The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-02-08
The commoner.


the readers among the masses, who can't
endure long and heavy articles. Mrs.
Bryan is co-editor or editress with her
husband and the finger can be readily
placed on her contributions. A sentiment
foreign to the masculine nature fingers
about them, as the perfume about the
rose, whether original, select or COM
pound. We have said The CommoneA is
an addition to the literature of discomfort,
and a valuable addition too; and is des-
tined to be critic, most caustic and
searching, of the wrongs and outrages
committed and being committed by the
administration at the hot pace it is driven
under the lash of the trusts which in turn
are driven by the money power, drunk to
the border of insanity with the lust OF
greed.
But "watchman tell us of the night,
what the signs of promise are" The
people know the doings ..of the admin.
istration are nearly all wrong, but what
are the remedies? Who will blaze the
way i'll the wilderness The people are
anxious to follow. The Democratic party
is an opposition party. The Kansas City
platform is but the shadow of economic
substance. The time has come when the
people are demanding substance, some
thing tangible TO firmly grasp. The Com
moner has not lifted the veil.
Let us get down to rock bottom. Is the
Comm0ner in favor ofgovernment owner.
ship of the railroads, in place of the
ownership by Morgan, Rockefeller, Hill
and Vanderbilt? And of the telegraph
and telephone being made part of the
post Office department And what has il
to say in practical way on the financial
question? The Kansas City platform
"denounces" the financial policy of the
Republican party but what policy does
the Democratic party propose in its steadl
The Chicago platform is endorsed and
reaAirned, and that platform commits the
party to the issue of all money. coin and
paper, by the government 'direct to the
people without the intervention Of
banks" and declares in favor of ere
demption" of legal tender paper in coin
which would create an everlasting lend
less chain" between Wall street and the
Treasury.
But after the money is issued "direct
to the people," are they to be left to the
tender mercies of incorporated banks
The people must be supplied with bank
ing facilities in order to transact theil
business. If private banking concerns
are the only alternative, what better of
would the people be than they are under
present conditions? None whatever.
An American financial policy means
more than the issue of money by the gov.
eminent and stop right there. 1t means
the issue of all money direct to the peo
pie and government provision of bank.
ing facilities for the accommodation and
protection of the people from the jaws Of
the usurer, as completely and wholly as
national post offices provide the people
with mail facilities. Without such com.
plete financial system the: e can be little
improvement on the present national
bank system.
Is the CommOner going to blaze the
way in such a definite movement as
the people are looking for, or is it only
going to add one more to the critics and
rock throwers at the iniquitous policy and
practices of the Republican party? The
first number has no inkling of that.
If the Democratic party proposes to
content itself by throwing stones at the
Republican party, which it has tried for
forty years, and take up no positions
which threaten its very existence if won,
then it may as we'll do as Annie Lourie's
lover did, clay ME down and de-" for on
its present negative lines and fault finding
policy it will never win a national cleo
ton, and if it did perchance, it would be
a Wall street gold brick President like
Cleveland.
The Republican party can never be
beaten by rear guard campaign. Such
tactics have been tried for generation
with the Populists' fire thrown in to help.
A flank movement such as we have indi-
Gated is demanded. The Republican
party would then be put on the defensive
and the people, inspired by new hope,
would rally to the standard which meant
a reform with substance. In place of a
mese shadow such as appears in the Kan
sas City platform The people are sick of
this rear guard battle, while the enemy,
like an army of vaudals, is laying waste
the country before it unopposed. Will
the Commoney lead flank movement
and get in front of the enemy? 1t would
have lots of volunteers to follow and aid
who are sick of rear guard skirmishing.
1t is not enough to oppose the vicious
measures of the Republican party; some
thing better must be offered the people in
place of them.
Deafness Cannot Be Cured