The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-09-22

oCOu 1OA Tic last ciSHl years. lou
have been preaching it all over the
country; your editors wrote for it;
your ministers prayed for it. You
went to Chicago in 1896 and appro-
| priated our platform. For eight years
you worked for it. You got six and a
half million votes for it. Bryan demo-
Gratis, where do you stand today? Did
you think you were right? Do you think
you were right? II you did and ii you
do, as l believe you did and do now,
where are you going to go to find the
representative of your principles? Ii
you were right then, we are right now.
We want every honest Bryan demo-
crat OF the country to help us fight
this battle against -plutocracy. We say
that these vast railroad corporations
which Cypress the people and exercise
power Of taxation through excess
sive charges that the government
itself can not do, ought to be owned by
the government and run in the inter-
est OF the people. We say that the
labor conditions need refoI N. /
freely declare that | am in favor OF
the eight-hour day. I freely declare
against the slavery in which our chill
dren are made to work at tender age.
confined in mills, factories and mines
believe that we are degrading our
own youth and degenerating our race
when we grind up our children at
too tender an age In order that more
dividends shall come to those who
have already more than their share.
No nation ought to devour its own
young.
The peoples party is also opposed to
government by Injunction. We want
to stop the usurpations and encroach-
ments OF the federal judges. And the
remedy we propose is to give the peo-
pie the imperative mandate as well as
the right to elect all officers, judicial
or otherwise. by direct vote of the
people. When we do that the func-
tlons OF the government will pe in
fact in the hands of the people, We
are In favor Of the initiative and ref-
erendum. II the law-making power.
refuses to enact laws which the peo-
pie need, let the people themselves
compel such laws by petition. If the
law makers pass laws which the neo-
pie do not approve, let these laws ha
referred back to the people and voted
down. That is the initiative and refer
endum.
Why, isn't that good democracy? oh
you say, we approve of that. hut let,s
get the reform inside the demncrafic
party. The democratic party has been
pledged to certain reforms since 1900
IN 1892 1896 and 1900 they were
pledged against national banks. and
IN lso2 they rechartered the national
Danks Ior twenty years. In 1892 they
were pledged to revision Of the tar
III IN favor of the people. They gave
US tariff that was against the peanlo
anu In favor Of the monopolists.
In 1892, they pledged themselves in
favor OF states rights and homo rnIa.
ana IN 1894. Grover Cleveland sont |
LIE United States army into the state
ol Illinois, against the wishes and
rights OF the people Of that aana-
cfatlc state. over the written and re-
peatea protests OF the democrallc GOV
ernor OF that state. and in violation
OF the rights of the Iaborer 90 pet |
Justice ior himself. The record oil the
democratic party is that OF a nIedre
buster, not a pledge keeper. We arc
lurther away from reform than we
were In 1892. Isn't 1t time we wera
trying something else? You have rot
! republican party with Roosevelt as
'ts candidate. IF you want those nr,n-
aipies to succeed. vote for RoossvaIt
or vote for Parker. and no matter whn
: elected, republican principles viii
In 1892 Wall street sent to Harr,-
'on and demanded that he make COR
am pledges. The demand was mad.
hrouEh Senator'S platt ana Onav
resident Harrison refused 10 ,nals
he required pledges. Grover cIcxa.
ana was elected president ana wa
'aw the rottenest administrator tha
smeriean people ever had--almlnIa.
ration OF Wall street and t,rover
,ieveland. Van Allen wanted 10 40 ,o
he italian mission: so he eontr,bnted
10000 to the campaign fund. Nor
mn. Belmont and the Rothsehlldal
wanted bonds and wanted 10 rc-chsr-
Or the national banks. Cleveland gave ]