The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-08-29

by your party than to bear the odium
of reuaiping ueutralin in this great crisis
or OF giving open or secret aid to the
Repu ubliean party which opposes al the
reforms for which the Populists con-
tend
TAKES TINE TO WORK GREAT REFORMS.
Those who labor to improve the
conditions which surround their fel-
lo8men are spt to become impatient;
but they must remember that it takes
time to work out great reforms. Jet
me illustrate by calling your attention
to the slow growth Of pub!lc opinion in
support of proposition to which there
has been practically 10 open opposi-
ton. President Johnson, in 1868.
recommended constitutions! amend
ment providing for the election Of Uni
ted States senator's BIZ direct vote Of
the people, but his recommendation
me, with no response About u years
later Gen. Weaver, then member CT
congress, tried to secure the passa &c
Of resolution submitting such au
amendment, but his efforts we're futile.
In 1892 tie resolution recommended
by President johnson aud urged by
Congressman Weaver finally passed the
house Of representatives but it has not
yet reached vote in the senate and
now, after eight years more Of public
discussion the proposition for the first
time received the endorsement Of the
national convention of ore Of the great
parties.
IF she fusion forces win a victory
this fall We shall see this reform ac-
complished before the next presider-
tial election, aud With It's accomplish
nent, the people will fad it easier 10
secure any remedial legislation which
they may desire Bat how halting has
beer the progress Holland hss said:
Heaven is not gaincd by single
bound;
We build tne ladder BY which We rise
From the lowly earth TO the vaultc6
And we noun; to its summit round by
round
;iAnd so i; is wilh great social and
political movements.
Great problems are solved slowly,
but struggling humanity marches on,
step by step, conteDtthata at each Dight-
fal! it csp pitch its tent on alittle higher
ground.
THE TIES THAT BIND.
Il have called attention 10 tie issues
which bropgh; the Democrats and Pop
ulists together aud which justides the
cooperation during the last four years.
Let me BOW invite your attention to
question which would justify CO.
operation at this time even though we
differed upon economic questions. 1t
Is not our fault that these rev ques-
tons have been thrust into the arena
Of politics; il is not cur fault that the
people have been called upon to consi6
er questions of ever-increasiog mag
uituGe. In 1890 the tariff question was
the principal subject of discussion and
the Democratic party conteEGcd that
the masses were carrying burden Of
unjust and unnecessary taxes. In 1892
the tariff question was still the princl-
pal issue between the Democratic aud
Republican parties, although n the
west aud south the money question was
assuming greater and greater proper
tions ard the Populists were contend
ing that our monetary System was
more responsible than the tariff laws
for the depression in agriculture and
the distress existing among the wage
earners. In 1896 the whole question Of
taxation became Of secondary impoc
tancs because of the increased bold
ness of those who opposed The gold and
silver coinage OF the constitution.
When the Republicans declared at St.
Louis that the restoration of binetal-
liam in this country although desirable
was impossible without the aid of the
leading commercial nations Of he Old
World, the Populist aud silver Repub-
licans, joined With the Democrats IN
asserting the rights and duty Of the
American people to shape their fnan-
cial system for themselves, regardless
Of the action of other nations. The
failure of the Republican party to Sc.
cure international bimetal!ism and its
open espousal of the gold standard still
keep the money question IN politics,
but no economic question can compare
in Importance with a 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 vital doctrines upon which free
government rests.
A STAGGERING HIT.
''In the early sixties when we were
engaged in contest which was to de-
termine whether we should have one
republic or two, questions of finance
were lost sight CT. Silver was at a
premium over gold and both gold and
silver were at a premium over green
backs and bank notes, but the people
could not afford to divide over the
money question in the presence Of a
greater issue. And so today We are
engaged in controversy which will
determine whether We are 10 have a
republic in which the government de-
rives its just powers from the consent
of the governed, or an empire in which
brute force is the only recognized
source of poser.
I'm government where the people
rule every wrong can be righted and
every evil remedied, but when only the
doctrine Of self government is impaired
and might is substituted for right there
is no certainty that any question will