Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1900-06-29
DOLLAR POLITICS.

| crowd that gathered at the hotel at
which the Boer delegates were stop
ping at Cleveland, person interrupt
ed Mr.. Vessels, the speaker, by say
ing: you came at the wrong time.
Politics must be considered now by
our statesmen"
YES" Mr.. Vessels is credited with
saying in reply, that's so; there
doesn't seem to be anything in this
country bigger than politics, unless 1t
is the dollar"
Mr.. Vessels has sized up" the stu
alton. Though he has been in this
country short time, he has had ex-
cellent opportunities to observe the
national characteristics. We are great
on politics and We are not insensible
to the almighty dollar; that's what
makes US such fierce politicians.
..ere Mr.. Vessels better acquainted
with our political affairs he would find
that the interest Of orr people in poll
tics is due largely to their love for the
dollar
The professional politician is inter-
ested in politics because it promises
place and power both of which can be
turned iato dollars. But the profess
sional politician is not alone in seek
ing to coin dollars out of politics.
Every class, from the highest to the
lowest, is voting for the dollar.
Since the slavery issue was settled
political issues have hinged on the al
mighty dollar. The pocketbook Of the
voter and not his moral sense has been
appealed to. He has been urged to
vote for the party of protection under
promise of job and increased pay,
with the specter of free trade, no job
or cut wages Haunted in his face. He
has been appealed to vote for the par
ty of tariff reform" under promise OF
a cheaper coat and an untaxed dinner
pail. Four years ago the issue YVES
free silver or gold monometallism, but
the appeal was made largely to the in
dividual pocketbook rather than the
general welfare. To the majority no
calamity could befall the republic
greater than the free coinage of a
"fifty-cent' dollar.
In view of the political thought OF
this generation, the subordination OF
everything in government to basis of
dollars and cents; it is not strange
that the charge lies against us that
as people we worship at the shrine
of the almighty dollar. What else could
be expected? But the strangest fea-
ture of it all is that though the ma
jority has been voting to better its
financial condition, the larder Of the
masses contains hardly enough to last
from one day to another, while a
weeks forced idleness would bring a
million workers face to face with
want, and two weeks enforced idle
ness would bring thousands to the
point of starvation, unless assistance
were given them.
And while the masses have been
voting for the dollar and not getting
it, the government has been undergo
ing transformation as dangerous as
1t is radical. The GENERALIZATION of
power has gone on without Interrupt
ton until we find the federal courts
intervening with injunctions in affairs
that should be dealt with by the local
and state authorities. We find the
general government not only central
izing power within itself, but its char
acter has undergone such change that
it has assumed imperial powers, gov
erning dependencies as George III.
governed the colonies and fostering
abuses identical to those that led to
the revolution.
That the Boer delegates have come
to realize this change is evident by the
reply made by Mr.. Vessels to man
who asked him what the delegation
expected to accomplish. I'VE came to
this country" he replied because we
supposed it to be a great republic"
BY this time Mr.. Vessels and his as
sociates must have discovered their
mistake. The United States is re-
The physician to which
the Beers have appealed is suffering
from the same disease with which the
South African republics are afflicted.
and though 1t contracted 1t voluntar-
lily, 1t is none the less fatal to repub-
lican institutions than had it been
forcibly inoculated. And until it cures
itself, there is little hope to expect
that it will be able to relieve others. !
There is an old adage that is peril
nent: Physician, heal thyself. Mil I
waukee News.