. the past history OF this country well
verfes. While in countries where paternalism
FREEDOM mates in the government a standing
army Is an absolute necessity, and even then
the paternal government Uhe father) is always
in danger OF being torn to pieces by its citizens
the children). have dweled upon this point
longer than the "Looking Backward" scheme
deserves. But 1t helps us TO thoroughly under
stand the fact that before We plunge into parer-
nalism. destroy our individuality and loyalty,
we must earnestly consider the danger that I'M
deniably surrounds paternal government.