The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-11-02
Don't Throw Your Vote Away.

a ticket on the ballot. All the others are
bonafde tickets.
The Prohibition, the Social Labor with
appraised arm with hammer, the Social
Democracy and Union Reform tickets, all
represent organizations of dissatisfaction
with present economic conditions Each
flock of disconteuts believes its principle
is the paramount issue, which if secured
would end the universal discomfort and
make everybody happy. Suppose each
party were right in their belief. they all
know very well they will not elect
any candidate, but seem to think
they will gain strength. in future and
become the predominating party of
the country. A moments reflection
should convice them that this is an i'm
possibility. The Prohibition party has
given this kind of political work thor
ough trial of thirty years and are no
nearer their hoped for result than they
were the first year of the organization.
The Social Labor party has crack
Drained leader at its head in New York,
who believes the proletaire, (the most
ignorant class of manual laborers), should
be placed in control of the government
and capitalistic and middle classes put
under foot.
The Middle of-the-road Populist party
is branch of the original Peoples party.
The Social Democracy, at the head of
which is Eugene v. Debs, is more prac-
teal in its views and rational in its aims.
The Union Reform party is altogether
foolish in its hopes of advancing into
great controlling power.
All of these separate parties have at the
head of each some ambitious person, who
like Caesar, would rather be the first man
of village than the second man in Rome,
or Santa Anna, the dictator of Mexico,
who declared he would rather be the
head of a mouse than the tail ola lion.
These remnant parties all are contend
ing for some measure of reform, which,
if formulated into law with great ma
jority party supporting it, would Except
the Social Labor party) be great gain
to ithe public, but the method they en-
ploy might be justly compared to single
company detached from a great army
attacking an enemy who has mighty,
armed host strongly posted and Differed,
obeying the orders of one supreme head.
Such small detatchments could make no
impression on the lines of great, ably
commanded army. Such attacks by little
detached companies would only invite
defeat and disaster without In the least
weakening the enemy.
To imagine that volunteers from the
main body will join them in sufficient
numbers to increase any one of these
mere neucleus of party into command
ing political force Is idle. The attack OIL
the common enemy to every one of the
reforms which these small nencieus
parties represent should be made by the
solid combination of all in one body or
party TO insure success. That common
enemy is the power of combined, aggre-
gated wealth and monopoly. using the
machinery of the Republican party
organization, Napoleonic political force,
raiding the wealth producers aud appro-
priatidg their property to its own use by
the means of special privileges, secured
mainly by bribery aud corruption.
The colossal power of syndicated wealth
must be broken by the overthrow of the
Republican party, the political organiza-
ton it has selected for its purpose of
exploitation. This power broken by the
election of Bryan the way 10 open for
those reforms, which will have an equal
chance to be advanced on their merits in
the Judgment of the people. Until that
Judgment is gained not any of them can
be advanced. The methods pursued by
these detached parties is positive injury
TO the principles they strive to advance,
in place of an aid
There is no prospect for curbing the
colossal power of wealth and legalized
privilege except by the election of Bryan.
And every one of the leaders of those
fragmentary parties knows this, but they
continue to harbor vain hope that the
people, some how or other. will come to
them after while in great masses. This
Elusive hope, together with the vanity of
their leaders to be looked up TO as leaders
of something, no matter how small, will
ever make parties barren of useful results
and help the common enemy by having a
divided power to attack and defend
against.
By the overthrow of the colossal power
Of combined capital, massed behind the
Republican organization, all of these
reforms represented by the several parties
would be given an opportunity to be
heard on their merits before the jury Of
the American people, but as long as
aggregated wealth, supported by special
privilege remains in the saddle, not one
of them can get hearing.
The speech of Mr.. VIM. ]. Ogden before
the Rrvau Climb IF fine Civil, d;efr;of rt,