The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1904-08-12


government nearer to the people IS
good There Is more virtue in the Pee
pie than ever finds expression through
their Representatives.
Our party should also consider
whether our federal judges should not
be elected by the people to serve for q
limited period The life position in
the civil service is not in harmony
with our theory Of government and
the appointment OF judges for life IS
not justified by experience The presi-
dent must rely upon his advisers when
he appoints United States judges and
the people at large can make the selec-
ton better than any president can.
Elections for q stated period would
bring the judiciary into closer touch
with the people whose servants the
judges are
1 suggest, not for the purpose Of in
sisting upon it, but merely to bring
the matter to public attention. that It
may be found desirable to change the
method Of selecting postmasters. At
present they are appointed by the
president upon the recommendation Of
congressman. The pOstomce depart
ment is now a great political machine
presided over by a man skilled ia polit-
ical maneuvers, and the wishes OF the
people in the various communities are
entirely ignored. Why should federal
administration ignore the wishes Of
the people whom the postmaster is ex-
pected to serve? If q system can be
devised whereby the federal govern
ment will still retain the power Of
appointment and the power OF removal
and yet be restricted IN appointment
to persons named by the local com
munity, a step in advance will have
been taken. The right of local self
government can thus be indicated and
the use Of the postofice department
for the benefit Of the administration
prevented. Such a change would also
make it possible for a federal admin
istration to force coloTed pOstmasters
upon white communities for political
purposes. Is there any good reason
why the president in making appoint
ments should not consult the con-
venience and the will Of the people
who patrOnize the pOstomce?
The differences between labor and
capital are becoming more and more
acute. And why? Because capital has
not only been permitted to monOpOlize
the resources of the government and
feed fat upon the toll Of the people,
but it has been given a free hand IN
dealing with labor. IT has been per-
mitted to use labor for its own en-
richment and then to dictate terms to
the wage-eaTner. The democratic
party must be the champion Of the
man who toils-not his defender when
he does wrong, not his apOlOgist when
he is led into error, but his exponent
in the effort to secure the protection
Of his rights and the conservation OF
his interests The democratic party
is not the enemy Of wealth; on the
contrary, it is the best friend Of hon
estly acquired wealth, for by prevent
ing the requirement Of wealth by il
legal and unjust methods it would give
to the pOssessor Of wealth the honor
and the distinction to which his thrift.
energy, industry and economy ought
to entitle him.
The democratic party, if it is to be
power for good in this country, must
be the defender of huma rights. It
must devote itself to the protection Of
human rights. 1t must declare, estab-
lish and defend the true relation be-
tween man and property. a relation
recognized by both Jefferson and Lin
cOln-a relation which puts man first
and mis- possessions afteTward, a rela-
ton which makes man the master of
that which he has created, a relation
which puts the spiritual and moral
life of the nation above its material
wealth and resources. This is the
great struggle of today and it is
struggle in which the democratic party
must take an important part.
The contest above outlined must be
made whether the party wins in No
vember or not A single election is
but an incident in the life of a party.
For more than a century the demo-
cratic party has stood forth as the
representative Of certain great ideas.
Jefferson founded it, Jackson defended
it. and even Cleveland could not de-
stroy it. If Mr. Parker Is elected his
administration will rid US Of imperial
ism and Of the threat Of a race issue
and give US greater freedom in the
taking I'D Of economic questions. Moth
ing that he can do or say as presi-
dent will thwart the purpose OF the
democratic masses to rid the party Of
plutOcratic influences OF tendencies
The republican paTty is growing more
and more plutocratic and il can fur
nish a home for all who believe in the
rule of wealth The democratic party
cannot be a plutOcratic party; 1t can
not belle its history; il cannot dis
appoint the hopes OF It's members
The fight must 90 on and must go on
until victory is secured Can We win?
Who can doubt it? To those who
think that a temporary victory Of the
conservative element ends progress in
the democratic party let this reply be
made:
o We Of little faith Go forth into
the fields and see how the myriad
grains, bursting forth from their
prison in the earth. push upward to-
ward the light. Watch them as under
the influence Of sunshine and shower
they grow to maturity and furnish
food for the race. Go into the orchard
and see the seed or the grated twig
grow into a great tree whose leaves
furnish shade and whose fruit gives
nourishment to man. Measure If you
can the mighty forces behind the grain
and the tree. and know ye that the
forces behind the truth are as irresistt-
bic and as constantly at work God
would have been unkind, indeed, had
He made such ample provision for the
needs Of mans body and less adequate
provision for the triumph Of those
moral forces which mean more TO the
race than food or clothing or shelter
He is q political atheist who doubts
the triumph OF the right He lacks
faith in the purposes and the plans Of
r.