Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-10-26
gOUNTRY'S DANGER.
John P. Altgeld Talks to College
Men in Connecticut.
The Administrators Attitude ON
Trusts and Imperialism De.
AOunced-ROasts Republic
an Ranters.

was the chief speaker at the Yale
Democratic clubs first rally of the
campaign, atNew Haven, Conn.,, October
10. The meeting was most successful.
Music hall, with capacity of $500,
was thronged and hundreds were un-
able to gain admission. He spoke in
part as follows:
Liberal ideas have given the world its
progress and constitute the hope of hui
gnanity. All institutions are the product OF
ideas-some temporary. some permanent
and justice is the recognition of human
rights. Justice stands for equality. and
from it comes democracy, evolution.
growth, life. progress and happiness.
Brute force asserts that might gives
right, that the strong may control the
weak, that the strong may give the weak
much of liberty as they think best.
From thfs'source comes kingcraft, aristoc-
racy, oligarchy. monopoly, privilege. 1t Is
reacttonary and repreSSive. 1t arrests
progress. 1t leads to decay and death
Trusts Rule by Force.
1.-THE monopolies that are devouring the
substance Of our people all rest on the
doctrine Of might. They stand on advan-
sage.
HAS It occurred to you that monopoly
lowers the social status of the American
people and lessons their ability to educate
their children? Equal opportunity made
possible the thousands of educational in
Stitutions in this country. With the de-
-struction of equal opportunities they must
fade from the land, and many professors
must fade with them, because the people
will not be able to educate their children
they do now.
THE mere fact that some trust agnate
may give a few millions of stolen money
10 some college cannot keep the people
who are doing the work of America from
sinking down to a lower plane If monop-
olies continue.
THE law looks upon monopolies as GRIM
inal. In addition we have our statute
book what is called the Sherman anti
trust law, which fixes severe penalties for
FORMING monopoly. But it is dead letter
because the administration will not enforce
1T.
1.-The trusts have absolutely controlled
this administration. AT present we are
lin this situation: We must repeal such
Legislation breeds monopoly and we
must have an honest enforcement Of the
Jaws against monopoly.
Trusts Take a Hand In Politics.
But the trusts take a hand in politics.
They furnish Mark Hanna the millions
of corruption funds with which to debauch
the elections and continue this admins
tration In power. So far as l can learn.
every great monopoly in America is sup
porting this administration. Even the al
legged democratic stockholders in the re-
publican ice trust of New York city were
against our platform and did not like our
candidate. The men who debauch legis-
.tice-are shouting for Mckinley.
Let me ask this question: Is there an
Intelligent man in the land who believes
that If the trusts succeed in carrying this
election the trusts will be destroyed?
ut is not a partisan question. 1t is a
question of self-preservation. Shall the
syndicate run the government at Wash
ington. or shall the people who do the
work of this country again take charge Of
it?
Let me remind you that amid all the
Nilification. amid all the ton.
no man has yet arisen who has had the
hardihood to assert that the trusts and the
-Syndicates could control William J. Bryan.
Talks of DESTINY"
Turning to the subject of Imperial
ISM with the Introductory remark
that he would next say word about
''duty and destiny and the mission of
our flag" Mr.. Altgeld reviewed the his
tory of our war with Spain, telling how
tie democratic spirit of the country
forced the republican administration
TO go to the rescue of Cuba. After trac-
ing, step by step, the course of events
in the West Indies and in the Philip
pines down to the point of the forcible
acquisition of the eastern islands OF
the United States, Mr.. Altgeld said:
I'VE are told that Providence Is doing
TINS, tndt destiny mas OOI0 anu liza
we are simply marching in the line of oul
duty This cant and hypocrisy become
wsarisome.
WAS the British ambassador the agent
of Divine Providence when he went tt
Mr.. Mckinley and urged him to keep all
of the Islands and go into the colonial bust.
ness, so to prevent Germany from get
ting the islands? Were the greedy syndi
Gates of America that wanted opportuni
lies to make money at the expense of thu
government, were they commissioned by
destiny to urge the president to embark
In this anti-American policy? Did Provi
dence want information. about coal an(
mineral wealth? Did Providence so fal
forget himself as to demand of the Phil
ippine people the recognition of American
sovereignty on December q. 1898. before WI
had any treaty rights any other rights
there?
WAS it the Lord that issued the order tt
Gen. Otis on December p, 1898, PRACTICAL.
commanding him to begin war agains
those people who had been our allies dow
to that time: practically commanding hin
TO burn their towns. lay waste their coun
try and shoot down their men. their womel
and their children?
Issue Ii Not u Partisan One.
'"'Why attempt to shoulder on the Lor,
these indefenSible acts of William Nc
I<inley, who was guided, not by destiny
not by Providence, but by the greed o
American syndicates? Does the Lor'
change with the seasons so that what
:, crime in the spring becomes a virtu
IN the fall?
This Is not a partisan question. 1t
an American question Shall we preserv
republican institutions shall We abandon
them? The principles of liberty. the prin
sipIes of equality, the vigOr of liberal idea
have triumphed in every contest for tn
last 100 years. Now they are again Il
death struggle, in a struggle with tn
spirit of monopoly at home. and in a strug
gle with the spirit of despotfsm abroad
Shall we surrender and start on retro
grade movement? Shall it be written tina
the sons of the revolutionary sires wer
incapable of maintafng free government