The representative., 1894-12-26
WHOSE CORNS HURT:
FalsehOOds Circulated by the Pluto
cratic Press.

cratic Press.
To the Editor:
caption in the Representative
just caught the writer's eye and demanded
that further attention be given the matter
under the general heading, (Which Do You
Prefer?"
The biased opinion is an unsafe one; blind
party prejudice is more to be dreaded than
ignorance but there is no earthly use for
our being misled by either in our day. The
we'll nigh slanderous utterance of the Trib-
une quoted under headlines referred to
above), when referring to Mr.. Owen and
Gov. Altgeld as advocates of treason in
speaking for the ccnstitutionally guaranteed
rights of the states is a small per cent of
like fooishness teaching these days-teach-
ing for which the subsidized press is be-
coming noted. Now, presumably, the Trib-
une is a Republican mouthpiece (at any
rate in Republican years. and ought to be
under the directing will and intelligence of
true-blue historic Repubicanism-and the
more SO, inasmuch as the party makes
good deal of its hoary headed record.
Turning back the pages of history to 1860
May H. and Chicago we think Chicago, Hi
nois-we find a Republican platform utter
ance like this: Resolved, C) That the
maintenance inviolate of the rights of the
state to order and control it's own domestic
institutions according to its own judgment
exclusively, is essential to that balance Of
powers on which the perfection and endur-
ance of our political fabric depends; and we
denounce the lawless invasion by armed
force of the soil of any state or territory,
no matter under what preteNt, among
the gravest OF crimes"
Whatever construction may be placed
upon the act and intentions of the president
of the United States and however impera-
tive the Chicago demand appeared at long
range last summer the Republican platform
utterance quoted above might be good Re-
publican text still. Gov. Altgeld thought
last summer-and from short range view
that the state of Illinois could protect its
own interests, and incidentally Whatever of
interstate interests and general government
interests might be involved, and for so eX-
pressing his thoughts the changed mark
YOU, changed Republican sense, sentiment
and interests flatterngly endorse the Demo-
cratic administration in order to obtain
ground for denouncing the party that has
organized to keep before the American peo-
pie Old-time Republican doctrine. The Pop
ulists believe in a government by and for
the people, and their seed is in the land,
and the recent growth in voting numbers
evidenced by election returns in great
gains-so great that Democrats and Repub-
licans alike are no longer fighting cousins,
but loving brothers. begins to look as
though there is a large star of hope that
the government shall yet redeem itself and
make unnecessary the drilling in military
tactics the grammar school children and
Sunday school scholars and get back to the
government it's own in the property of the
Union Pacific railway bye and bye.
But we started out to call attention to the
old Republican PLATFORM the plank upon
which many noble men stand today, and
while holding up this plank notify the pub
lie that the anarchists and thugs (politicaD
are throwing dust in the eyes of the un-
kept out of view.
Daniel Webster said Gin his noted
debate with Mr. Hayne) that THE national
government possesses those powers which
it can be shown the people have con-
ferred on it, and no more. All the rest
belongs to the state governments, or to
the people themselves" SO much of the
great Daniel Webster's doctrine hundreds
of "us common folks believe, and we
declare for good government and protec-
ton to human life in the same breath
But we court camness and near and
clear view of the situation before we call
for the standing army to shoot down our
brothers. And the question easily comes
up, rs inanimate property to be rated
above lfe?' Granted that instances aris-
ing in times OF riot sometimes demand the
shooting down of our fellows: but isn't
there just a little too much open (anl
much more just a little coveredD and avow-
ed disregard for human life if that life
chances to be hungry and enraged labor
er clamorng for his rights against the
powerful and sleek?
Anarchy indeed! Unreasonable states
rights?" Why, the Tribune is talking
through political campaign barrels or
promised aids in future partisan "fat
pasture outlooks. But why specify the
Tribune? The otherwise able paper is one
of many that misrepresent the true politi-
cal situation and abuse men Oeaders) or
msquote history or make facts to suit
the needs of the hour Young men
ought to take their political standing from
the conclusions drawn after a careful
study of the national life of the nations
of the earth in general, our own political
history Of more than a hundred years in
particular, and with wide open eyes to the
philosophy of party movements directing
every political impulse by a keen con-
science and with general brotherhood in
terest in humanity.
The common partisan newspaper is adept
at missing interesting facts that might
hurt "the party and has a strong facul-
ty for illogical conclusions in historic mat
ters that might help hinder in the
struggle for spoils.
Maybe it is good "sign of the times"
when the unloved Democratic people are be
ginning to be loved dearly by the Republic
an people, so that able Republican paper
will indorse an able Democratic president
right or wrong and denounce arnarchy
without even knowing the meaning of the
word), but the sign is of decay in the
old parties, and therefore becomes a ground
of hope to reformers who lead in directions
of popular governmental government of
and for the people-inasmuch as the casting
aside of party principles, by either or beth
old parties, to hug each other IN their rage
at leaders of the common people, the love-
able acts and intentions (after all that they
have said and done in other days., proving
ing been sham, the smoke resulting from
firing plank cartridges, serving to deceive
the people.
The cry of anarchy" accompanies the
cry of "Populism buried'-not very deeply
to be sure-but the Calamity howlins'' has
been done by the fellows who denounced all
reference to hard times year or two ago,
and after few months of Republican ca
lamity talk and with promises to improve
business, everything the people have given
the shattered old party new lease of life
and very grave responsibility that will
prove ''too much loaded for it's DAYS of
seniity, certainly if it could not in a more
youthful period cope with a much less re-
sponsibilty-nOt even with weaker CniCn
Pacific railroad. a military is in training
in the schools and churches, to shoot down
the strikers of future days, and the Alt
gelds are retiring, and the general mana