Great Falls weekly tribune., 1896-08-21
QUESTION AND ANSWER.

QUESTION AND ANSWER.
''ls this a free country?" innocent,
asks the Pioneer Press. 1t is in theory
but II Mark Hanna, the associated banks
the manufacturers, the great trusts o
all kinds, including the railroad c0rpo
rations, can have their way, they will b,
the autocratic rulers and our boastee
freedom will be a myth. The founda
tlon stone OF our system of self govern
ment is the unrestricted exercise of th,
elective franchise by every citizen; rot
the voter Of that and the name "frce
man" is but hollow mockery. The
use of the ballot was bestowed with the
intent that it would make every man a
sovereign and permit him to stand the
equal OF every other in the selection ol
those who are to administer the affairs
OF state. This is the intent of the fun.
damental law; what are the facts that
confront us today? The aggregated
wealth of the land has resolved itself
into compact entity with the avowed
purpose of securing and maintain
ing the control of affairs. Its only OBJ
ject is self aggrandizement, yet with
consummate hypocrisy it cloaks
its designs under the pretencc
of patriotism, it falsely and arrogantly
assumes to possess all the intelligence
and virtue in the country and boldly de
clares that the masses if they will not
be led must be driven to their way of
thinking and made to do their bidding.
t is an indirect declarat ton on the part
OF these censors that popular govern
ment is failure and the people are not
tit to be trusted with the ballot. The
every act of the Mckinley gold standard
men up to date and their plans for the
future admit of no other conclusion.
The press has been teeming daily with
reports of the socalled object lessons on
the part of the banks, the insurance
companies and the large manufacturing
corporations, all thinly veied attempts
at intimidation. Mckinley orators
have preached hard times and worse
coming, but the times have not been so
bard but that those who will be bene-
flied by the election of the
st. Louis gold candidates have
found the money to create cor
ruption fund, that in its proportions
beggars anything in that line heretofore
attempted. Millions are at the disposal
of Mr.. Hanna's campaign committee,
and the boast is, there is more if it be
necessary What an Infamous satire on
our boasted free institutions. This is
not all. There are many who cannot be
bought, and they are to be threatened
ard bulldozed into submission. Upon
his return from New York, Mark Hanna
issued an edict that all the concerns en-
ploying large numbers of men must at
once call their employees together and in
struct them as to their political duties.
This meant the men were to be told in
plain language that unless they voted
to continue the gold party in power for
four years longer, with the attendant
they would be deprived of
the right to earn living This plan is
DOW being carried out. 1t is simple, but
will it prove effective? No effort is made
at argument. There is but one side
to the question, the edict is delivered
with sledge-hammer directness. "Vote
for my interest and Mckinley or starve.
Ii he be elected | will add to my mil
lions and you will continue to receive
your plttance, that is all you are fit for,'
and there they stop. They do not tell
them, as they should, that while the re-
adjustment of the financial system would
not benefit the bankers so much as a
of the gold standard, it |
would restore prosperity to the masses,
open up enterprises and insure labor for
all who desire to work, rather than
close down industries as they falsely
assert. Blinded by the god of gold they
these gold standard men are
false to themselves, to their country |
and to their fellow men,: They prate of |
patriotism and practice treachery. In
the light of the high-handed methods
being carried on to elect Mckinley it |
may we'll be asked "Is this a free
country?" To this there can be
but one truthful answer. "No, not If
the gold standard advocates are permit
ted to have their way. They believe
they are the masters and the masses are
slaves" This is the shape the contest |
has assumed. There is no Disgusting
the fact, it is battle between the
classes and the masses. The former
have clearly drawn the line and forced
the issue. They have announced that
they will rule or crush the masses under
foot. The people still have the ballot, !
can they Withstand the terrible pressure
and use that silent but potent weapon
for their own salvation? The crisis is
mighty one, yet we have supreme faith
bok "a