Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1902-08-06


and It was Que to the fact that the admin
istration deserted the people on the money
question. In 1895 the money question had
forged to the front, made paramount not
by the action of the majority of the DEM
ocratic party but by the attempt of a
minority of the party to aid the republican
party to chain the country to an appreciat-
ing dollar. Without abandoning its posi-
ton on the tariff question, the party met
this issue and took the side of the people.
In spite of the desertion Of many formerly
conspicuous in its councils the demo-
cratic party polled million more votes
than it had ever polled before, and would
have won but for the inoefenSlble
methods of the republican party, whose
leaders held all the protectionist republic
ans by declaring the tariff issue to be para
mount Modified the wrath of most OF the
free silver republicans by promising inter-
national bimetallism, and won all the ad-
vocates of the gold standard by revealing
to them the secret purpose of the party to
adopt a European financial system. But
even then We would have won but for the
fact that borrowers were coerced and en-
ployed intimidated.
The Defeat in 1900.
"In 1900 the action of the republican party
in turning a war commenced for humanity
into a war of conquest compelled the con-
sideration of another question: question
so far-reaehing in its consequences that
our party rightfully declared it to be the
position on the tariff question or on the
money question, it again espoused the peo-
pies side of a great issue. That 1t did not
win that year was due to conjunction or
causes, any one of which would nave oeen
insufficient to have accomplished defeat.
The administration having carried on
brief and successful war. fell heir to the
enthusiasm which usually attends vic
torious conflict; an unexpected increase IL
the supply of new gold and an unexpected
ina IF rn1 n
here and a famine abroad, increased prices,
relieved the stress of hard times and gave
to the people the benefits that always flow
from a growing volume of money. Wh1le
the advantages which followed a larger
volume of money INDICATED the principles
contended for by bimetallists, they were
appropriated by the party in power, and
those who were influenced by conditions,
without attempting to realize the condi-
tons, gave the republican party credit for
an increasing prosperity.
Trusts Aid Republicans.
1.-The protected manufacturers, of course,
stood by the administra ton which had
given them Dingley law. Trust promot-
ers andi trust magnates, recognizing in the
democratic party an inveterate foe, and
numbering among tHeir stockholders many
of the most influential republicans, threw
all their strength to the republican party,
and by their support purchased immunity
| from punishment. The republicans were
greatly aided by another influence, name
| ly, the influence of the financiers who not
! yet having completed their schemes, were
| willing to risk trusts, imperialism or any
| thing else rather than forego the advan-
| tage which they expected from gold STAN
| dard and bank currency. In spite of all
| these obstacles the campaign of 1900 only
| showed a net change of 10000 votes in
| favor of the republicans, out of a total
vote of over 100000 And what is the
| situation to-day? Since the election of
| 1900, Imperialism is more openly avowed
and imperialistic methods more boldly en-
! tered upon because the admins tration can
point to that election apparent in
| dorsement, although the party leaders at
| that time vehemently denied imperiaiistic
| intent. Those who expect to make a profit
! out of a colonial system favor 1t on the
ground that it will pay; those who think
that it opened up the Philippines to prose-
lyting insist that it is providential, while
| those who are simply seeking some on
| for supporting their partys policy fall back
upon the doctrine that circumstances got
US into the trouble and that We must stay
in until circumstances get us out.
Since the election of 1900 the trusts have
grown and flourished under the republican
administration, as might have been ex-
pected. Almost two years have elapsed
since the last presidential election. and no
legislative attempt has been made to inter
| fere with them, and the executive efforts,
| instead of being directed toward the
1orcement OF criminal statutes, are con,
| fined to the equity side of the court and
| these efforts have not in the least retarded
| the formal ton of new combines.
since the election, the financiers
| seeking to carry their advantage a little
| farther and are planning an asset currency,
a system of branch banks and the redemp-
| ton of the silver dollar. Recognizing the
| enormous inquiry of the bill, they did not
| clare press it during the campaign, but
| having secured a favorable report in the
| house, postponed its consideration until
| December.
Since the election, a republican congress
| has turned deaf ear to the laborers cry
| for relief from government by injuE ction
| and a republican senate has refused to
| grant the demand of the people for the
election of United States senators by a
| direct vote.
And all the while an exorbitant tariff
| is working injustice to the consumers and
enabling the beneficiaries of protection to
sell at home al high price and compete
in foreign markets at lower price.
while the eXploiters have been pressing
their advantages al home and abroad, the
! interests of the producers of wealth on
the farm, in the factory and in the mines
! have been utterly ignored, and the small
! business man has been left to such pre-
| carious existence as the trusts permit him
| to enjoy.
How can the opponents of aristocracy
and plutocracy be united for a successful
| attack upon entrenched privilege? Not
by making peace with the enemy; not by
! imita ting their works. their methods or
| their phraseology, but by honest, straight
| forward appeal to the American people
upon platform that car he understand