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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (March 14, 1902)
The Commoner. March i4, I902; suit In a long era of cood will between the United .. . ... . states ana uermany ana that tne German emperor may some day send over a representative whose I own achievements will enable the American people P. to do honor to him without giving cause for tv.o r suspicion that there is any departure from demo cratic simplicity and democratic ideals. JJJ ' A Model Platform. Below will -be found a platform recently f adopted by the democratic convention of Johns town, Pa. As it deals with questions which are B, likely to come up in all cities,, and clearly and ex plicitly applies democratic principles to the ques tions dealt with, it is presented below for the in formation and instruction of the readers of The Commoner. Mr. Warren Worth Bailey, editor and pro- priotor of the Johnstown Democrat, is gaining quite a reputation as a. platform writer. His style lis strong, his principles are democratic and his sympathies are on the side of the people in their struggle to secure just-government. The" platform treads: We hereby pledge the ticket this day nomi nated for the February election to the follow ing: ; First. To the support of the principle of the equal taxation of all property subject to taxation. We especially denounce the taxa tion of homes and industry higher than unim proved property held out of use for specula tive purposes. There should be no fines upon industry or upon the building of homes. Second. To the advancement of the prin ciple that franchises are to be considered as real estate values and taxed for local pur poses as such. We denounce the granting of free franchises for any period long or short, i and no franchise should be granted for a per- , , iod longer than 21 years. Third. To the principle of local option in taxation. We hold that each community should be permitted to raise its public rev enues In Its own way; and we point to the fact that this principle received the indorsement of the national tax conference held at Buffalo last May. Fourth. To the economic and efficient ad ministration of city affairs. Wo especially con demn the wanton ripping up of streets and pledge ourselves to stop it. Fifth To the protection of the rights of the public in its own property. We denounce river stealing and pledge ourselves to sup port all efforts to prevent encroachments of this kind. Sixth. To the improvement of the pub lic grounds. We believe The Point should be made the beauty spot of the city and we com mend the suggestion that the city should ac quire a suitable location for a public park adequate to the needs of a growing city. Seventh. To promote the abolition of all -toll bridges within the city and to oppose the erection of any other. All bridges should be absolutely free to the public. Eighth. To the better protection of hu man life. We pledge ourselves to do all that .can be done to abolish grade crossings and otherwise to safe-guard the public. Ninth. To the principle of the state's re served right to regulate the. tolls of public service monopolies. Under the law it is with in the power of the municipality thus to pro tect its citizens from extortion. The democracy of Johnstown believes in .equal rights to all and special privileges to none and it hereby pledges itself to the people to do all in its power to promote good gov ernment along the lines of equal freedom. And it invites the co-operation of all citizens to the advancement of these common interests through the election of its candidates. JJJ The Buzzard and the Bee. The buzzard has a strong beak, a capacious .stomach and a ravenous appetite. It sometimes .spars in graceful circles above the haunts of men, ;but it is always looking for something to eat. 'Its eye is sharp and Its scent is keen, but all its .energies are employed in procuring food and it is not very discriminating in its taste. In fact, -it revels in carrion "while it lives and when it dies leaves nothing but a foul odor to remind the world of its existence. j The bee has an instinct for sweetness; it com munes daily with buds and blossoms, and lives amid the perfume of the flowers. It sots an ex ample of industry, patience and frugality;, it fares well, but in addition to making Its own living It leaves a storehouse full of honey to testify to its activity. Among human beings there are some-who re semble the buzzard and some who are like the bee. Some make no other use of their faculties than to search constantly for food and drink. They live in the dining room and, ignoring all appeals ad dressed to the head or heart', keep close to the flesh pots. There are others and may the swarm in crease who find pleasure in useful toil and recrea tion in helpfulness; they extract good from lite, but they leave as a legacy to posterity more of tho good than they themselves consume. Such enjoy life and add. to the enjoyment of both those who live with them and those who live after them. The buzzard must be a buzzard and the boo must be a bee this is fate, but man- is free to choose which he will Imitate. JJS A Recruit. The Chicago Record-Herald, a republican pa per with independent leanings, has joined with the democrats in demanding the passage of a res olution declaring the nation's purpose in regard to the Philippines. In discussing General Chaffee's demand for more soldiers, it says: IS IT NOT TIME THE REPUBLICAN, PARTY DECLARED WHAT IT INTENDS TO DO WITH THE PHILLIPPINES WHEN THE INSURRECTION IS OVER? PER HAPS THIS WOULD DO MORE TO .END IT THAN THE INCREASE IN THE ARMY , CHAFFEE .CALLS FOR. . ., '.-... ' The Record-Herald Is not fully persuaded that we should promise ultimate independence, but it will reach that conclusion before any resolution Is passed, for no party will dare to declare any other purpose. If the Filipinos are promised .ul timate independence the war will stop and the rest will be easy. If, on the other hand, we declare that we are going to keep the islands' 'forever we must condemn them to colonialism pr promise them a territorial form of government now ami statehood hereafter. The republicans Are not pre pared to defend either plan. Therefore wi must promise independence or nothing. The.. Record Herald will be welcomed as a recruit because tho logical effect of its editorial is to support the democratic plan of treating the Filipinos as we promised to treat, the Cubans. JJJ Under the British Heel. A London cablegram to the New York World says that the British government is to 'have a free hand for its war policy at this session of parlia ment. According to this dispatch: - The, ministerialists, except the few who have been In South Africa and appreciate the situation there, are for remorselessly grinding the Boers under the British heel. Colonial Secretary Chamberlain's diplomatic pretenses of magnanimity to the Boers were received by his followers in sullen silence, while every reference to rigorous measures was cheered with an enthusiasm proportionate to its rutk- lessness. '. No one doubts the willingness of the minis terialists to "remorselessly grind the Boers under the British heel," but may it not be necessary to enlarge tho hee? James Brype, the famous English historian, refers to the 'probable loss of South Africa. to Britain." Mr. Bryce. had been asked to- participate in a movement tp raise money in London to endow a, chair of history; In a proposed South African coi legei Replying to this request, Mr. Bryce said: "It seems almost a mockery In tho fright-' ful state of things in South Africa, with mar tial law everywhere, all interest in education paralyzed, tho people unablo to move from' place to place, an intensity of passion aroused which threatens bitterness for generations to come, and tho probable loss of South Africa to Britain, to go on tho platform with smooth generalities about history a history which has not saved us from repeating tho blunders of 1776 and the dulcet notes of peace where there is no peace." Men like James Bryce are not apt to engage in mockeries In the presonce of the "frightful stato of things in South Africa." Where there is no peace men like James Bryce cannot bo depended upon to "sound the dulcet notes of peace," and men like James Bryce, because of their genuine patriot ism, their love of humanity, their sincerity and their candor have a mission to fulfill that, when fulfilled, will result in largo benefits to civilization. JJJ The Truth Becoming Known. Little by little the truth concerning tho Philip pines Is leaking out. Walter Wellman, tho Wash ington correspondent of the Chicago Itecord-Her-ald, says: .Army ofilcers wrlto letters homo saying that tho cltorts to establish Filipino govern ments are farcical, and that nothing but the strong arm of the military enables them to stand for a moment. It Is known that thero Is friction between General Chaffee and the Taft commission, and Secretary Root'B tact and diplomacy are exercised almost constantly in averting trouble. General Chaffee is angry at tho suggestion of reducing his force. On tho other hand, the commission, in defense of its own efforts to establish government by peace ful means and moral suasion, is advising that the power of the military be gradually cur tailed. Governor Taft declares that 15,000 soldiers aro all that will bo needed in the entire archipelago. General Wheaton, however, says that 50,000 sol diers will be needed for many years to come. Mr. Wellman says that an army officer of high repu? tation has written a letter to a friend in Washing ton sayjng: "Take the records of the civil commission with a big grain of salt. They are made for political reading. Taft and Wright are very nice men, and it is with no ill-feeling for them that I say a civil government is a farce and exists only in places occupied by tho military. Where thero are no soldiers no for eigners can Jive or go in safety. The islands aro not pacified. The people do not want us. "I have been stationed in one of the quiet est provinces in the islands, and yet the most cordial sentiment I ever heard expressed was that the United States would remain in control-four or five y :a until the people had learned something of civil government, and then get out and place them, under our pro-. tection only, generally, they want us to get out now, a-d where there is submission it Is because of personal helpfulness." Democratic senators aro armed with a good deal of this sort of ammunition. That the republicans are worried over the situa tion is apparent. Senator Lodge is sharply criticis'ed for having proposed a public in vestigation, as it gives the democrats the very opportunity they have been waiting for. The defense, of course, is that tho country is en titled to the truth, no matter what that truth , is. It must be apparent to everyone by this time that the situation in the Philippines has been grossly misrepresented, not only by republican newspapers, but by republican officials. The peo ple are becoming restless for tho facts. Even the most stalwart republican cannot take kindly to, tho policy which the administration has carried on with respect to our new possessions. And now that it is generally admitted that the people have been deliberately and persistently deceived, thero are. indications that a strenuous demand will bo made for the facts. It is to be hoped that the democrats in congress will insist upon tho truth being given to the public, and it cannot be doubted that when all the truth becomes known, tho overwhelming majority of the American people will rise up in protest against the un-American policy which the republican party has foisted upon this government, ' " y rSi-i