Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1900-07-27
REPUBLICAN PRINCIPLES.
BY JOE McDILL.

| have read good deal OF comment on the
Reprbhcan national platform. Some think
that lh, platform is made up of "glittering gen
eralities - Others think that it is "vague' or
meaningless" | don't agree with any of the
comments. | read that the platform is for gold
standard, robber tariff, Imperialism and robber
combines 1t will be conceded that the plat
form is for gold standard, high robber tariff and
expansion. That the platform is pledge in
good faitn to break up the great robber trusts,
no one believes who can lay claim to average
Intelligence, and expansion means imperialism
-mcans that Porto Rico and the Philippines
are to be governed by United States appontees
ARE to be held as colonial dispensaries If |
am right, ann believe that can prove my po-
sition, then the Republican party favors every
principle that destroys republics.
That gold standard, bonds and national
banks are in the interest of the masses no one be-
lieves whohas given the subject of finance a care
full study. That indirect system of taxation
falls fairly upon all classes, and prompts economy
in expenditures cannot be proven either i'll the
ory or practice If any part of the people of the
United States can be governed without their
voice and consent, why not all the people?
If the great combinations of capital are wrong,
how is it that the Republicans have just made
that very important discovery? Wherever the
party feels sure o its position, the Platform Is
plain enough. Where there is doubt as to the
sentiment of the people, the platform IS vague.
Should party of high moral principles dodge?
Should the partner of providence not have pro-
nounced principles, and push them with all the
vigor of an inspired manhood? These are
some of the questions that come up IN the pres
ent campaign, and will be answered at the bal
lot-box in November. The answer will be in
telligent or ignorant. The men who will vote
the Republican ticket vote for wrong system
of finance, a wrong system of taxation, will
vote for principle in government that dyra-
mites the corners stone of our institutions and
will vote to continue the great combines and
trusts whose existence even Republicans are
forced to admit are a menace to the wel-beng
of the masses.
l have assumed that the Republican party
platform is unfliendly to themasses, mainly be-
cause of that party's history charge T., that in
thirty years, the party has not put in operation
any general measure that benefited the whole
people. The Culom interstate commerce law
and the Sherman antitrust laws are utter fail
u1es under Republican dmnistration-"they
died a-bornn.n
The issue of government bonds, the denone
tzation of silver, the Mckinley and the Dingley
tariffs did not die a. -boomin They were yowl
ing, yclping infants from the moment they issued
from their mothers womb They grew and fat
tened apace. They were constitutional, and if
their provisions had been violated, McKinley's
attorney general would have been down on the
violaters like a night hawk on a Jneubug.
Culom tried to have the interstate commerce
law amended so as to make it effective, and
tailed, because ma jority of the committe.
were railroad attorney senator's. Griggs refused
to prosecute violaters of the antitrust law. A
income tax law was unconstitutional.
The constitution jumped its precedents and
sat on itself under Republican supreme judges.
Is any man fool enough to believe that party
that brought trusts into being, and fostered their
growth will so much as turn hand to restrain
or destroy? If there is such man, pity him,
and If in course OF time when cCndiditions force
him to become tramp and he passes my wav, |
will treat him TO a hand d-out, provided | am
not also fellow tramp and citizen of the
highway.
No voter has moral right to he political
fool. expect the men who hold bonds and Sc
curites to vote the Republican ticket l would
be surprised if water stock rallroaders did not
vote the Republican ticket, and will bet money
that every member of every trust in every state
ia the union will vote the Republican ticket.
In doing so, they vote money into their pockets,
but they vote money out of my pocket, and they
vote mon out Of all farmers pockets, and no
farmer can be cassed as wise who votes against
his interest He is a political fool