Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-09-28
AN OPEN LETTER TO HON. CHESTER
I. LONG.

AN OPEN LETTER TO HON. CHESTER
I. LONG.
NEWTON, KANsAs., Sept. Is, 1900.
Hon. CHESTER l. LONG,
Medicine Lodge Kansas.
MY DEAR SIR:-In view of the
fact that you are the representative
of q large and intelligent constituency
and q candidate for reelection to the
responsible position; that as such you
are public servant, and your acts
subject to public scrutiny; and fur
ther, in view of tho acknowledged
gravity of the issues presented for the
consideration of the American people
in this campaign, it is, of course, but
Just acd reasonable that there should
be clear and frank statement of
your position upon these public ques
tions. Az an humble voter, 1 beg
the privilege of presenting you with
some interrogatiOns concerning them,
with the sincere desire that you give
them your attention at as early q date
as possible:
Doyou regard the opening para
graphs of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence as a fair sta tement of the
primary political rights of man7
Do you believe that all men are
created politically free and equal?
Are the rights to life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness natural or
acquired rights?
DO you hold, with the trainers of
the Declaration of Independence, that
liberty is right conferred by the
Creator upon all men, or do you hold
with framers Of the PhiIadeiphia
Republican platform that it is q
right conferred upon some men, by
the administrative powers of human
government?
For what purposes are govern
ments instituted among men?
Do you believe that the spirit of
the golden rule prevails in the deal
ings of the present administration
with the Filipinos and Porto Ricans?
Do you believe that forclble an
nexation is criminal aggressionf
Do you believe in taxation without
representation
Ifso, what was the justification of
the Revolutionary war and the course
of our forefathers against George the
Thirda
If you do not, why did you sup
port the Porto Rican tariff bill?
Did you do 1t to please the presi-
den:9
Do you regard the treaty which
the president, through General Bates
negotiated with the Sultan of Sulu,
as wise, just and American in it's
spirit? If 80, do you believe in re.
fusing a congressional seat to an Occi'
Dental polygamist, and paying sal
ary out of the American treasury to
an Oriental polygamist to keep up
his harem?
Why do you thus discrim mate
against "home industry"
Is it not fact that under the
terms of the aforementioned treaty,
a slave can buy his freedom for the
market value. ow about $40?
How long do you think 1t will take
a man, working for nothing. to save
up $40 to buy his freedomf
| Do you regard AN excess of exports
over imports as favorable balance
of trade?
| Do we get a return for all this ex
cess of exports in coin? IF 80, when
and from where?
Is it not q fact, according to gov.
lernment records, that from 1885 tC
the present time our excess Of exports
over imports, including merchandise
gold and silver, amounts to more
than 81. 900 900 600?
Is this amount owing ua? If 80
whore are the eviden ces? Who own
them? When are they payable?
| Do you regard an excess of exports
over imports as an evidence of pros
perity?
If 50, does the S13s 600, 900 ex
ports of free-silver- Mexico to he
t5O. 5000 imports during last year
make he prosperous?
Are you awsre that New Zsaiant
is one of the most prosperous coua'
tries on earth, and her imports ex
} ceed her exports by so per cent?
D, you regard the 81. 900. .O0O0. 90
{ of excess of imports over exports b
Great Britain during the last te
years, as an unfAvorahle balance 9
tradef
Is it more profitable to give than
get; to sell than to buyf
Is it not fact that We have nj
. only exported moro merchandise i
the last sixty years than We have i'm
ported, but also exported more {
rold md silver than wa have imnort