The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-07-05

W0AOS NuuO DOOO uuuOu y "
ROYAL sAMso 70
THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.
The Republican National Convention
has adopted a platform Of excuses, ex.
pedients and apologies rather than Of
principles. 1t audaciously seeks,
through the lnstrumentality of rhetoric.
to convert the sins Of the party leaders
into virtues, and claims all the works Of
Providence to be the especial benefcence
to the people of William Mckinley and
his associates in the Governments.
The resolutions represent that the
country has been restored to prosperity
by the redemption of two promises
made in the Republican campaign Of
1896 first to revise the tariff so as to
produce the necessary public revenue
and better the condition Of the people;
and second, to avert financial disaster
and revise the money system with par
ticular reference othe establishment by
law of the gold standard. Such declara-
tions must be intended to influence
those who have taken no pains to study
the great economic question and who
will be satisfied in the future with dem.
agogue resolutions as their only text
book.
All intelligent men know that the
tariff legislation under the present Ad.
ministration has not only failed to raise
the necessary revenue. but has been the
primary means of establisnmen of the
trusts which are now burdensome to the
people. The surplus in the revenues
has been obtained through the imposi.
ton of odious internal taxes, tolerable
in war times, but obstinately maintain
ed after the necessity for them has pass.
ed.
The currency law is delivery to the
banks and capitalists of the control over
the value Of money. 1t grants to the
few the privilege Of issuing paper prom
ises that they do not have to redeem
over their counters in gold. This dis.
elimination between hank money
and the money issued directly by th'
United States is favoritism that mus
arouse the indignation Of those who ar
not among; the favored classes them
selves. The question Of free silyer i
said toihave been eliminated from pol
itics for the present. Whether it ha
been or not the general question of f
nance is warmer issue than it was eyel
years ago. Congress and the Presiden
have not taken step on the none,
question that has not been covertly o
overtly in the interests of the capitalist
and money monopolists, aud agains
the people.
The boast that ten millions of tn
human race have been given a ne,
birth of freedom through the war wit
Spain is idle and impudent. 1t is
falsehood Of the most glaring descriI
tion when considered in the light of th
obstinate holding onto Cuba in contra
vention of the solemn promise in ou
declaration of war; of our treatment {
the people Of Porto Rico as subjects an
mendicants rather than as citizens, an
of our adoption of the British policy ,
conquest over colonies in our relation
to the Philippine Islands
The praises bestowed on Preside,
> Mckinley are fulsome and nauseatir
4 to the last degree, and would be rep
! dated by any President who had q b
3 coming sense of the dignity of the Off
g and who did not regard the Chief Ma
e istracy simple as an instrumentality
D confer spectacular honor to him.
e The cheap talk Of cross roads dout
q faces about menace TO prosperity ha
. ing always resided in Democratic pr
y ciples, and about the incapacity of Il
Democratic party to conduct pub
affairs, is contemplate and unfit to
y introduced in national declaration
i principles Of a great party. It is t
It blatherskite performance of political
d who are driven to artiAclali,y by th
l. own abominable record. 1t hurts I
n Administration more than it does I
K Democrats.
p The paragraph on trusts is stradd
le 1t '.favors' legislation in restraint
u abuses, thus acknowledging that [
10 correction of the trust evil is within ,
le scope Of legislation, but neglecting
J. refer to the fact that no honest q
r- candid movement was made against
IN trusts during the long session Of G.
IN gress just closed.
a Under the pretense of protecting la1
there is warm commendation Of
tariff policy which now, as In the ps
is chiefly notable for the enrichment
the tariff barons and the establishm
is Of trusts.
or There is lot Of stock phraseol
ss- about merchant marine, pensions
=