Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-07-28
GsseS County a]rrala.
PLATFORM MAKING.

good, sound and durable wood, hewed
from the forests of Lebanon and carried
ON floats to Joppa; but on the contrary
many of the master workmen. among
whom is George Fred Williams, are
picking up and bringing to the con-
struction old timber which was discarded
long ago and has laid in the forests UNI
ill it is dozy if not rotten.
! Now this platform building is curl
GUS process even in the hands of either
party, but some unusually diSjointed
work is being done at Chicago by the
Democratic National Committee. In
stead of sizing up that plank relating to
trusts by saying that it is very difficult.
delicate and complicated matter for poll
tics to deal Justly and effectively with
that legislation cannot control the extent
of legitimate enterprise, or limit the
number of men engaged in it, or restrict
the amount of profits from it, which
come from advantageous organization or
lawful management, any more than leg
islation can create Contractual relat
between the capitalist and labOrer; that
men must be free to act and go along
certain lines of enterprise without limit
as to amount of business done, or profits
made, or number of associates, provided
their methods are according to rules of
law; and that in the nature of things
they can only be restricted as to
methods, so that like restricting the
Insurer they cannot Cypress the people by
monopolies and extortions; in short that
politics or legislation can do no more
equitable relations between even the
greatest corporate capacity and the
humblest citizen We repeat summarize
ing, that instead of declaring what we
have above suggested and studying how
to best accomplish all the law is capable
of, these workmen declare that trusts
are the natural outgrowth of the pro-
tective tariff, when it may as well be
said that larceny is an outgrowth of
prosperity because thieves prosper most
when money is plenty. Trusts have no
J., - II,
do any other enterprise, individual or
otherwise, and flourish equally i'll free
trade countries with those under the
protective system
Now any party that declares that it
will wipe out trusts exhibits a badge of
stupendous fraud and insincerity and
any party that runs against the currents
down which have been flowing such
abundance for the three years last past
will run against progression, prosperity
md against the sense of the people
which is as strong as is the public de
sire for prosperity.
But of all the botches is that of one
gang of workmen bringing along a non.
expansion plank and another with
Dewey the conquering hero of eXpan,
sion for President. But what can the
builders do? Timber is not plenty
The republican party has appropriated
it. This party is an expansioniSt. The
democratic party must be the opposite
or nothing. The republican party has
the power and prestige. The democratic
party must fall back on its individual
efforts and resources. The republican
party has patronage, an army repre-
senting individual interests and resour
ces, and is using them for political (tC
use no harsher term) purposes; bu
what do the people care for that while
they know that the democratic part,
is striving to get possession of them tc
use them for the selfsame purposes
Any argument relating to the civil service
now will amount to very little for thu
people understand that it will be uset
alike in the hands of either party.
A mighty party so dependent tina
it has to compromise with anarchy
and look complacently upon the resm
rection of dead and vicious issues, ant
denounce huge industrial combination
in the face of its support of a hug
Tammany combination-the purpose
of which have no relation to the indus
trial or other interests of the countr
but are entirely for the acquisition q
political power--is an object of dee
pity rather than censure. 1t is bein
forced to take the silver plank and a,
the debris Of the old campaign to max
up the patchwork platform which tn
Chicago meeting foreshadows. Now tn
republican party is independent an
strong and can well afford to make
declaration of principles that will be il
trinsically sound; its leaders ought t
know the true elements of prospcrit
and security. 1t is rich and can affor
to use the public service for the advance
ment of the interests of the whole coul
try. If it does both it is sure of SUI
cess. But if it presumes on the veal
ness Of its adversary, presents platforl
made up of sectional interests, prejudice
and antiquities, uses public funds an
gosyice for individual advancement, an