The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1899-02-17
SENATOR ALLEN AND THE
OMAHA PLATFORM.

Draska, 'and the principles 10
which that platform stands must tri
umph or our nation will be number
ed among the lost"
"First and foremost, let us Sc,
about some of the "things" enunci-
ated in this Omaha platform. In it
preamble it says: "We meet in tn,
midst of a natien brought to tn,
verge of moral, political and ma
terial ruin. Corruption dominates
the ballot box, the legislatures, tn,
congress, and even touches The er-
mine on the bench. The people are
demoralized. The newspapers ar,
largely subsidized or muzzled, pub
lie opinion silenced, business pros
trate, our homes covered with mort,
cages, labor impoverished, and the
lands concentrated in the hands OF
the capitalists. Urban workmen are
denied the right of organizing; i'm
ported pauperized labor reduces
their wages, while a hireling army
shoots them down. The tolls " "
the millions are stolen to build up
colossal fortunes, From the pro
life womb of governmental injustice
We breed the two great classes
tramps and millionaires."
And following this remarka able
presentation of evils comes the
statement that the nation cannot
live unless the people revolt against
tyranny and take unto their own
hands the business of running the
AS q matter of fact this lugubrious
how does not represent the true
condition OF our country at all, but
admit ting for the moment that it
does, what is the first and most
conclusion to be drawn?
Isn't it that the American people are
totally unfit for self-government?
Admitting, we say, that this Omaha
platform gives correct portrayal of
actual conditions in the United
States, isn't it conclusive that a
people who would bring such con-
1itions upon themselves are totally
deficient in ability to grasp the first
principles of political economy
people who are unable to see and
much less to follow their own inter
ests2 The makers of the Omaha
platform did not seem to see the
nonstrous incongruity they were
The people, when or
,anized into the two old parties, and
having complete power to run the
government as they chose, did not
lave sense enough and ability
to turn the hand which
would prevent them from going to
his awful ruin, and yet we are ask
ID to believe that when the people
the selfsame people, mind YOU
ire organized into new party they
1t once become philosophers and
statesmen, able to cope with any
however great. But this
S not all of it. The Omaha plat
orm asks for still greater opportu-
lities for the people to damage
themselves. 1t provides for an en-
arged scope of popular govern
notwithstanding national ownership
If railroads, and all that-ani null
iplies and enhances the difficulties
If the poor devils who already have
hown their inability to govern
wisely for themselves.
AS a matter of fact this Omaha
platform is three fourths lies and
our-fourths folly. There never has
'een time in the history of the
American republic when the people
lid not govern, and there is no
prospect of such time ever COM
ng. The trouble with such states
nen as Senator Allen and his asso-
iates in the Populist party is that
hey mistake themselves for the
Vhole people, whereas they are but
small fraction of the people, and,
Judging from their platform at
omaha, a mighty pusillanimous
raction at that. Whenever the
.reat public mind of our nation sets |
tself to attain a certain goal, that |
oal will be attained, and the idea |
hat there exists somewhere a power
hat may battle the peoples wishes
5 nonsense of the sheerest kind. |
md, what is more, the American
'eople are not such as described in |
he Omaha platform as having |
'lindly reduced themselves to slav-
ny. they are a big, brainy, &C
i've, intelligent people, who know
1hat they want and how to get it. |
( they do not want the "things"
Enumerated in the Omaha platform
is evidence, not of their own
weakness and folly, as Senator Allen |
would have us believe, but evidence