The Louisiana populist. [volume] (Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, La.) 1894-1898, 1896-03-20
MORGAN'S CORNER.
NOTES AND COMMENT" FROM
A SKlLLFUL PEN.
FLASHES OF Thought from the World of
Thinkers Commented Upon by the
Secretary of the National Reform
Press Association.

Press Association.
The meeting of the National Com
mittee at st. Louis, Jan. II, was one
OF the great events of the year. The
results Of the meeting, we believe, are
generally satisfactory to the Populists.
There is some dissatisfaction as TO
what some of the committee should
nave said in interviews published in
the st. Louis papers. We have little
confidence in what we read in the pluto
cratic papers and are not willing to
take such reports for truth. However,
there is one suggestion we would make
IN this connection, inasmuch as the in
terview is so seldom truthfully report
ed, we see no reason why our leading
Populists should persist in submitting
to being interviewed, unless it is
through an uncomfortable desire to at
tract public attention.
There is kind of discussion going
on in some of our Populist papers, if
IL can be dignified by the name discus
sion, that is doing the party more harm
than good. 1t is with reference to the
so-called issues in the Omaha plat
form. Now, if there is anything wrong
IN the Omaha platform ii ought to come
out. Upon that all good Populists will
agree. But it is not fair to arraign
the issues" and not designate what
they are. The plutocratic press hold
that the platform is made up of 'is-
Sues and, by the way, the word "is-
sues was first applied by the plutocrat-
ic press. When Populist papers or
Populist leaders speak of the issues,
they owe 1t to the public to state what,
in their opinion, constitute the tissues"
in the platform. While some seem to
mink that everything is an Issue" ex-
cept the free silver coinage plank, the
plutocratic press charges that that is
the worst issue of all. To talk about
issues" and not state what they are
occurs to us as firing from the brush
TO escape a responsibility which there
is lack of courage to assume.
In a speech before the Illinois Bar
association, Judge John Barton Payne
made very startling statement, which
If true land there is no doubt of it.
demands very drastic remedy.
I'm Cook county," he declared, mo
man who has sufficient influence to see
the County Commissioners can be
brought to trial for any crime on earth.
Did you apprehend the force of that
statement? 1t is literally true"
About year ago, in that city, poor
man was sent to jail for taking a pigs
foot. OF course he had no influence"
Several men were hung because they
happened to be present at a meeting
where some reckless fellow threw
bomb, and several policemen were
killed and injured. II was never
charged that any of them threw the
bomb, or knew anything about It, or
course they had no influence. But the
rich dodge their taxes by making false
oaths, and resorting to all kinds Of
unlawful subterfuges, and nothing is
said about it. They have influence"
Influence" is a great thing in Chicago
A stranger going to that city should
never neglect to take along good cup
ply of It with him.
And now comes the charge that the
treasury officials are covering up the |
true facts about the gold withdraw
ais from the reserve fund. This |
is not the first time the charge has |
been made that these officials are Jug |
Cling with figures in making their re- |
ports. But this time the kick comes |
from the plutocrats, who demand the |
right to know just how much blood
there is left in their victim, that they |
may know now to gauge their specula-
tions. They do not care to kill the |
goose that lays the golden egg, or even
to rob the nest that she might be dis
couraged or disgusted and not lay any
more. Hence they demand to know
the facts in the case. So far as the
people are concerned it makes but little
difference; while there is a traitor IL
the camp who holds the keys and opens
the doors the thieves will raid the treas
ury, and until the fool killer can catch
up with his work, or the partisan scales
drop from the peoples eyes, we cannot
hope for anything better.
Senator Sherman VIII probably live
long enough yet to drain to the dregs
the cup Of gall he has prepared for the
people. His methods and his record are
being laid before the people in way
hat is not calculated to add to his hap
piness. In recent speech in the senate,
Senator Morgan indulged in most en-
phatic criticisms Of his record.
He referred to the intrigues before