The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-02-25
MAJOR Bates VIEW
National Parties Must Have National
Platforms and Policies

(lotI0HmS ouO l0Al0leB
Editor Independent: l am glad that
Mr.. De Hart continues to diffuse his
| political light in the columns of your
| excellent paper, wherein every sort
Of opinion has perfect freedom of ut
terance.
In my judgment, had w. ]. Bryan
held views similar to those of our
friend De Hart he would have reached
the presidency on the first trial, pos
slbly, but on the second trial, certain
ly. The encouragement and protec-
ton of manufacturers was one OF the
objects of the Union under the con-
stitution, simply because our fathers
possessed common sense, and recog-
nized it as duty to the generations
to follow them to erect a government
in harmony with the principles which
rule the universe. The only consti-
tutional government that ever repu-
dated the protective principle was
that of the confederate states estab-
llshed at Montgomery, Ala, and which
came to nought.
Today, a protective tariff is dottiDg
the southern states over with factor
les and giving employment to the peo-
pie such as the confederate govern
ment never could have brought into
existence-without an amendment of
its constitution. For government
whose corner stone was negro slavery,
and the disbursement of the civil
izing arts, unprotection of industries
was quite consistent. But the fates
we're unklnd. Not only freedom, but
protection triumphed.
But set out to say word respect
ing the necessity for national parties
to have national platforms and poll
cies. If the populist party is ever to
cut a figure in national affairs it
must, in the nature of things, wilen
out far beyond the Omaha platform"
or any other that it has yet adopted.
When Thomas Jefferson attained the
presidency he had the wisdom to un-
derstand that political party must
go before the country on certain fixed
principles of government, that applied
nationally as well as locally; that
great always stand. The issues on
which he won his first term might
fade out in few years; he must
therefore broaden in doctrine, IL he
would found party that could hold
the government for any considerable
time.
In his inaugural message he there
fore set out no less than thirteen vital
principles, the eleventh being ZEN
couragement of agriculture, and Of
commerce Inclusive of navigation) as
its handmade that the republican
party (then his OWN would thereaf-
ter stand for before the country.
1t were needless to tell in detail
how popular the principles of the new
party became. Every one of these
has lighted our government from JEFF
fersOn's time down to the present.
Under President Jackson the repub-
licdn party ceased and the democratic
began, but Jefferson's light shone
right along, and attracted the millions
of his countrymen. This is not to say
that democrats more than republicans
nolG to the principles Of Thomas JEFF
ferson, or that populists are wanting
in faith in them. Quite the contrary.
Americans of all parties are good JEFF
,ersonians, generally
Jefferson builded his party for all
time. He used all the materials that
he thought were good for the ediilce.
Had he used only two or three or
three or four principles, as the found
ers of the populist party did, 1t is not
at all likely that his party would have
endured third of the time that 1t
has lived and ruled. Indeed, no party
in any country is harder to kill today.
A reputation of protection will kill
1t the quickest of anything, In my
judgment.
When am asked for the principles
of the populist party and point TO
the Omaha platform, and my friend
says. rs that all of your political
faith?" What do you think of this
question. that, and the other!" AMI
have TO go to the democratic platform
for one doctrine and To the republican
for another. II can be seen that
stand little show OF increasing the
populist party by the addition OF my
Sal