Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-08-01
HOPE IN DEMOCRACY.
Former Senator Villas Tells How to
Restore Peoples Rights.
Republican PIotters and the Protec-
tive Tariff Foster Trusts and
Rob the Cons 1mer-Democ-
racy's Opportunity.

was secretary of the interior under
President Cleveland, urges democratic
unity, discusses issues that are now
before the people and are to be de-
clded so far as possible at the coming
congressional election, and predicts
that the voters of the nation are ready
not only to begin the overthrow of the
republican party in congress, but also
two years hence in the white house
itself. The eX-senator's views are set
forth in recent letter to a. E. War
den, chairman of the democratic state
central committee, in response to
request for an expression of opinion as
to political conditions, the POSSIBLE
ties of democratic harmony and the
assurances of the party's restoration
to power and the relief of the people
from Republican maladminis tration."
Ex-senator Villas declares that the
present offers a golden opportunity to
the democratic party. He would let
the past bury its dead, and would
unite the party in solid phalanx,
which, marching forward under a
banner bearing the basic principles of
the democracy, should strike down
protection first, then would fall the
suckers unjust taxation, militarism
and desire for colonial dependencies.
He scores the republican party a s the
party of greed and asserts that its NAL
administration in the state of Wiscon-
sin, in the nation, is robbing the
people annually of millions. He shows
how the trusts are dependent for eX-
istence on the republican policy of pro-
Hn dnoJo h0
orally are awakening to the evil and
crying for the eradication of the pol
icy. He shows also that legislatures
and congresses bend to the will of the
great combines and enact laws which
permit the sitting of competition till
commerce and even agriculture are
wrested from the control of the
masses, who become the veritable
slaves of the new mOneyed kings.
Following are portions of the letter
which bear more particularly upon the
burning questions at issue:
ga F. Warden, Chairman Democratic
State Central Committee, Waukesha, Wis.
My Dear Sir: am very sensible of the
distinction of your request AS democrat
I cannot hesitate to respond, for could you
have the least aid to democratic unity 1
shoulG be recreant to withhold it, and the
more because of the cOuntry's need of re-
turn to democratic principles could hardly
be greater than at the present time.
whether anything new stands in the
way of a harmonious and enthusiastic
democracy in Wisconsin depends upon the
sentiments of many others which cannot
presume to know. But I earnestly believe
nothing ought to stand in the way and
hope that nothing will. 1t appears to me
simply a question of patriotic devotion
to the public welfare, and good men can
not but see their duty to strive for unity
in such cause.
THAT our party division has been de-
plorable in resulting public injury think
all true democrats agree. But no concord
will follow any inquiry into its causes,
reasons or history, and especially into the
fault of it. Wisdom not less than justice
dictates honest acknowledgment of the real
truth that former differences stood upon
sincere convictions, however diverse
unhappy. There can be further profit
able political discussion of them.
Speak for Unity.
"Yet upright men can put by such differ
ences with no loss Of mutual respect in
patriotic submission to present duty anC,
loyalty cooperate upon common ground
for principles all know to be right and nee
essary to their country's good. Nothing
can be more evident to one who takes a
broad view of the nature of public affairs
or of our political history than that achieve
ment of good is only to be won by leav-
ing to the past the burial of its own dead
and pushing on undisturbed to the great
ends open in the future.
THE political movement of a great peo-
pie is like the flow of a mighty riVer-on-
ward, irresistably onward The wise man
will no more permit disappointment of
opinion to thwart or warp his contribution
to future objects than by driving stake in
it he would think to check the rivers flood.
1t needs but thought upon the immensely
of the concerns of so numerous a people,
upon the happiness that belongs of right
to the millions of home circles which are
the treasures and rewards of the freemen
of America, both to show the futility and
sin of trying to block progress with the
half-burned fagots of eXtfnguished contro-
versS and to impress on every high minded
man the sense of duty to so discharge his
part toward the hopes of the future that
he need never cringe before his self-re-
spect.
"An equal partner in his country's pol
icy, self-branded when he stoops to mar it,
the brain and heart of every true man tell
him the common good of his countrymen
ought to override every cOnf1ic ting interest
or feeling.
Peoples Hope in Democracy.
land thus he comes to the fundamental
doctrine of democracy. First of ALL with
liberty and justice, equal rights for all men
and special privileges to none, are its es-
sential and eternal demand for the govern
ment of Americans; yea, also of all man
kind. Our national independence sprang
from these cardinal principles of the rights
of man and future demands with in
creasing need, their faithful observance
From its beginning they have been the base
and bond of union of the democratic party
their perfect accomplishment its mission
Cannot We, therefore, on all hands recur
to them now as fundamental principles
We all alike accept and establish our lines
in unison under their leadership, sure that
their eternal truth will guide Alright?
Whatever the alignments on past issues
the democratic party remains to-day the
hope of the people of this land. On no other
can be placed any just expectation of a
rescue from the menacing conditions that
beset US.
Republican PIotters