Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-03-07

to the patience of the people. and il may
be safely predicted here tonight that a
continued refusal to give relief to the suf-
fering people of Cuba who only ask that
their commerce may be relieved from its
unjust burdens. will be followed by re-
action against the party in power so
pledged to relief will be elected the coming
fall and will control the next house of rep
reSentativeS.
Revenue Reform a Leading Issue.
THE democratic party should again
press to the front the issue of revenue re-
form. The signs of the times indicate the
wisdom of such a course. 1t is not new
issue, but it is an old one-which has
grown better by age.
''It is an issue upon which every demo-
crat in this broad land can stand, without
regard to past differences or previous con-
dition of servitude' to any other isuess good,
bad or Indifferent 1t is not dead issue,
but a living issue; it is not q passing is
sue, but present issue; 1t is not a
questionable Issue.
cit has stood the test OF age, because it
| is right. 1t has been obscured at times by
| the temporary prominence of other issues,
but it has never ceased to be the partyS
faith.
Revenue reform has many synonyms. 1t
| may be defined as that policy which for
| bids the use of the taxing power of the
government for the accomplishment of pri-
| vate purposes. That is its true meaning in
| a nutshell. 1t is equivalent to the shibbo
leth of tariff for revenue only which has
| been emblazoned on our party banners so
many times in our history 1t signifies the
sound governmental theory of public taxa
| ton for public purposes 1t is founded
| upon the principle that it is not the true
province of government to tax one man
for the benefit of another's private bust
| ness.
There is absolute unanimity on the
/ question of the republican attitude in
| democratic ranks. There is, however, some
division in the republican party on this
| question. 1t began several years ago,
| when Mr.. Blaine, who had previously been
| the uncompromising champion of protec-
ton, with keen foresight saw that the doc
| trine being carried to extremes, and
that it could not much longer resist the
| growing public sentiment in favor of
| change, suggested that it might be we'll to
| inaugurate a policy of reciprocal trade
| through commercial treaties negotiated
| between this country and some other coun-
| tries asserting thereto.
Reciprocity a Democratic Policy.
| 1.-THE policy of reciprocity is and has al
| ways been a democratic policy. There has
| never been a time in the history of the
country when the democracy has not been
DESTROYS of establishing reciprocal trade,
either through treaties or otherwise, be-
| tween this and other countries.
! There was really nothing new in Mr..
| Blaine's suggestion in itself; 1t startled the
| country simply because 1t came from an
| unexpected source. 1t was an Endorsement
of the democratic position from an hither-
| to hostile quarter.
But if Mr. Blaine's tribute years ago to
| the wisdom of the democratic party was
| a surprise much more so were the words
of President Mckinley expressed in his ad-
dress at the Pan-American exposition at
| Buffalo last fall, and which unQuestion-
| ably would have attracted more attention
| and comment but for his untimely and
| tragic death which followed soon after
| ward. He there said:
| The period of exclusiveness Is past.
| The expansion of our trade and commerce
is the pressing problem. Commercial wars
| are Improbable. A policy of good will and
| friendly trade relations will prevent
| reprisals Reciprocity treaties are in har-
| mony with the spirit OF the times; measures
| of retaliation are not. If, per chance, some
of our tariffs are no longer needed for rev.
| enue, or to encourage and protect our IN
| dustries at home, why should they not be
| employed to extend and promote our mar
| ket abroad?
''These words, coming from one whose
political life had been engaged in advocat-
| ing an opposite policy, but whose partisan
| views must have been modified when con-
| fronted with responsibility in the great Of
flee of president of the whole country, are
| most significant and instructive. The re-
| publican party has been comparatively
silent upon these most important utter
ances.
at is impossible for our opponents salts
| factorily to answer these inquiries, and
they do not venture to do so. Their lead
ers in congress have repeatedly and de-
family declared that there will be no tariff
legislation a this session.
I'm view of this anomalous situation and
of these considerations, it becomes the
part of wisdom for the democracy to press
to the front this great issue ofrevenue re-
form, not to the exclusion of other issues,
but prominently and in conjunction there
with.
''It is not necessary to put all our eggs in
one basket. There are other issues worthy
of consideration which should not be ig-
nored and upon which our position is i'm
pre- enable.
1--WE believe in a select construction of
the federal constitution essential for
the public welfare
Democratic Policy Terse1y Expressed
I'VE favor an amendment to the consti-
tuition providing for the election of United
States senator's by the people of the several
states rather than by state legislators. We
should continue to advocate that amend
ment. It is a reform in the right direction
and it ought to prevail.
Opposition to dangerous corporations of
capital should ontinue to be the demo-
| cratic position. The best and truest in
terests of the country require that such
combinations should be prohibited. Rea-
sonable and desirable cooperation of large
moneyed interests may be permitted, but
the scope and methods thereof should be
wisely regulated.
1.-The people should control the corpora
lions, and not the corporations the pc ple.
1.-THE Monroe doctrine, first enunciated
by democratic president. should remain
the settled policy of this republic.
1.-The democratic party favors the main
terance of the public credit at all times.
I'VE are opposed to reputation in any
| form or under any pretense.
1--WE believe in hard money-the money
| of the constitution-and are unaltera bly,
opposed to irredeemable paper currency.
eff any further enunciation of democrat
| ic policy upon the financial question is re-
garded necessary, in view of existing
monetary conditions, then 1t IS suggested
that a simple declaration in favor of the
general principles of international bimetal-
lism furnishes common ground upon
III IL. ell c-4n IL CO..