The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-08-30

Of resolution submitting such an
amendment, but his efforts were flu
tile. In 1892 the resolution recon-
mended by President Johnson and
urged by Congressman Weaver finally
passed the house Of representatives,
but 1t has not yet reached 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.
II 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 halting
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 lowly 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 1t, 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.
1t 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
to consider questions of ever increas-
ing magnitude. In 1890 the tariff
question was the principal subject of
discussion. and the democratic party
contended that the masses were car
rying burden of unjust and unnec-
essary taxes. 1t 1892 the tariff aues-
ton was still the principal issue be-
tween the democratic and republican
parties, although in the west and
south the money question was assum-
ing greater and greater proportions,
and the populists were contending
that our monetary system was more
responsible than the tariff laws for
the depression in agriculture and the
distress existing among the wage
earners. In 1896 the whole question
of taxation became of secondary i'm
portance because of the increased
boldness of those who opposed the
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, the
populists and silver republicans join
ed with the democrats in asserting
the right and duty Of the American
people to shape their financial sys.
tenn for themselves, regardless of the
action of other nations. The failure
of the republican party to secure in
ternational bimetallism and it's open
espousal Of the gold standard, still
keep the money question in politics,
but no economic question can COM
pare in Importance with question
which concerns the principle and
structure of government. Systems OF
taxation can be changed with less
difficulty than financial systems, and
financial systems can be altered with
less danger and less disturbance to
the country than the vital doctrines
upon which free government rests.
In the early sixties, when we were
engaged in contest which was to de-
termine whether we should have one
republic or two, questions of finance
were lost sight of. Silver was at a
premium over gold, and both gold and
silver were at premium over green
backs and bank notes, but the people
could not afford to divide over the
money question in the presence of a
greater issue. And so today we are
engaged in controversy which will
determine whether we are to have a
republic in which the government de-
rives its just powers from the con-
sent of the governed, or an empire in
which brute force is the only, recog-
niZed source of power.
In government where the people
rule, every wrong can be righted and
every evil remedied, but when once
the doctrine of self-government is i'm
paired and might is substituted for
right there is no certainty that any
question will be settled correctly.
A colonial policy would so occupy
the people with the consideration of
the nations foreign policy that do
nestle questions would be neglected.
WHO will haul down the fiag?" or
Stand by the president" would be
the prompt response to every criti-
cism of the administration, and cor
ruption and special privilege would
thrive under the cover u patriot
ism.
1t is not strange that the populists
should oppose militarism and impe-
rialism, for both are antagonistic to
the principles which the populists ap-
ply to other questions. Looking at
questions from the standpoint of the
producer Oh wealth, rather than from
the standpoint of the Spectator, the
populist recognizes in militarism a
constant and increasing burden. The
aArWy worm, which occasionally de-
stroys field Of wheat IS not nearly
SO dangerous sSS Sc farmer