Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-08-18
declaration on this subject is straightforward.

declaration on this subject is straightforward.
direct and unanbguoCs
Fourth-They have declared against the re-
publican force bill policy, and in this position
they are heartily sustained by the united judz-
ment CT the democratic party, well as the
best judgment OF thousands and thousands of
the best republicans in the land
FIfth-They have declared in favor of the
election of president and vice president of the
United States and United States senators by
a direct vote Of the people. which proposition
is likewise Endorsed by the best Judgment and
the pest thought OF the best men in all political
parties; proposition that would have sue
ceeded long since if men had possessed the
courage OF their honest convictions
Epsourd and Impracticable Theories.
I VIII also call your attention to q few theo-
| rfes advanced by the peoples party that the re-
puoiican party has again and again pronounced
honest principles, but frank to say that in
my judgment they are both unsound and i'm
practicable at least for the present: and while
may say this with propriety and consistency
it does not lie in the mouth Of any republican to
say For instance and
| First-The peoples party demand that the
| government shall own and control the railroad
telegraph and telephone lines Of the country fo..
the common benefit of the people. This is a
very radical proposition, but it is practically
| in accordance with republican precedent
and principle, the real difference being
J ~ honest about 1.-THE republicans are
not and the proposition as advanced by the reo-
pies party might, under certain circunlstauces
be eminently beneficial TO the masses of the
people, while the republican party has accented
the doctrine as to telegraph and telephone lines
| only, which are inSt-umentalitIeS used almost
exclusively by bankers, merchants, profession
| al ana certain classes OF business men, but not
of the slightest value, as rule to the masses
! OF the people OF the country: hence, your party
| has adopted the principles advanced by the
| peoples party. but limited 1t 10 agencies which
are use1 almost exclusively by the few instead
OF the many, and by the rich instead OF the
| poor
Second-The peoples party also advocate
what is termed the ''sub-treasury scheme" L
do not indorse it. Like the other proposition
regard it as an impracticable and dangerous
one. Now, your party has set the precedent
for this identical doctrine. 1t has demonetized
silver, destroyed its value as an article of
money, and placed it upon q purely commercial
basis. Now, if it be sound policy to purchase
and deposit in The national treasury silver bull
lion, an article of commerce and limited in its
uses, and issue therefore certificates possess
ing the quail ties 'of money for all public and
private uses. then can you tell the differ
ence in principle between the deposit of silver
bullion and issuing certificates therefor,
having the qualities of money, and the
deposit in public warehouses of such products
as corn and wheat, articles OF prime necessity,
OF universal use, with as firmly established
market values as gold and silver, and issuing
for such wheat and corn certificates in the
form and manner that silver certificates are is
sued: Now, If you can point out the difference
III principle between the two propositions, you
Will be q public bcnefactor, and do n little bit
more in the way of me taphySicGl reasoning than
any man that have yet been able to find.
So, my dear sir the fact is that whatever Is
good in the peoples party platform. and
there is an immense amount OF it, is essentially
democratic. Whatever is bad is purely repub-
hcan. The democratic part of the platform
embodieS the living principles of political action
of today, and presents in sharp and clearly
drawn lines the vital issues OF present irnDoC-
lance between the demo cratic and peoples par
tv the one side, and the republic plrty
the other. Hence, there can be no disgrace,
dishonor whatever in unity OF action for the
time being between democrats and the peoples
party upon these vital issues
We Have Passed the Dark Ages.
The other matters advanced by the peoples
party, and with which I 90 not now agree, are
not of a character to suggest any Immediate
public danger Not only but 1 think
have got bcCond the dark ages.
Men may now advance new thoughts and new
ideas and for so doing are not 20 be regarded as
heretics, cranks or chalengers OF the public
peace national security. / think the very
essence of good government is freedom Of
thought, freedom of action, freedom CT speech
and freedom of discussion This means intel
Egent conflict OF ideas, and while it may be
| that the theories advanced today may be re-
gartied Improbable distractions, yet we
must bear in mind that The crank and enthusi-
| asst of today and often does become the
| philosopher and practical statesman of the gen
Grafton to follow.
So so long the peoples party are essen
| TALLY sound upon the vital principles that con-
| tront US to-day, and upon the real questions
| upon which the next congress will be called 20
| act. shall not waste my time in Quarrelling
| with them in regard 10 undenocratic abstrSe-
tions borrowed from the republican party.
The Milk in the Cocoanut.
L am afraid Tint the cause Of YOUR anxiety IS
not the destruction OF the democratic party,
nor the success Of the peoples party. but may
| he nv in let
! ter:
You are welcome to all the conso.a ton and
| comfort that you get out of it, if you think
that you promoting the election in the
| slightest degree Of Grover Cleveland -
! There we have it This, dear friend is
| the milk in the cocoanut There is where it
hurts. The election of Cleveland is the fact
| that so much diSturbS the quiet and peace OF
| our republican friends. You are afraid of the
election of Grover Cleveland as president of
| the United States I am not. As between
| Grover Cleveland and Benjamin Harrison,
upon the great issues involved in this
campaign, to my mind, the plain duty
of every intelligent, patriotic and good
| citizen is to do all in his power honestly and
| fairls for the election of Mr.. Cleveland In do
! ing this. standing up for the United
States Of.America: we are standing up for the
| state of Kansas; standing up for
| honesty, for truth for justice and for right.
| We standing up for the success of sound
principles and wise legislation, in favor of the
| great masses of the people, and for protecting
| the honor, promoting the peace, securing the
| happiness and advancing the prosperity OF this
great union of ours.
Geographical Lines GbIiterated.
This latter thought suggests another, and
hardly feel justified in closing this letter with
| out some further reference TO it, viz: That tbs
| peoples party above all other political organ
izations in this country, has had the gnanirn-
| ity, the cool Judgment the courage and ster-
| ling patriotism to make the broad declaration
and give it practical force, that hereafter in the
1 politics of this country, we shall have more
north, more south. no more east
| and no more west; that the anim0sitieS
OF our unfortunate civil war are 10 be
| obliterated AMI wiped out by the patriotic
actions of reunited and loyal people; that
hereafter mans political rights AMI duties
are to be determined by geographical lines.
| They advise tn At the time has come
! when 20 stir up strife and discord, eTnbitter
section against section, people against people
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