Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1897-09-29
GOV. ALTGELD.

Political Leader of Force and Power. He
Ia Blazing the Way for the Party of Re-
form.
In the course of lengthy article
under the caption, 'sPopulism. De-
mocracy and Political Chaos" the
Philadelphia American says:
''The party that ties itself down to
one issue involved in the emancipation
OF our producing classes from indus
trial slavery, when there are many,
cannot be trusted with leadership, and
it is down to one issue involved. and
that one issue the silver question,
which is in fact but part of the none
tary issue, that Mr.. Bryan and others
seek to tie the democratic party. Thus
led, the democratic party cannot be
trusted with leadership for it is un-
fitted to lead with success, untitled to
accomplish the emancipation of our
producing classes even if crowned with
authority, untitled even as was the
whig party under Henry Clay, to lead
in the struggle for the emancipation
of the negro from chattel slavery.
"It may be that Mr.. Bryan and other
democratic leaders who seek to tie the
democratic party down to the silver
issue, and make the struggle for the
new emancipation on that inadequate
issue alone, are not blind to the ag-
gressions of the moneyed oligarchy on
the rights and liberties of our produc-
ing classes made through the arm of
our transportation system and the in
dustrial mouopolies built up by the
abuse of transportation facilities. 1t
may be urged that the democratic
party intrusted with power, after a
campaign narrowed down to the silver
issue, would develop in office though
failing to develop out, arise to the ne
cessities of the occasion, combat the
aggressions of the moneyed oligarchy
| wherever and however made, preserve
| the industrious from despoilment
through the medium of our transporta-
| tion system Aas@wel as through our
monetary system, bring about the ma
tional ownership of our transportation
facilities and do whatever else was
needed to bring about the emancipa-
tion of our people from industrial slav-
cry.
Indeed, it is said, let us get into
the saddle on the silver issue. and then
| we can take up the other issues But
| the party led by men who lack the
courage to avow their position on other
great issues than the silver question,
whose convictions on those questions
| are held subservient to the thirst for
| power that they willingly stihe them.
| in the fear that announcement would
| interfere with dreams of self-advance-
ment. cannot be trusted in the saddle.
Men who have not deep enough con-
| victions on great questions to stand or
fall by them when seeking Office can
| not be trusted to stand unwaveringly
by such convictions after election
Such men cannot command the con-
fidence that makes successful leader
| ship, are untitled to lead in the great
struggle for the emancipation of our
people from industrial slavery, as un-
fitted as were similar men to lead in
the old struggle for emancipation
emancipation from chattel slavery.
There is chaos among those struggling
for emancipation; and the men and
party that can successfully lead must
| not cringe before this chaos, fearing
that to take the bold and advanced
positions demanded of leadership
| would lead to the wreckiDg of personal
and party fortunes, but must give di-
rection and force to the chaotic move
ment-v
In the same issue of the American