Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1900-09-01

must expect to suffer in comparison
with those who belong to the classes
more favored by legislation.
It is sometimes urged by partisan
populistS that four years more Or re-
pub1'Csn misrule would so aggr4vate
economic conditions as to maks re-
forms easier. No one can afford TO
aid in making matters worse in the
hope OF being able to make them be-
ter efterward, for in so doing he as
sumes the responsibility for evils
which he may not be able to remedy.
No populist, however sanguine, be-
Heves it possible to elect populist
president at this time but the popu-
list may be able to determine whether
a democrat or a republican will be
elected. Mr.. Chairman, the populist
convention, which your committee rep
resents, thought it better to share with
the democrats in the honor of secur-
ing some of the reforms desired by
your party, than to bear the odium
of remaining neutral in this great
crisis, or of giving open or secret aid
to the republican party which opposes
all the reforms for which the popu-
lists contend
Those who labor to improve the
conditions which surround their fell
low men are apt to become impatient;
but they must remember that it takes
time to work out great reforms. Let
me illustrate by calling your attep-
ton to the slow growth of public
opinion in support of proposition
to which there has been practically
no open OPPOSITION. President John
son, in 1868, recommended a constitu-
tional amendement providing for the
election of United States senator by
a direct vote of the people, but his
recommendation met with no re-
Spouse. About twelve years later,
General Weaver, then a member of
congress. tried to secure the passage
of a resolution submitting such an
amendment, but his efforts were fu-
tile. In 1892 the resolution recon-
mended by President Johnson and
urged by Congressman Weaver finally
passed the house of representatives,
but it has not yet reached a vote in
the senate. And now after eight
years more of public discussion the
proposition for the first receives the
endorsement of the national conven-
ton of one of the great parties.
If the fusion forces win a victory
this fall, We shall see this reform ac-
complished before the next presiden-
tial election, and with its accomplish
ment the people will find it easier to
secure any remedial legislation which
they may desire But how hating
has been the progress. Holland has
said:
Heaven is not gained by a single
bound.
We build the ladder by which we
rise,
From the Iowly earth to the vaulted
skies,
And we mount to its summit round
by round"
And so it is with great social and
political movements.
Great problems are solved slowly,
| but struggling humanity marches on,
| step by step, content il at each night
| fall it can pitch its tent on a little
| higher ground.
I have called attention to the is
sues which have brought the demo
| Gratis and populists together and
which have justified their co-opera-
| ton during the last four years. Let
me now invite your attention to new
questions which would Justify coop
| Grafton at this time even though we
differ upon all economic questions.
| It is not our fault that these new
| questions have been thrust into the
arena of politics; it is not our fault
| that the people have been called upon
L
| ing magnitude. In 1890 the tariff
| question was the principal subject OF
! discussion, and the democratic party
| contended that the masses were car
| rying a burden of unjust and unnec-
essary taxes. 1t 1892 the tariff ques
| ton was still the principal issue be
| tween the democratic and republican
| parties, although in the west AND
south the money question was assum
| and the populists were cOntendins
| that our monetary system was more
| responsible than the tariff laws fol
the depression in agriculture and tht
distress existing among the wagt
earners. In 1896 the whole question
| of taxation became of secondary i'm
| portance because of the increased
| boldness of those who opposed thu
gold and silver coinage of the con
stitution. When the republicans de
clared at St. Louis that the restora
ton of bimetallism in this country
| although desirable, was impossible
without the aid of the leading com
| mercial nations of the old world, tn
populists and silver republicans join
| ed with the democrats in asserting
the right and duty of the American
people to shape their financial sys
TEN for themselves, regardless of tn
| action or Otner nations Inc Id1lur
of the republican party to secure in
| ternational bimetallism and its opel
| espousaI of the gold standard, still
] keep the money question in politics
/ but no economic question can com
pare in Importance with a question
which concerns the principle an
structure of government Systems o
taxation can be changed with les
| difficulty than financial systems, an
! financial systems can be altered wit
less danger and less disturbance t
the country than the vital doctrine
upon which free government rests
In the early sixties, when We wer
engaged in contest which was to de
termine whether we should have on
republic or two, questions of fnanc
, were lost sight of. Silver was at
premium over gold, and both gold an
, silver were at premium over greer
backs and bank notes, but the peopl
. could not afford to divide over tn
. money question in the presence OF
greater issue. And so today we ar
engaged in a controversy which wi
determine whether we are to have
,, republic in which the government de
rives its just powers from the COZ
; sent of the governed, or an empire