The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-20
Danger Height of
WHERE RESPONSIBILITY RESTS.

The causes Of the present political
conditions lie just under the surface of
current events, but their sources are to
be found in the political and economic
history of the last thirty years. To
those who know that great political up
risings are but the elimination Of
forces that have been operative for
years, gradually swelling to a climax
in eruption, there Is none of the sense
of surprised suddenness in the revolu-
tion accomplished at Chicago that
there is to those who have gone on for
years unheeding the forces and their
inevitable consequences. The French
revolution burst forth in a day, but
century Of oppression preceded it, The
gases are long in forming that cause
the eruption of Vesuvius. The Declar-
alton of Independence was but the
bringing into focus of the discomfort
gathering slowly during preceding de-
cades. The revolt that found head at
Chicago is not within the Democratic
party though it's organization Is used
to give vent to Its demands; 1t has its
constituents in all political parties and
In social, Industrial and other associ-
atoms all over the land. 1t is the out
burst of a general discomfort and un-
rest among the multitude of which we
have seen many illustrations during
the period since the absorbing interest
m tod
tentton of people was directed to the
practical administration of public af--
fairs. 1t Is the discomfort of labor. the
dissatisfaction of agriculture, long
brewing, seeking relief by prior efforts
that proved futile, sure that there is
something radically wrong in their
conditions, ignorant of the real causes.
caught by plausible but incorrect d.
agnosis and willing to chance the pro-
posed remedy IL a feeling Of despera-
ton akin to that of a sufferer from
some organic disease resorting to the
remedies of a Quack
The sufficient source Of 1t all is to he
found in the ruling policies Of the party
that has dominated legislation for thir-
ty years. 1t is the consequence Of par
tial paternalism that has bestowed its
favors with an unfair and discriminat-
ing hand. 1t is the logical and always
and everywhere inevitable result of
that theory of government in practice
that assumes it to be the province of
legislation to foster and protect to
guide and direct the energies and in
dustries of the people. There is nothing
in the demands of the Chicago plat
form, nothing in that adopted at
Omaha by the Populists, nothing in
those Of the various labor and social
istic parties and societies that is not
logical outgrowth Of the policy of the
Republican party. 1t has been the bad
educator whose lessons are being read
to the country today by its apt pupils.
The conditions indict the Republican
party ard its policies. 1t taught labor
that it was the function Of government
to provide 1t work and at high wages,
and it has failed to provide either in
satisfactory quantity. 1t protected the
man who employed 1t from competition
while it opened wide the doors and
gave cordial invitation to foreign labor
to come here and enter into competi-
tion. It proffered the farmer. selling
his produce under conditions of abso-
lutte free trade, the aiIurement of a
home market that was to consume all
his produce. but which never came.
1t taught the people that the govern
ment only could make" money for
their use and denied their logical de-
mahd that II should make It more pIeu-
flful. The wage-earners and the farm
mrs have seen. Under this specious pro-
tense of a fatherly care for ALL a caro-
for only the few who could gain &C
cess te the innec council Chambers of
the 2s-:s. T;.ey hare sesa the pub