The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-01-18
THE supREME QUESTION.
yer Republican National
Committee.

(By Hon. Charles a. -Towne, Chairman
Silver Republican National Commit
tee.l
Behind every special complaint there
is general principle that is offended.
There are in the United States to-day
many concrete causes of social discon.
tent, and these find expression in polit-
ical movements aimed at mitigating or
removing them. The important thing
for the American people to realize is
that these causes of discomfort have a
common origin; that these movements
are directed against the same opponent
and that relief against any individual
evil is possible only through the com
bined efforts Of each, respectively To
some men the money question seems
paramount; to some, unjust taxation; to
others, the regulation and control of
monopolies; yet to others, the danger Of
adopting an imperial colonial policy.
But back of each of these questions
stands the organized greed of modern
society. Its object is always the same
the acquisition of unjust power. The
methods employed in each case are
Iidentical-force and fraud. All have
combined in securing the same repre-
sentative and champion-the present
leadership of the Republican party
This party stands to-day for the flas
opposite Of everything it formerly pro.
fessed. 1t was once for bimetallism.
1t is now for the gold standard. 1t gave
birth to the greenback which it is about
to destroy. 1t originated the national
banks as financial assistance to the
government. 1t will perpetuate them
as the financial autocrats of the govern
ment. Its first national platform ap-
pealed for the support of citizens in fa-
vor "of restoring the action Of the fed
eral government to the principles Of
Washington and Jefferson Forty,
four years afterward it is engaged in an
open and contem ptuous violation Of
each and every asne e. of those principles.
| Washington warned us against the
excess of party spirit. That organiza.
tiop to-day would have no possibility
ofJpower except for the Illuminated ter
rors of party non-conformity. WASH
tngton solemnly advised us to avoid the
'.insidious wiles Of foreign influence. !"
The Republican party prides itself on
its new ''world diplomacy" which Lord
Salisbury says means much for the ad-
vantage of England, but, he fears, little
for the worlds peace. Washington
counseIed us against the dangers Of
"overgrown military establishments y
Mckinley is exhausting every resource
of ingenuity and influence to build up q
great standing army.
The fundamental doctrine of Jef1er.
sons political greed was equal rights to
all, special privileges to none." To-day
the Republican party's supremacy de.
pends upon an elaborate system of spec
ial privileges to the few, who, by
means of banking monopoly, trust com.
bination and railway manipulation, wax
rich and strong in exploiting the many.
The most memorable expression OF JEFF.
ferson's principles Of general politics
was in the immortal words of the dec
laration of independence, the most
glorious state paper in the history OF
the world: "We hold these truths to be
selfevident: That all men are created
equal; that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain inalienable
rights; that among these are life
LIBERTY and The pursuit Of happi:
ness; that to secure these rights gov.
ernments are instituted among men,
DERIVING THEIR JUST POWERS
FROM THE CONSENT OF THE
GOVERNED." The Republican party
leaders have openly and insolently
repudialed these inspiring senti
ments, and to day are marshaliing the
resources of this republic in a war o.
conquest against weak people, strong
enough only to die for the doctrine!
THAT justified and sanctifed the Ameri
can revolution. The Republican party
came into being as champion Of lib
erty, and at the cost Of vast treasur,
and priceless patriot blood wrote init
the constitution the peoples mandat,
that .sneither slavery nor involuntary
servitude SHALL EXIST within the
United States or ANY PLACE SUB
JECTz To THEIR JURIsDICTION.'
To-day Republican president pur
tchases sovereignty over the islands o
the Zulu archipelago and its piratica
sultan, by solemn negotiation recognize.
and perpetuates the institution of do
mestic slavery there, and desecrate,
the flag of Appomatox by raising i
above the harem and the auction block
1t is enough to make the angels weep
The blood OF every battlefield Of th'
lcivil war must cry from the ground $50
ljustice and rough chastisement.
Emmerson has wisely said that th'
real lesson Of life is ito learn what tn
years and the centuries say in answe
to the hours. We shall dc well if from
the hours that are with as, the hurriet