The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-08-15

success and to the people of the United
states peace and prosperity long as
these common sense principles prevail
Hoping the Peoples Party or it's repre-
sentatives will have the good sense to
avail itself of the conditions which put sue
cess within it's reach, and which, in my
Judgment, is the only possible reform that
can save this nation and the American peo-
PIE from iSnominy, bankruptcy and dis
grace am, dear sir, very truly yours
/. b. CAREY.
1t is very evident that the weekly
pcruSal of the REPRESENTATIVE is
doing Brother Corey although
he still sees some things Through a
glass darkly." His prea mble and
platform are first subsequently,
where nc goes for the two old parties
and touches up the corruptions of the
age, and demands retrenchment and
economy We think every Populist in
the United States will say amen" to
all that
But there may be a grave question
as to whether he is right when he pro-
poses to cut down the size of congress
and our state legislatures one-half.
would not that reduce one-half the
number to be purchased by the cor
ruDtloniStS, and render their task
so much the easier? Are not
those New England states near
or right which make their lower
house consist of five hundred
members, and allows each town
ship to elect its own delegate? Is not
That getting nearer to the people? If
you can increase the safety of the
country by decreasing the number OF
those who govern it, then an oligarchy
or despotism would be the best sys-
tenn of all. And if you cut down con-
grcss onc-half, and cut down their pay
one-half they would he the more
ready victims of the chaps with the
greenbacks. They would be climbing
out Of the windows of the Capitol to
get at their seducers.
Neither do we quite agree with that
maxim which he attributes to PreSi-
dent Clcvcland:-"t people should
support the government but not the
government the people" In Presi-
dent Clcvcland's case the government
IS supporting one of the people, to the
tune of $4,000 year. We are, of
course, opposed to any extension Of
that system, beyond the absolute
necessities of the nation Neither do
we believe in the government main
tanning the people as paupers: or les
SEEMING the reliance of each man on his
own energy and industry. But we re-
gard government as a mere consent Of
the people to the establishment of a
machinery of law and order, with
which to improve the condition Of the
pcoplc,-to promote the general well
fare as our national constitution
says. And the government should
support the people" in all thei just
rights: see that they are not obstruct-
ed in their daily and lawful pursuits:
that they are not plundered of the
fruits Of their industry by the rings or
trusts: or oppressed by the rich and
powerful. And SO We hold that while
the people support the government
the government should also support
the people. Why should the people
exchange for their money? Mr.. Cleve-
lands Wall street friends regard gov
ernmcnt as a machine to eXtort
revenue from the citizens on the one
hand, and to enable them, the Wall
street Scamps, to plumber them on the
other hand. There must be mutual
ity about these things or they cannot
endure.
And, furthermore, we fear Brother
Corey is in error, when he proposes, as
the third plank Of his platform, that
we turn over the settlement of all
pending questio to congress and the
state legislatures. without further in
structions. We would have "a poll
parrot and monkey time" of it if we
did. This is government, as Brother
Corey quotes, ''of the people, by the
people ard for the people," not the
government Of Irresponsible, dele
gated lawmakers.
And we think our friend is in error
in combining his platform to the three
| planks of retrenchment, honesty, etc.
Is it not. the duty of an intelligent
people to tell their representatives
what they want them to do: what
they must do when they assemble to
make the laws? Should they not ex-
| press their convictions on the money
| question. which more nearly concerns
the welfare of the people than any
| and all other issues? Should we not
say how we want the great and press
ing railroad question settled? Should
we have no opinions on the important
controversies growing out of the own
ership of lands?
In other words, we think Brother
Corey is generally right as far as he
goes, but he does not go far enough
AS to his "whacks'' at the Populists
they only testify.-we say it in all
kindness-to the undevsloped state of
his intelligence. He sneers at flat
money" Did he ever see any money
that was not fiat money!" He might
weigh out gold or silver bullion, at it's
market price, but he could not pay a
debt with it, unless his creditors
chose to take it: any more than he
could with so much wheat or cotton.
And the ''liat" of government is not
to be Knocked at. 1t can take Brother
| Corey, in time of war, and put him in
the forefront of battle, to be shot
down. like Uriah: it can runa railroad
through his house without his consent: