The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-09-10
noA!!!LY ONE SUCCESS


Editor Independent: What has the
Old Guard to cheer them after the
great sacrifice they have made LOT
government reforms? Since the green
back movement in 1876 our efforts have
only in one instance been crowned
with success, namely, the stopping OF
the contraction of treasury notes at
$346, 000,0 900.
Attempts to regulate railroads IN
the interest Of the people have utterly
failed. The adjustment of national
banks and government control OF pub
lie utilities is farther from fact than
ever National banks now get lUO per
cent of their bonds in currency and
the tax is reduced one-half Rates OF
transportation are higher. Monopolies
are a hundredfold more numerous and
the middle class is on it's, way down
the pike that leads to slavery in a.
far greater degree than at the begin
ming or rather at the close OF the civil
war.
True. as a nation we are vastly bet
ter off; but as a people, not so. The
special privileges have drawn from the
masses and made giants of the fav-
Ored class
Why is this SO, while thousands to-
day have been educated and see the
wrongs where but few saw them while
the many felt them from 1873 to 1879?
Do the people love to be slaves? Or
have they lost confidence in all efforts
to correct these evils? II the former,
God pity us as a nation II the latter
what has caused it?
/ cannot believe it is the love OF
drudgery, while do believe it is a
loss of confidence. When the green
back party sent thirteen men to con-
gress in 1876 they were pure, honest
and determined. They held the bal
ance of power and not one of them
flinched and they won a victory. They
did not court any old party trades and
spurned any offer of such even to the
extent of a personal clash (as between
General Weaver and Parks). So in
tent were they that the nation, even
their political enemies, respected them
for their candor.
Such men might since have done
much more as the people gained
knowledge of right as against wrong.
Since those days the populist party
has claimed rs members at one time in
the congress of the United States, but
where is the evidence? Ah they were
bound hand and foot because their
election was the result of a barter! In
the south by republican and in the
north by democratic aid. They were
not free men, and while the people
waited they waited in vain for relief.
Finally their power was lessened;
then it was that the cloyen-foot of the
enemy bore more heavily and set its
tajons deeper.
This loss of confidence is the result
of stepping aside in duty's path and
the result is so far-reaching that any
effort at reform is met with suspicion
Iven the Denver conference.
A party must always be true OIL
weak and the farther from truth the
weaker.
AS one of the Old Guard, or at least
one who has followed Peter Cooper
since his race for reform, | am done
as a populist; but believing in its
principles and opposing both demo
cratic and republican policies (Which
are one and the same), am going tc
cast my lot with party that, though
not perfect, is true to name and SOUND
III principle. However, shall watch
the trend of things and when honest
sincere men again stand UP and show
their faith by their works | will b.
pleased to wish them God-speed.
| cannot fully subscribe to socialism
It goes too far toward communism
while prohibition is but right and bad
1y needed. w. G. STARKEY.
Violet, Neb.