Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-05-31
a DISASTROUS POLICY.
Legislative Treason Perpetrated BY Re-
publican Senators.

publican Senators.
Republican senators have assumed
an attitude that cannot but bring
upon them the strongest condemna-
ton of the country. 1t is their de-
termination to insist upon reason
able discussion of the pending tariff
measure Had they not stopped to
construe this announcement it might
have been accepted as asserting an
honest desire to still further enlighten
themselves and the nation on the sub
ject under consideration. They would
have at least avoided confession of a
purpose involving the direst disaster
that legislative treason could at this
time inflict upon the people of the
United States They boldly avow the
adoption of dilatory tactics as means
of killing the measure for which every
material interest of the country is APP
peaiing as the one means of averting
impending ruin.
In this cold-blooded avowal there is
depth of treachery, contempt for
popular rights, cruelty toward suf-
| fering humanity, wanton sacrifice of
| the means to restore prosperity, such
as has no parallel in the annals of civ
| ilized government. The shallow pre-
tense of reasonable debate is worthy
of men who thus hold party superior
to country, and for the attainment of
political ends will go to length that
/ imperils our national existence. There
| is not a ray of light that they can
throw upon the question under consid-
Grafton. There is no point of view
! from which it has not been ap-
preached, no argument which has not
been advanced times without number
and for its full weight. Yet these men
| who hold in trust the highest interests
of the people deliberately propose to
extend the dreary waste of talk and
drivel until the bill is killed, though
the country share the same fate.
If they can prevent it there viii be
| no longer sessions nor will they dis
commode themselves by meeting at
night. Their policy is not to hasten
legislation. but to prevent it. With
the demands of the people in their ears
and a scene of universal disaster about
them, from which there is no escape,
save through the deliverance of rem
edia1 legislation, they assume the part
of Nero, as he watched the confiagra-
ton of Rome. Welded to the idols OF
protection, intrenched behind tho
wealth of combines, trusts and mo-
nopolies, they are deaf to the popular
appeal and sacrifice patriotism to the
same monstrous iniquity which has
brought calamity upon a free people.
Their mendacity is that of the system
they represent Their cruelty is that
which has legalized robbery and ex-
acted tribute from masses to fatten the
Golfers of favored beneficiaries.
1t is difficult for free people, vested
| with the sacred right of self-govern-
ment, to tolerate such a conspiracy as
this. In times of general prosperity,
with the people employed and com
Portable, a line of policy inspired by
political consideration. might be &c
guessed in, though not approved of.
Conditions do not permit of such an
acceptance of the situation at this
time. Business is stagnant. Thou
sands are out of employment. Capital
| wants to know the legal restrictions
under which it must operate before il
| win come out of retirement. There is
a spirit of unrest that should be
soothed, not aggravated. There is a
just and reasonable appeal made by
the people to their representa- tives,
which should be speedily granted, not
scorned. The republican senators
have assumed a responsibility that
only the insolence of protection would
dare to suggest.-DetrOit Free Press