Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-08-01


pies side of great issue. That it did mol
win that year was due to a conjunction OF
causes, any one OF which would have beer
insufficient to have accomplished defeat
The Administrations having carried on a
brief and successful war, fell heir to the
enthusiasm which usually attends a vic
torious conflict; an unexpected increase IL
the supply of new gold and an unexpected
influx of European gold. due to large crops
here and famine abroad, increased prices,
relieved the stress Of hard times and gave
to the people the benefits that always now
from a growing volume of money. While
the advantages which followed a larger
volume of money indicated the principles
contended for by bimetallists. they were
those who were Influenced by conditions
without attempting to realize the corc1-
lions. gave the republican party credit foI
an increasing prosperity
r Trusts Aid Republicans.
1.-The protected manufacturers. of course,
stood by the administration which had
given them a Dingley law. Trust promot-
ers and trust magnates, recognizing in the
democratic party an inveterate foe, ana
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
~, the influence of the f1nanciers 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 a bank currency. In spite OF all
these obstacles the campaign of 1900 only
showed a net change of 10000 votes IL
favor of the republicans. out of a total
vote of over 13, 600 600. 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 administration can
point to that election as an apparent in
dorsement although the party leaders at
that time vehement1y denied imperiaiistio
intent. Those who expect to make pront
out of colonial system favor it on the
ground that it will pay; those who think
that it opened up the Philippines to prose
lyting insist that it is providsntial, Wills
those who are simply seeking some reason
for supporting their party's 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 fiourished under the republican
administration, as might have been eX-
pected. Almost two years have elapsed
since the last presidential election, and nc
legislative attempt has been made to inter
fere with them, and the executive efforts,
instead of being directec toward the en-
I-forcement of criminal statutes, are con-
fined to the equity side of the court ano
these efforts have not in the least retarded
the formation of new combines.
''Since the election, the financiers are
seeking to carry their advantage 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
dare 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 injunction
and a republican. senate has refused to
grant the. demand of the people for the
election of United States senators by a
direct vote.
land all the while an eXorbitant tariff
is working injustice to the consumers and
enabling the beneficiaries of protection to
sell at home at high price and compete
in foreign markets at a lower price.
while the exploiters have been pressing
| their advantages at 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 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
| initiating their works. their methods or
| their phraseology, but by honest, straight
| forward appeal to the American people
upon q platform that can be understood
and with organization that can be trust
| ed. Already many of the republicans are
| WdVerlnS, out CQey can never De W Oh " Inc
democratic party as long as they can say
that our party IS as bad theirs. Not by
| surrender nor by compromise, not by
equivocation, not by ambiguity, not by
vaccilation, is the victory to be won, but
by bold, cons slant, persistent, steadfast
| defense of the interests of the people at all
! times, under all circumstances and all
| questions. To lose faith in the expediency
| of such a course is to lose faith in the
| omnipotence of truth. Upon this basis we
| cannot only harmonic all who are demo-
cratic in sentiment and sympathy, but we
| can draw to our party those of the opposi-
tion who cherish democratic ideas, but
| have been misled by republican argumeu ts.
'In the accomplis hment of this work :he
| New England Democratic league can be,
and. I doubt not, will be, a powerful fac
tor"