The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1892-12-30

created. s'but has come to be "a maIigu
engine that serves the privileged few
at the expense of tie despoilsd many
We must fight for their liberation
from the timalidom Of partisan preju-
dice 10y using every argument and
every means TO show them their
slavery.
We must dghI not only for the en-
largemeut of Tie ranks of ref0rmers,
but also for the preservation of the
principles of true reform within our
ranks. As the reform party increases
in numbers and power, the tendency
will be toward party 5pOils ANA par
tisan conquest and the neglect Of
fundamental principles. we shall
need to guard we'll against such tend
enciss. Let as survey briefly some OF
the forces against us ia this contest.
The plutocratic press, sustained Dy
the corporations, constitutes the most
active force against as. This is sus-
tanned by the advantage of having he
field and by its sIdliful use Of the
prejuCiCes of its readers, thus keeping
their eyes closed to the truth. The
. hearts of the people are intent upon
right, and we must gain access to
them by persisteutly though patiently
and kindly bOmbardmg this fortress
now held by base means. TupaTaIyEe
the efforts Of the secular PIutocratic
/ press We must strive FOR accuracy and
trUthfulness in the presentation of
I news, ami by fairness in presentation
of argument, and freedom from per
sonsl inyective.
To ueuualize The vicious influences
I OF the religious press and TO WIN them
( to our cHuss we must present higher
code of morals than that business is
business - and show the peopI that
/ The business of men as distinguished
from that of mere money getters. IS to
live and let live. To shy s,livs and
I let live, - is Leueath the moral stand
ard of truo muuliness. I do not mean
/ to say, nor TO be understood as iuti-
mating, that the whole influence of
/ the religious press is vieious, but That
/ there is a vicious influence ian it; for
while it may dcnounce Usury, it La-
no moral standard Tor determining
| what usury is. In New York and
/ several other states, 1t IS usury to
charge more than 6 per cent. interest.
/ In other states the limit is 2, 8, 10
and u, or amy rate agreed HpOu. and
/ the churches and tile religious press
are content to let this rest upon legal
/ grounds, doing uotHing whatever to
learn and teach the moral elements in
. vulved. II is one of the elements of
the fight before us to stand for the
moral quality called equity.uud against
the immoral and unjust extortiOn
practiced under high legal Interest
either by statute or contract or both.
Centuries ago this was question
Of morals. It was allowable to charge
ii stranger" interest or hire for the
use of money, but not "a neighbor or
brother. A stranger was au alien,
an enemy. Now all men are brethren
neighbors, and under the same law
morally that was then prescribed for
those not strangers"
This coming hight must be made
with the weapons of peace-skiIful
presentation of truth in the interests
of humanity, not in combative spirit
rs against any man or set OF men, but
only as combating error, and that by
pointing out the more excellent way.
/ When revileG, revile not again, but
turn ON the modern electric seaI ch
light of fuIer-orbed truth till our enc
mics stink away in darkness or con
fess the error Of their way and Join
our ranks.
Perhaps you want me 10 indicate
some particular contests to be under
taken at once. We'll, we must hesiege
the citadel of public Indifference ui re-
gard to certain reforms in legislation,
and create a demand for certain work
TO be done by tile next legislature. We
ought to be practically and actually a
unit in insisting that our legislature
shall follow out the plan of brushing
aside some useless and expensive time
, hOnOred customs, as did our valiant
leaders iu deciding that the iu1ugu
ration of our governor shall be a plaiI
business affair rather than a scene O.
revelry for the display OF BUTTERFLIES o.
S fashion. Let US fight the useless anl
ruiuous for malism and dO-uothiugues.
OF legislative bodies, and demand thai
from this time on the Legislature sinai
be body Of workers who shall trans
act business for the people, rather
t than use the peoples time and money
, to do business for the corpo ratious.
Let as demand "a mortgage relief
law; the Australian ballot law, OF
better system; law making anyone
who purchases vote ia amy way o
B even spends enough for a cigar for -ht
t purpose Of eIecuOnesung, ineligible
I for Office thereby; an equitable schoo
3 tax law chat viii prevent tire prsseu
D Inequalities OF this system; the intro
Z ductiOu of tHs initiative and refsreu
2 dun aud proportional rep eseHtatiou.
= e thorough revision Of our Insurance
. isiWss a law that Will fuUv conference.-the