Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-08-17


Gentlemen of the conventions: This
convention meets under circumstances,
or rather conditions which, to say the
least, are extraordinary in their char.
acter. These conditions have develop
ed during our generatlon; they are
the mixed product of the human activ.
tiles, both good and bad, of our own
day. What these conditions are, how
the political parties propose to deal
with them, and what their ultimate eff
feet will be on the most vital of all
questions that can possibly engage the
attention of 1.-THE American voter, are
the several points to which | wish to
call your attention. But before ad-
dressing myself directly to these points
would like, with your permission, to
go back of these and examine briefly in
to question SO fundamental in its char
acter that a comprehensive knowledge
of it will give us enlarged views of
American politics and will render lucid
much that remains otherwise unlntelli-
gible. Why is it our people divide in
to hostile political parties, advocating
opposite views, while aiming at the
same general result. viz, the good OF the
country? Why is it some men are de
termined to live and die democrats,
while their neighbors, their associates
are equally determined to live and die
republicans? There certainly must be
some underlying reason for all this. It
cannot be possible that it is the result
of chance. Men certainly do not jump
at their political conclusions and con
victions in a sort of a haphazard way,
carelessIy and accidentally subscribing
to whatever may happen to be formu-
lated in the way of political principle,
and then clinging to it throughout life
with an inexplicable stubbornness.
True, some men do this. Some are to-
tally Indifferent as to what may be
right or wrong in politics. But with
the great mass of intelligent voters this
is not the case. Ii it were then we
should b. compelled TO confess that the
cause of free government had made, as
yet, but little tangible, understandable
progress.
PRINCIPLE OF POLITICAL AFFILIA-
TIoN.
All human organizations of whatso.
ever character, whether religious, NOR
al, social, scientific or political, are
founded upon some distinct idea; some
fundamental concept; some pivotal
principle. 1t is this principle UNDER
lying the organization that gives it
character, imparts to it individuality,
makes for it history, and distinguishes
it from every other organization. To
illustrates; an individual who is natur-
ally charitably inclined, whose feelings
are easily touched at the sight of suf-
fering, will, if one be within reach, be-
come member of charitable associa-
ton. Why? Because the dispensation
of charity, being the distinct idea up
on which the organization rests, is the
very principle in which he SO intensely
believes. After becoming member,
the active work of his associates is the
very sunshine to his soul, and their
companionship furnishes him a congen-
ial home. Another individual is by ma
ture inclined to investigate natural
phenomena; he likes to look into the
workings of the laws of nature, he will,
if one be within his reach, unite with a
scientific association, for the reason
that the fundamental idea upon which
such organization is built, is in perfect
harmony with his belief and ambition,
viz. the promotion of scientific in
quiry, the accumulation of sci
entitic knowledge. Just SO it is
with politics and political parties. Re-
publicanism is founded upon the dis
tinct idea of strong, central govern
ment. A government deriving its pow
ers, not in all cases from the consent of
the governed, but government posses
sing inherent power, that is to say,
power within and of itself; power to do
what it chooses and whatever it pleases
IN do go no in III ~
people. Now, an individual believing
in the theory of inherent power, will
! never join the democratic party. The
into the republican ranks as surely as
the law of gravitatlon will land the APP
pie upon the ground. When he becomes
az active member of that party, be-
lieving, or rather imagining, that the
government is a great big institution,
deriving it's immense power from some
mysterious source, he very naturally
concludes that it ought to do great
deal for the people. or at any rate, for
certain classes. He concludes the gov
eminent is by It's nature fitted to super
wise the industrial pursuits Of the peo-
pie: to adjust the profits and losses
incidental to the prosecution of private
{ OdoOA ~ 1900 iOr OC1lCSO III GuS CudCt-
ment OF restrictive, protective and pro-
hibitive legislation; in the payment OF
bounties aud subsidies: in the granting
as we'll as the Withholding of privileges.
To consummate these s'beneficent
schemes" the average believer in the
theory of inherent power permits
neither conscience nor love of liberty tc
stand in the way.
He is ready to sacrifice his manhood
surrender his individuality, and If he be
q member OF congress, to abdicate every
function of the representative,charac
and pile all power into the hands of one
man, though veritable car it may
make of him. Thus we learn that the
theory OF inherent power, when reduc
ed to its last analysis, is modified form
of the doctrine of despotism. What il
therefore a Fundamental error, is BY
the republicans believed to be-
fundamental truth, and all things which