The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-01

one Democrat, thus forcing party. poll
tics on the judicial bench, but it abso-
lutely DISTINGUISHES or rather renders in
eligible to an appointment between 5000
and 5000 voters of this state. They are
not Ineligible because they are not COM
petent or worthy to fill the positions. but
they are rendered Ineligible because of
their politics. Down south such political
ostracisms are in violation of law, while
here in Kansas a man is politically ostra-
cised and rendered ineligible by virtue
of the law.
"In my judgment the law is contrary
to the spirit and genius of the civiliza-
/ ton of today and is in direct conflict not
! only with the constitution of the state
| but is outrageously wrong and unjust.
! Gov. ST. John thinks that things are
I coming to a climax nationally. came
| from New York, where l can see what
is going on" said he, "and l regard this
as the most critical period in the nations
| history. Our financial system has
enabled a few men to absorb the wealth
of the nation to such an extent that the
people are rapidly being reduced from
| home owners to tenants. Ninety seven
families out of every 100 in Chicago are
! tenants and about ninety four out of
every 100 in New York live in rented
homes. while nearly or quite half of the
farmers of the nation are tenants, and if
our present financial system is continued
IN another generation ours will be a Re-
publican government only in name-a
plutocracy in fact
"When 1 speak of our financial system
and its evil influences refer particularly
to the characterization of silver and the
reducing of the county to a GOLD
that our country enjoys the
blessing of peace with the world,
general good health, abundant harvests
and yet compelled to get down upon its
! knees before the money power of the
world begging for gold to keep it
from bankruptcy, is not only humiliating
to every true American citizen, but is a
disgrace to the civilization of the day and
age in which we live"
500 you not think the next congress,
which is reported to be silver congress,
will give the country some relief"
"No, l do not, for the reason that both
Democrats and Republicans went before
the people in 1892, pledged to bi-metal-
lism, and in 1898 at the extra session of
congress treacherously violated their
pledges by standing together and voting
down five different propositions for BIZ
metallism, which were in perfect har-
mony with their platform pledges.
SHERMAN and Cleveland are par
ty leaders and both stand together
on all financial questions. The truth
is there is no longer any real
issue between the two old parties
They are each plant tools of the money
power and will continue to be 80, and
there is but one way out of this trouble,
and that is for all men who are in favor
of loosng the grip that Wall street and
the Rothchilds have on the Rovernmen
to stand together at the ballot sbox in
favor of all money being issued directly
by the government, every dollar of which
should be legal tender for all debts, pub
lie and private, and to this end free and
unlimited coinage of both gold and sill
YER In other words we need an increase
in the volume of currency, backed up by
a law which makes the dollar good
enough to pay the farmer for his wheat
or the laboring man for his days work;
good enough to pay the bondholder's
bond"
"You say a crisis is at hand What
will be the result if there is no remedial
legislation" asked the reporter.
''The laboring classes are already in a
condition that compels them to submit"
replied Gov St John. 'The govern
ment is in the hands of the monopolists
The arsenals are filed with munitions
of war They are under the control of a
government ruled by the money power
and such a thing as remedying present
evils by physical force is impossible
Labor is without money, without arms
and is powerless except in one way-it
has the ballot and through the agency of
the ballot it can and will in 1896 get
control of this government and in that
way get control of the arsenals and all
that they contain. Then it can pass just
laws for the protection of all the people
and will be possessed of the legitimate
power to enforce them.
Unless this is accomplished" continu.
ed Gov. St John with emphasis, ''within
the next ten years it will be too late and
this government will go down as did
| Rome"