The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1900-02-16

tOi tuS OChSht VI thC SouutiJ' AAS
has even been ready to toot his own
horn and play the demagogue fiddle
while his deluded followers and ad-
mires danced.
But, take him at his word, he
won't be candidate again. That
reduction of majority from $500 to
100 in two years is hint enough for
even Ridgeley. No wonder he is
willing to sacrifice his personal am
bitlon in the interest of harmony.
We can't forbear quoting a little
paragraph of Ridgely's letter which
for genuine dcmagoguery and bonn
bastic buncombe surely takes the
cake. He says:
"It won't do for our people to divide
on questions of detail or preferences OF
mere party, or claims Of candidates;
let us unite and save the institutions
of free government. The real issue
now is shall our government be re-
stored and made to serve the citizens
or shall the citizens be compelled to
support the Empire upon the ruins OF
our Republic with Imperialism and
militarism fully enthroned and a
soldier on the back Of every farmer
and laborer in the land. Already to
express protest against this revolu-
ti0nary plot of the President, is being
pronounced treason by administra-
tiOn circles"
This fool cry of imperialism has
lost its force. 1t no longer strikes
terror to the American heart. They
have never been able to enlighten
us as to what they mean by the
term. 1t is high sounding word
and rounds out a sentence well but
means absolutely nothing in Amer
ican politics.
Then there is the word "militar-
ISM" and "a soldier on the back of
every farmer and laborer in the
land" Does Mr.. Ridgeley think he
can frighten the farmers and labor
ers into voting for his party without
a principle by such bugaboos as
that?
He probably fails to remember
that his party did more loud clam,
moring for war with Spain than any
other equal number of men in the
ecu ntry. Possibly he may have
forgotten those blood-curdling stor-
les of Spanish cruelty he so forci-
bly, depicted in an effort to force
this country into war without suffi
cient men and munitions to sustain
thirty days campaign against a
band of Digger Indians.
And now he would have us be-
lieve the country is in great danger
from an excessive army, when al,
most every available soldier is in
the field. The farmers and the la
boring men are not easily frightened
about this soldier back prop
osition. The farmers are raising
the produce to feed them and get
ting better average prices for theil
stuff than for years. The laborers
have good jobs and good pay and
the "soldier on the back" would be
more literal were they home seek
ing work.
Well, Bro. Ridgeley, during the re-
bellion it was counted treason for a
man in or out of congress to abuse
the administration ami pray for the
overthrow of our arms, and the cul-
prit was deemed fit subject for
Punishment or the dungeon, and we
believe little less liberty of the
mouth today would be for the best
interests of our people. Such
reasonable sentiments as are ex-
pressed by those high in office and
by those of lesser note are calculat-
ed, if tolerated, to subvert and de-
stroy the best government on earth.
1t does not follow because we hold
the Philippines that we must admit
the pauper labor of the Orient.
If one state has right to quar-
antine against another to keep out a
pest, can't we quarantine against
the pest of cheap labora But, how
now, Bro. Ridgeley, in your great
love for the laborer and the fear
that cheap labor will flood this
country through the Philippines,
you forgot that you are in favor OF
destroying the only real barrier to
cheap labor this country possesses,
the tariff.
You say the paramount issues in
the coming campaign will be anti
imperialism, antitrust and the re-
ferendum. But how about free sill
yer, have you dropped that from
your list1 Bryan still contends that
that is the chief issue. Glad to
learn that you have dropped one of
Bryan's vagaries.
Anti.imperialism, anti-militarism,
anti-trusts and anti-McKinleyism
will make of your party genuine
party of 'aunties" sure enough. The