The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-09-17

and welfare of those policies that
bring happiness, contentment and
prosperity to all the people of the en-
tire country.
The citizenship of the United States
is the foundation of liberty the world
over. When it fails to hold the retns
of eminent, when it permits men
of selfish ideas,-when it permits
trusts organized for selfish purposes
to guide the ship of state, then indeed
does liberty throughout the world
CULVER and free men hesitate and won
der what the future will bring.
+ Basis of Political Party Division.
In our own government two schools
of thought have at all times been in
existence. One, holding that the peo-
pie are unable to grasp the reins Of
government and guide the destinies of
this magnificent nation. The other,
that the people themselves, are the
true source of all power and the basis
of all prosperity. In the one school of
thought find the motto of equal
rights to all and special privileges to
none / find constitution as the
guiding star and true Democracy as
the anchor of hope.
In the other witness as the key
1sstone a centralized government, doYni-
mated by force. / am taught to believe
by its teaching, that the people are
not the supreme source Of power; that
the electorate is not the place to set
tie questions of public policy, that
government must be guardian of the
people; that it is a legitimate function
/ of government to levy tribute on one
citizen for the benefit of another, that
the use of government may be for the
advancement of one at the cost Of an.
other.
These schools cannot be united You
and | belong to one or the other. If
you believe in equal rights for all and
special privileges to none, you believe
that all source of power rests with the
/ people. You believe in competition in
trade. You believe in giving to the
individual the greatest latitude and
freedom possible in organized society.
You believe in a trade that has the
world as a market. You believe in
the levying of taxes only for payment
of public expenditure. You are op-
posed to tribute in any form.
If you are disciple of the other
school you believe it proper for gov
e1n1nent to aid you at nay expense.
You believe that great organizations
| CT wealth and power have the right of
levying tribute upon the citizenship Of
cur country for their special benefit
You believe not only that a sufficient
tax should be levied to pay legitimate
public expenditure, but in addition the
same law should indirectly be the in
strument of collecting from you that
for which you do not receive any COM
pensation.
| These schools cannot be united, any
more than can oil and water. You
have the right in this day to know OF
J every Ian who comes before you ask
ing your suffrage, which school he at
! tends. 1t is not question of political
i power. 1t is one of common interest.
1t is the right of the citizen to know
for whom, for what purpose, and by
what measures he shall be governed
1t is not question of party, but of
policy; not men. but measures, and
wish as an humble citizen of this mag
! nifcent state of ours, to discuss with
you few of the matters that be-
lieve vitality affect your interest and
| mine, and in the end hope to assist
1 you. in arriving at correct conclu-
sion
i ask not hew yeur vote may be
cast, for whom or what party, SO long
as it comes from heart that places
i country above party, and the welfare
4 of our nation above the success of an
! Individual. Such q vote will be in the
| interest Of that party that promotes
and carries out the policies you be-
i lieve.
Party platforms are meaningless un-
less Intended to be woven into law for
1 the benefit of our people. Principles
and measures should govern and can