The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-26

the time at least of franchises, inherit
ances. and incomes.
'Fourth-Money (gold, silver, or paperl
issued by the Government only. full legal
tender and in quantity sufficient to main
tain the normal average of prices.
'Fifth-Acti-militari
The intent of the first plank of the
platform is simply to make our Govern
ment in fact what it has always been in
theory-a Government of the people, by
the people, for the people. Every party
when seeking the votes OF the people is
always careful to profess devotion to this
idea. Nevertheless. in practice ii is gen.
orally government by a minority of the
people. and this government exercised by
representatives of this minority whose
action is usually shaped by the demands
of the Weather classes. whose interests
are assumed to be one with the interests
Of the whole. Practically, therefore. the
people are not in it. The government is
neither OF. Cor, nor by them. In practice
it is really government OF the rich, by
the rich for the rich
A Common DeIusion.
I'm saying this / do not mean to imply
that our legislators generally and con-
sciously sell their votes and influence TO
the dominant classes. | do rot believe
this. l believe rather that they usually
imagine they are best serving the interests
OF the masses than promoting the pros
perity of the classes. 1t is the common
delusion OF our Congressman, who ought
to be statesmen, bu, unfortunately are too
generally only politicians, that the masses
are indebted for what prosperity they have
to the wealthy classes. to the men VINO
organize the great enterprises OF the COM
try and furnish employment 20 the toileTs.
They overlook the fact that these classes
use all the special privileges which they
secure jand secure profes sed.y in the CON-
non interesD in mOnopoiizing natural OF
portunities; in shutting the poor man out
from access TO the soil. and from every
pos. lble avenue Of self-emp.oyme Mt. They
do not seem 10 be aware that it is the set
tied and deliberate policy Of these captains
of industry to bring the masses into a con-
dition OF absolute dependence upon then
for the chance to obtain a subsistence.
You may, IL vcu can. put like charitable
construction on the action CT these cap
tains aud eXploiters OF Industry. You may
say that they look upon the masses as
really incompetent TO make employment
for themselves; that they havel't the
brains, the energy, or the thrift that a @
requisite TO the improvement Of natural
opportunities. and that the leaving OF these
open to them would simply mean leaving
them unimproved and unproductive. But
1t must certainly be admitted that the use
which the dominant classes make Of the
privileges they secure, do not warrant US
in believing that altrustic purpose plays
any large part in their monopoiizing move
mentS.
1t Is now being more and more clearly
perceived by thoughtful persons that no
vital or adequate change in the interest
of the whole people can possibly be eff
fected through the machinery Of rep.e-
sentative government as now constructed.
We must have direct Legislation. The
people must have opportunity to in.-iaIe
legislation when they deem it impor-
tant, and to vote upon all measures mi
tiated by councilmen, Legislators, or Con-
sressmen. This puts the law making pow
er directly in the hands OF the pie. and
makes them thoroughly responsible fer ex-
listing conditions"