The San Francisco call., 1899-08-12
RATTLE-WEED DEMOCRACY.

= OVERNOR ALTGELD has recently made
I his contribution to the Chinese music now
- being furnished by the new Democracy.
The great test of this year is to be made in Ken
tucky, it seems, not to the future OF the Repub-
party but the grip of the Bryan faction on
the opposition. Altgeld declares that Goebel, the
Democratic candidate for Governor in that State,
will be ground to powder This trituraton is TO
occur to Goebel because of his intimacy with the
enemies of Mr. Bryan's friends"
Nothing is said of the ill-starred Goebels un-
soundness on silver nor of his lack of admiration OF
the crazy quilt pattern OF the Chicago platform But
he is merely convivial with the enemies of Mr..
Bryans friends. By this the public is left to
that the Blue Grasser says "howdy" to in the
party who think there are other pebbles the poll
teal beach besides the OF the Platte and other
rivers It is, therefore, declaration of against
all men who are not for Bryans nomination They
NAV be sound on the unsound platform, and may be-
lieve wholly in the sacred ratio OF 10 to They may
desire destruction OF the Supreme Court and wish
remove all judicial safeguards TO the rights OF prop
erty. But il they not foresworn to Bryan they
are to be ground to powder. The Goebelites when
they heard their doom announced from Chicago i'm
mediately flung to the breeze banner inscribed in
water coors, Bryan and Blackburn" But this did
not seem to secure their acceptance for Altged i'm
mediately repeated his declaration Of and alluded
10 the banner and its legend "a conspiracy.
He also said that he did not believe that Colonel
BRYAN would support Colonel Goebe But therein
he slipped cog, for when Bryan heard that his name
was on banner in Kentucky he issued dates for a
stumping tour there in support OF Goebel. The Gov
ernor in his first interview went further than to lay
Goebel low, and gave out platform for the party to
be affirmed next year Some of his declarations on
that subject are remarkable. He favors holding the
Philippines and giving them "a good form OF gov
ernment" and seeing that no other power interferes
with them But he opposes any increase in the army
as imperialism! Just how the conquest which must
precede any form OF government in those islands is
to be made without increase in the army is not
explained One can see the folly of advocating
policy which in the opinion of the best military
Judges, will require present force of soldiers
and permanent garrison of not less than 5oooo and
at the same time denying the use of that military es
tablishment without which the policy itself is un-
thinkabe Imperialists will see nothing noxious in
A1tgelds proposed plank The Republicans, if they
shall elect to follow imperial Standards will find it
difficult to do better for that issue than their oppo-
nents.
The further panks proposed by the Sucker Die
tator are for Government ownership of everything
that engages the physical and business energies of
the people He says: Let the Government take the
railroads, and all monopolies will begin totter and
some OF them will fall" He oms explanation of the
methods by which property that has cost the owners
eleven billions OF dollars is to be taken But Judging
from his known views that whenever piece of prop
erty becomes profitable to its owner it ceases to be-
long to him, we suppose that a knock will be heard
on the ofce-door of every railroad and the Govern
ment will walk in and take a seat with a full equip
ment of conductors brakemen, engineers and sleep
ing-car porters, and Immediately take charge. To
advocate such scheme as this and oppose imperial
ism is to away from fugacious kissing bug into
the carnivorous jaws Of Bengal tiger Imperialism
is condition in which government dominates the
people 1t comes of the possession of power to die
tate their fate and subordinate their will Pray what
difference does it make whether this is done by the
employment Of an army of 10000 men, the en-
poyment of force of five millions who depend for
their daily bread on Government favor and bounty
and wages, in the ganful occupations of which the
Government is the owner?
The standard complaint of men like Altgeld
against the large corporate and individual employers
of labor has been that they control the votes and
dictate the political action of their men.
When Altgeld unsheaths his spitefu1 tongue against
Goebel, because he is friendly to Democrats who
oppose Bryan's nomination, what may expect of
an Altged in the Presidency who controls several
millions of workngmen, that eat their bread in the
shelter of Government ownership?
More than path leads to imperialism but the
shortest trail is Government ownership.
We may get rid OF oppressive standing army
for it does often approach the polls, and in any
event can be outvoted when its support becomes
oppressive. But what chance will there be against
any Government, matter how bad, once it is in
power and through Government communism con-
trolls so many millions of votes?
-@.-
United States naval authorities have just finished