The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-08-24

If the fusion forces win victory thi
fall, we shall see this reform accomplish
ed before the next presidential election
and with its accomplishment, the peopl,
will find it easier to secure any remedia
! legislation which they may desire. Blu
| how hating has been the progress. Hol
land has said:
Heaven is not gained by a singl,
bound.
We build the ladder by which we rise.
From the lowly earth to the vaultet
And we mount to its summit round b,
round
And so it is with great social and DO
| 1ical movements. Great problems ar,
solved slowly, but struggling humanity
marches on, step by step, content if a.
each nightfall it can pitch its tent on g
little higher ground.
! 1 have called attention to the issues
| which have brought the Democrats and
| Fopultsts together and justified their CO.
! operation during the last four wears
| Let me now invite your attention to new
| questions which would justify co-opera-
ton at this time even though we differed
| upon ali economic questions It is NOT
| our fault that these new questions have
been brought into the arena of politics.
1t is not our fault that the people have
been called upon to consider questions
OF ever increasing magnitude. In 1891
the tariff question was the PRINCIPAL sub
Ject Of discussion and the Democratic
party contended that the masses were
carrying burden of unjust and unneces-
| sary taxes. In 1892 the tariff question
was still the principal issue between the
democratic and Republican parties. al
though in the west and south the money
question was assuming greater and
great proportions and the Populists were
contending that our monetary system
was more responsible than the tariff
laws for the depression in agriculture
and the distress resting among the wage
earners In 1898 the whole question Of
taxation became Of secondary importance
because of the increased holiness Of
those who oppose dthe gold and silver
coinage of the constitution. When the
Republicans declared at st. Louis that
the restoration Of bimetallism in this
country, although desirable, was limos
sible, without the aid Of the leading com
mercial nations of the old world. the
Populists and Silver Republicans Joined
with the Democrats in asserting the RIGHT
and duty of the American people tn
shape their financial situation for them
selves, regardless Of the action of 9TH
er nations, The failure of the Renubli-
can party to secure to binetallism and
its open espousal Of the gold standard
still kept the money question in politics
but no economic question can compare
in Importance with the question which
concerns the principle and structure Of
government. Systems of taxation can
be changed with less difficulty than
financial systems, and financial systems
can be altered with less danger and less
disturbance to the country than the vi
tai doctrine upon which free govern
ments rest
IN the early sixties, when we were en-
gagged in a contest which was to deter
mine whether we should have one re-
public or two. questions Of finance were
lost sight Of. Silver was at premium
over gold, and both gold and silver were
at premium over greenbacks and bank
notes, but the people could not afford to
divide over the money question in the
presence of a greater issue. And so to-
day, we are engaged in a controversy
which will determine whether we have
republic in which the government de-
rives its just powers rom the consent Of
the governed or an empire in which
brute force is the only recognized source
OF power.
In a government where the people rule.
every wrong can be righted and every
evil remedied, but when once the doc
trine Of self government is impaired and
might IS substituted for right. there Is
no certainty that any question will be
settled correctly.
colonial policy would 50 occupy the
people with the consideration o fthe ma
tons foreign policy that domestic ques-
tons would be neglected who Will
haul down the fag?" or stand By the
president would be the prompt response
to every criticism Of the administration.
and corruption and special privilege
would thrive under the cover OF patriot
ism.
II is not strange that the Populists
should oppose rilitarism and imperial
ism, for both are antagonists to the
81 questions. Looking az questions from
the standpoint ot the producer q wealth
rather than from the standpoint - the
Spectator. the Populist recognizes IN
miliJarism a constant and Increasing
government. The s-uv worm With &C.
casi0naIly destroys field q wheat Is
not nearly 50 dangerous An enemy II the
farmer as a large standing army, whi-h /
inva6es every field Of industry ard ex
acts tolls rom every crop.
II one hundred thousand men are viii 4
drawn from the ranks .: TAs --o5uos-s 4
and placed IS 2 burden on re baczs e
those who rernAin IL must uean Janre- 4
hours. harder work and greater sac7i- (
fees % rthose who t7H. and the farmer I
while he pays more shan his share y the .
expenses q TIE army. haz n pa-- .n
any contracts - developing companies. f
his sens are Jess likely 70 e. the Ifs pa-
sItiozs 81 ths arcry than fhe sons = .
those who. by reason - wealth ~ 9aifii-
cal prominence. exert inssence ~ Trasa- +
ingtoa
Sa1n aste- ti1e Republican leaders he-
-su % suggest TIE p-9p-sssT = -sgsu-
tai policy. the vape-s ps1blsshea Ar ln-
tArvtsw EIven cut from san Fraa-szc5
rs a foreign eoaszi rsssd.aE a. aaas.a
TIe declared that TIE people = TIE TAX
ei States owe3 Il to thsusslTas. tasesasr
nations aud 70 the rsiiPgzzs = hod 49,
fssGn6z permanently. A tie