Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-07-08
poLIrIcs on rHE FUTURE.

THE question of what party organ
izations are to be the leading actors In
the contests of the next few years, Is
not yet susceptible OF answer. The
old republican party, having been In
power most of the time during the last
quarter of century, and having been
so closely connected with the growth
of present plutOcratic conditions, hav-
ing so long ago been married to the
rule of wealth, cannot at this b AIRY
old age be expected to change It's rule
of living and be divorced from It's life
principles 1t will go into the next
campaign as it did the last one, to de-
fend the operations of power, greed,
and institutions which have served
their period Of usefulness. AS to the
rest, all is dim ard doubtful. There
are in opposition to this, four organized
parties with some strength and
promise of fifth. Chief among these
is the regenerated democracy, followed
by the pOpulists, the silver republicans
and the prOhibitiOnists. Looming in
sight as strong pOtentiality is the
socialist labor party, which is quite
likely to grow, and in case worse comes
to worst, as may be feared, will posi-
bly, in time envelop the world.
The new democracy has announced
"A distinctly new policy which is a long
step in the direction of reform. Yet
they have declared for no measure
which will radically change the system
under which we live. The currency
question, properly settled, will allevi-
ate, it will not cure A generally de-
clared hostility to trusts will not re-
move the causes which bring them into
existence, nor provide anything else to
take their place.
The factory system with its child
slavery, the wage system, which is only
. modified form of slavery, will not
be cured by anything short of some
form Of state socialism. But this is a
long way off; so far off, indeed, that
even the theorists on these lines have
not attempted to clear it up as to just
how the systems are to BIZ eliminated.
All that human ewes can see clearly at
this time is alleviatlOn, not cure.
There is however one sep in advance
which should be taken in the next ma
tional campaign, namely, declaration
fOrpublic ownership of public utilities
PUP ic opinion on this question IS grow
ing so rapidly that if the real people
control as they did in the conventions
last year, it may not be so difficult to
achieve as has been thought.
There is one thing that must be re-
membered. 1t is that plutOcracy, mo-
nOpOly, the corporate powers, care no
more for a party out of power than
Grover Cleveland for the people. I'm
less times change, which is not prob
able, it will be realized by every col.
pOration striker in America that Nc.
Klnley's recollection will be as remote
a possibility as turning back the hands
Of time. Their greatest efforts will
therefore be made in attempting to
corrupt the party which they see will
Do placed in power. Sly Inducements
will be offered to secure the best terms
possible, The corporation strikers will
Oe found among all organizations OPP
posed to the republican party likely to
operate together, talking ''cOnserva-
ism" IN declarations as needful to
success, etc, asking for little looping
Dtf here and there in the most radical
lcterance, until if they have their wav
there will be one wealthy syndicate of
politicians and milliOnaires lighting
another, as in the past.
Inc people party cannot afford to
drift from its old principles or organ.
zaticn. 1t must hold its club ready
TO swing in case there is any faltering,
enporizing or pandering to those who
have 80 long controlled, to our woe and
sorrow. In writing this we do not
mean 10 be taken as "A ''mildle-Of the
rOader," except it come to the wOl st
and the organizations fail to come up
to the standard under which we Can
cOnsclentiOusly light with them. This
we do not anticipate, but 1t is we'll to
be prepared to act in any emergency.
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BETTER HEED THIS WARNING.
Hardlv Z, tpaak rynao hu h,,k por,a DF