People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1896-06-25

greater justice done and has seen that
hope blasted: if he knows that the
general dissatisfaction has arisen
from the fact that party promises
made were broken to the people by
party perform ance, he knows that as
soon as the election was over and the
successful candidates installed they
| became the servitOTS of the party and
| the advocates Of a narrow and nom
! progressive policy, within which
alone there seemed to be an assurance
IT selfish safety and PARTISAN ap-
Droval, During all this period we
have lacked a great constructive ad-
miuistratiun. No new social truth
has been put forward in an effective
wy. While in all the departments
10. physical life there have been de-
vel0pmeutS and achievements Of ease
and comfort to the favored Of man.
kind, in the still greater and more i'm
pOrtant domain of social reform, we
have stOod still or retrogreSSed.
1t is not that the people have not
felt the STRINGS Of determination,
that this inactiOn has endured, but
because of the rule Of party, which
has largely controlled men in and out
of Office. 1t has become a source OF
reprOach to any man that he should
dare to renounce allegiance to an Or
ganizatiOn. Men have been expected
to submit their views to the dictatiOn
of conventions, although it is common
knowledge that conventions have
been Swayed to views and declara-
lions not the most approved by the
mass Of the people nor conducive TO
their welfare.
We do not arrOgate to ourselves one
iOta more of intelligence, patriotism
or courage than is possessed by any
Of our fellOw-citizenS. But we feel that
the time has come for the performance
of duty to the country; and for our
part, though we shall stand alone, we
will make an endeavOr in the direC-
tiOn of that duty. Parties may out
live their usefulness; the truth never
becomes obsolete. Every. generation
of freemeu has the right to affirm the
truths Of past Knowledge and present
requirements: and if the enforcement
of these truths shall make necessary
a departure from party organization
the people have this right and will
exercise it until old parties shall re-
turn to the truth or new parties shall
be created to effect it into law.
If the voices which have sounded
to Us from every state in this union
are an Indication of the real feeling,
this year is the appointed time
for the people to assert themselves
through such mediums as may give
best promise of the achievement of
justice.
But, whether we are mistaken or not
concerning the general sentiment in
the United States, we have not mis-
taken our own duty in withdrawing
from the Republican convention,
feeling that it is better to be right
and with the minority in apparent
defeat than to be wrong with the
majority in apparent triumph.
We hold that in the great work Of
social evolution in this country,
monetary reform stands as the first
requisite. No policy, however prom.
Using of good results, can take its
place, Continuation during the next
four years upon the present financial
system will bring down upon the
American people that cloud of i'm
pending evil, to avert which should be
the first thought Of statesmen and
the first prayer of patriots. Our very
institutions are at stake. Today
with rapidly increasing population
with widely swelling demands, the
basis OF our money is relatively con-
tracing, and the people are passing
into servitude all the more danger
Gus because it Is not physically ap par
emf. The nation itself, as to other
nations, is losing the sturdy courage
which could make it defiant in the
face of injustice and internal wrong,
From the farmer and the trades
man, 10 the government there is ap-
parent the same shrinking from CIV
ilg Ofense, lest the vengeance Of
some offended financial power should
descend. The business man submits
some portion of his judgement and
his will, and the nation submits some
portion ofits international right, lest
some mighty foreign creditor shall
make destructive demands. Where
will all this end if the people shall
decline to assert themselves? Where
will it end if the older parties in
their determination to maintain
themselves 10 power for powers sake
alone, shall refuse to recognize the