The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1896-08-01
THE MASSES OR. IHE-CLASSE&.

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Aside from the money question. there
are issues that will arise in the presi-
Dental campaign which are of nearly
equal irnportance, and Should not be
lost sight of in the hot debate carried
on over gold and silver. One prom
inent issue that should be kept in the
minds of the people is that of popular
government against the misused power
of the corporations. In it there is not
the slightest element of hatred Of the
rich, but an uprising of the masses to
protect themselves from the grinding
power of the classes, and it is without
justice that the organs Of the corpora
tions endeavor to brand this uprising
of the people as anarchial, incendiary
and threatening good government.
The war that is being waged is not di-
rectly against wealth or the possessors
of millions, but against the abuse OF
the power of wealth in an organized
capacity.
:, The course pursued by the Chicago
convention was only the acceptance Of
the challenge issued at St. Louis.
The corporation interests combining
and centuring on the nomination OF
Mckinley, assumed at attitude OF bold
ness and defiance because of a belief
that the democratic party was disors
ganized and discouraged, and that 8
nomination by. the republican party
was equivalent to an election. Organ
lied capital thought it saw in the signs
of the times an opportunity to tighten
its hold upon the. masses and to deliver
the finishing blow to popular rights.
Never before had it beenso aggressive;
neyerbefore had the tasks of captur-
ing the government in the interest Of
corporations appeared to be within
such easy reach. tits we'll to bear In
mind the conduct OF the St. Louis con-
yention and how the influence of the
trusts, combines and syudicates was
fused. to bring. about the adoption of the
platform. and the nomination OF the
candidate, because by it the action OF
the Chicago convention can be more
clearly understood.
The challenge issued at St. Louis
was promptly accepted at Chicago, and
the masses readily arrayed themselves
against the classes. 1t was the only
thing needed to arouse the people to-
action, and the corporations are now
alarmed at the storm they have raised.
They realize the mistake they made
in taking such active part in the ST.
Louis convention and putting at the
bead of the campaign management
Mark Hanna, chief of trusts and
syndicates, but they see no way out Of
the error. Having allied themselves
with the republican party, and having
no influence with the opposition, they
are seeking to strengthen the republic
can position by marshaling their forces
and drawing to it all whom they can
influence in any way.
The fact that the corporations, trusts,
combines and syndicates. regardless OF
former party affiliation, are rallying to
the standard of Mckinley is sufficient
evidence that they have captured the
once great organization, the republi.
can party, and purpose using it to de-
feat any effort to curb their power.
The position is simply this: The fav..
ored classes rallying to the support of
Mckinley and the masses: TO the stand
ard of Bryan. With this situation ex.
isting, the issue is clearer than ever
before, and-outlines the course every
patriotic American must pursue to
preserve the idea a government by the
people. There are but two paths left
to take, one which leads to a govern
ment by the corporations, the other
a government by the people.
!.
Who is best capable to judge what is |
the willy politician or: the |
socialist himself? The republican |
press has been denouncing the Chicago
platform as being socialistic and-anar.
chistic,. but the socialists OF New York |
have found the platform adopted by |
the republicans ab ST. Louis best suited
to their taste. and have come out ia
open declaration for the St. Louis plat
form and Mckinley. Even Herr Most,
the socialist leader of America, has es-
poused the cause of Mckinley and I
gold. II will now be in order for the
republican papers that have been so
advocating Most-as q fit
'oreign minister for Bryan to appoint,