The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-07-18
HAWLEY ANSWERED.
Robert Pyne of Hartford, Conn.,.
Defends the Omaha Plat.
form.

In the Weekly Examiner of Hart
ford, Conn.,, we find the following
article:
"The event of the week in Hartford
was the flao-raising at Trinity college,
Wednesday afternoon, with Senator
Joseph r. Hawley as orator. The flag
was presented to the college by the
two Grand Army posts of the city.
There was quite demonstration over
the affair-two bands of music, the
Hartford battalion of the First regi-
ment, three Grand Army posts, the
Governors Foot Guard. the Putnam
Phalanx and the Horse Guards being
in the parade.
But we started out to deal with
some remarks of Senator Hawley
more than anything else. OF course
it would not do for the orator of the
day to bring in partisan politics in his
address-that is as between Democ-
racy and Republicanism. But Sena-
tor Hawley must have politics of some
kind or he couldn't speak. So the
Populist platform, or the preamble at
least, had to furnish text for much
of his matter. And he was at liberty
to whack away at that to his hearts
ed to order. And he did so. Here
was his introduction:
''There is singular feeling of I'M
rest in the public mind. The great
majority is unaffected but there is
enough of reckless and stormy denun-
citation of the government and it's
laws, of our economic conditions, of
the relations between capital and la
Dor, or wild demand for Governmental
effort outside of the true line, and for
a socialistic paternalism that would
wholly reconstruct our institutions to
raise in all thoughtful minds not a
little of anxiety.
In 1892 a million, more or less, of
votes were given to candidates whose
platforms declared that eve meet in
the midst of a nation brought to the
verge of moral, political, and material
ruin"
IA wild and criminal aggeration, "
retorts Senator Hawley. OF course
that settles the question. He does
not deign to argue the point. Yet
there are thousands of citizens lust as
capable as Gen. Hawley of judging
the condition of the country who
| recognizes in the ''criminal exaggera-
ton" only Self-evident fact-nOt for
Gen. Hawley, however, for there are
always some people found enjoying
prosperity on the misfortunes of 9th
erS.
corruption dominates the ballot
box, the Legislature and Congress, and
touches even the ermine on the
bench" To this Mr.. Hawley replies:
corruption steals in quite enough
but it does not dominate" No argu-
ment on this either. The mans word
is enough. Yet why does Mr.. Hawley's
own paper indulge in filings at the
present administration in reference to
the Sugar Trust dominating its tariff
policy? And has the man never heard
of judges hurled from the bench for
corrupting politics, and of others own.
ed by corporations?
"The people are demoralized."
Gen. Hawley says, mo, the cranks
and anarchists are not the people. +"
That's not very smart. The ''crauks
| and anarchists" were not the ones re-
| ferred to. 1t was the other fellows
| who keep on voting for the Democra t.
ic and Republican politicians yet still
fail to find relief from either.
"The papers are largely subsidized
or muZZled"
"Another misstatement." says the
orator. But more than his simple as
sertion is needed to prove it so. Let
the COurant dare to preach the. inner
sentiments of at least one of it's edi-
tors, tomorrow, and let these senti-
ments govern the principles of the pa
per and how the banking and insur-
ance advertisements in it's pages would
disappear.
"The land concentrated in the
hands of the capitalists"
"a statement which the census
completely contradicts," responds
Gen. Hawley. Yet the census does no
such thing, but shows clearly that the
land is slipping fast from the hands of
the people into the hands of the cor
porations, and should the corporations
see fit to foreclose at any time on their
''equity" in what still remains with
the people, they would virtually con-
troll the earth.
"The city wOrkmen are denied the
right of organization for self-protec-
ton" -.
Gen. Hawley answers: "The right
is frankly admitted by everybody"
How refreshingly innocent! And there
was nobody there to pull him by the
coat-tail and whisper "Stamford." AL
though proofs of the speech were sent
to the papers in advance, still none,
enough or cared enough to correct
this error.-tO tell him of the great
Yale & Towne lock company which
exacts written statement from
every employe that he does not hold
membe rship in any labor organization
nor will he while in the employ of the
| company. There are other establish
| ments in the state which come within
| the scope of the allegation here so I'M
blushingly denied by one who should
know better, but we know of none who
eXacts the written obligation of the
| Stamford firm. Perhaps it would be
useless to correct Gen. Hawley. 1t
was in his speech and would have to be
| taken with the rest.
There are several other points quot
ed from the Populist preamble and an
swered generally in the same untrust-
| worthy if not untruthful way But
we won't follow the gentleman any
further. 1t would be only waste of
time and printers ink. The great
majority of those who read these lines
are pretty thoroughly acquainted
with the character and purpose of the
| average political orator-that is of the
place-hunting kind-and the words of
Gen. Hawley will have no effect on
their convictions. And but few. if
any, of the men who heard Gen.
Hawley on this occasion will read
what is here said in comment on his
position. Yet we can't dismiss the