Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-08-02

reSentatlVe or the American govern
ment, high in authority, enunciates thu
proposition that those thus believing
fought to hang"
The democratic party in its platform
Of 1908 proclaimed the proposition tina,
the people should rule, and this is as
true today as it was then. The ques
ton naturally arises, il the people dc
not rule, who is to blame? We have
evidence of the highest authority who
does rule. The distinguished senator
from Iowa declared in a recent utter
ance that the republican party at
Washington was dominated and con
trolled by the corporations of our
country. This question has never been
disputed by the democratic party and
no issue can thereby be Joined. Our
DISTINGUISHED senior senator declared
in the senate of the United States that
our tariff laws were dictated and prac-
tically written by those interested; and
another distinguished senator has de-
clared that the Postal Savings Bank
law was passed in the interest of East
ern Bankers.
These three acts are the sum total
of republican legislation, and upon
these acts it must stand or fall in the
contest now being waged. What does
it all mean when the trust magnate,
the protected Industries and the bank
ers dictate our legislation and direct
the forces of our government? Do you
think the democratic party has any
work to perform? Is there any obli-
cation resting upon its members to
lead in this contest between wealth
and equal rights?
We stand opposed to protective
tariff-have in the past, and will In
the future. The protective principle,
carried to its logical conclusion, has
but one purpose; tax on consumption
10 be paid by those the least able so to
do. 1t is violative of the rights Of the
consumer and causes him to pay a tax
to others in making their business
profitable.
It is unquestioned that the cost Of
living is out of all proportion to what
it should be, and it's source can be
raced to combinations and trusts that
nave been made possible by the Ding.
ey act c 1887, and sustained by this
act known to the world to-.
lay as the Payne-Aldrich tariff act.
Our course is clear, destroy com btnd-
ion, stand for the rights of those whs
ire bearing the burdens of government
our cause to candid peO-
Die, and challenge the right to tax the
people for private purposes There
comes a time when the indignation OF
he citizen causes him almost to rebel
that time il at hand. We have petit
Toned congress for relief and our pc
titions have been in vain. We have
our lawmakers to be relieved
Of this burden, and our entreaties have
been turned down. We have knocked
in suppliance ct the door of legislation
and appealed for redress, and our
grievances have been denied.
say to you that the day of humilia
ton is at an end. We will no more
entreat, we will no more appeal; we
will defy those who humiliate and
despise us. We need not be fearful
of the result. The principles of the
democratic party are at this hour more
popular than ever before. The prin.
ciples of democracy never change; its
advocates may, but the principle re-
mains in tact.
l say to you that no man should be
nominated on the democratic ticket for
any office, state or national. who does
not stand committed to the declaration
Of equal opportunities and equal rights
and willing to stand thereon through
sunshine and rain. How can we appeal
to an intelligent public seeking assis-
lance from unjust laws when they say
our nominees are untrue to the prin-
,iples enunciated by democratic con.
rention? A party platform is as bind
ng AS any contract ever written. The
nominee who submits his cause to the
people must obey the Instructions
given. If the platform is not binding
IN the candidate. then the party is
power and useless. If we dis
gree with the principles enunciated
md refuse to abide thereby, it should
,e known before election that the can
lidate or the platform may be changed.
\ representative in congress is not al
III times free to exercise his own will
f his election is obtained upon clear
Of principles, he is not al
liberty to withdraw that declaration
lfter election. If the measure thus ap.
proved is believed to be unconstitu-
ional, there may be an excuse fo'
gnoring it. If the people are supreme
md no one will question that PROPOSE
ion, then they have the right to In
;truct their legislator, and he dare not
'efuse to obey.
Success is not always victory. Sue.
.ess may mean defeat. If principles
ire not the animating purpose of our
political life. You cannot be victorious
N a false issue. This is an intelligent
Ige and you cannot long fool the peo-
lie. They know the difference between
political principles and political per-
idy. and that cause is not victorious
hat will fail to stand the test Of the
sunlight of public opinion, untram-
neled by selfish interests.
Today the republican party is rent in
uoain by reason of its connection with
pecial privilege. 1t no longer stands
or a policy that meets the require
ments Of tbs people Factions are
wrangling as to what revision means.
protection and private interests in con-