Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1895-10-30

could be said of the golden rule-it |
might do in little country like Pales-
tine, but not in big country like ours.
1t is Of vital importance that all re-
formers unite their strength for the fast
approaching campaign of 1896. An
other four years and it may be too late.
We are nearing the dead line.
The next presidential term will ex-
tend into the twentieth century.
Momentous questions are confront
ing the American people. Shall the
wonderful discoveries, advancements in
knowledge and the arts and sciences go
out in darkness? Shall the bright and
glorious possibilities of the future end
in disappointment? Shall the hopes,
aspirations and happiness Of millions
OF our countrymen be sacrificed upon
the altar of greed and avarice?
Forbid it, Almighty God!'
The brazen-armored pnalanx of Aus
tria met Winklereid; and the gold
armored phalanx of our country may
meet many a Winklereid e'er it's last
chain is rivited upon it's victims.
1t is probable that there are not a
dozen well-informed persons in the re-
form ranks at this time, but would
agree that the principle of direct legis-
lation is right and just. 1t is the one
and only issue upon which all reformers
can unite; it is absolutely invulnerable,
stronger and more perfect than the god
made armor of Achilles. 1t is founded
governments derive their just powers
from the governed.
The common enemy Of all reform will
| no doubt, continue to sow the seed of
dissention by means of hireling dema-
gogues and a shackled press.
| But the sad experiences of the past
should warn us to unite our forces.
Many a good cause has been lost for
want of union of friends.
The Christian church may be cited as
one instance of how feeble a great and
good power becomes when divided into
FACTIONS. With commendable zeal it
has been fighting Satan Tor nearly two
thousand years, and still a glance at
surrounding social and economic condi-
tions should convince the most skepti-
cal that the old fellow Is not only alive.
but has lots of business on his hands"
| In nearly every human undertaking
there is some one article of prime neces-
sity. The woodman must have his
axe, the seamstress, her needle.
| A party of campers might disagree as
to what they would have for their first
meal, whether fish, flesh or fowl; but
all would agree that in order to have
anything at all, they must first have a
campfire.
So the mass of reformers must first
get their right to legislate, then all de-
mands which commend themselves to
the people will be enacted into laws.
| While no one should expect the refer
endum to cure all the ills from which
the people suffer, yet all thinkers must
see in 1t measure calculated to loosen
and ultimately break the CALLING chains
which now fetter a tax-ridden and
debt-burdened people.
Unjust and unequal laws could not be
enacted.
Instead Of state legislatures consider
ing a thousand or more bills at each ses-
sion, and passing a few hundred of the
worst ones, the people would enact a
few plain, wholesome laws that could
| DO easily uAQCA ctOOQ cuQ CulClcully cu-
forced. Court expenses would be
greatly reduced, and three-fourths OF
the lawyers would be out of job.
Juries would decide causes on their
merits rather than upon precedents es-
tablished way back in the stone age.
Partyism, as we now have it, would
disappear; and last, but not least, every
election would tend to educate, and ele-
vate the people rather than brutalize
and degrade them, as does the present
system.
1t is not wisdom for US to longer play
the ostrich act. The storm Is actually
upon us. We are being rapidly driven
upon the rocks. Let all join hands
brace up the halyards bout the old ship
put honest, capable officers in charge
and she win yet outride the storm and
carry Us safely over.