Vol. a, No! 23.
4
The Commoner.
ISSUED WEEKLY.
Entered at Hie potofficeal Lincoln, Nebraska, as second
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THE COMMONER, Lincoln, Nek.
r
Tko Commoner's "Lots of Five" plan puts good
democratic litoraturo within reach of all.
Dr. Mark Twain's new degree Is calulated to
make one Funston think somo superheated
thoughts.
By calling The Commoner to the attention of
your friends you will assist In increasing its sphere
of influence. '
Whitelaw Roid has just boon decorated with a
collogo degree. Few escape it.
Mr. Hathhone goes freo, and the pillars of the
republican temple are still there.
The true test of democracy Is loyalty to prin
u ciplo, not eagerness for spoils of office. . , n .,
Mr. Quay of Pennsylvania has again met in
state convention, drafted a platform and nomi
nated a state ticket.
It seems that tho court of claims safety net
was spread under tho South Carolinian just in
time.
A negro school in Illinois has boon destroyed
and the teachors and students forced to flee. In
Illinois!
Amos Cummings left an estate valued at less
than $1,500. But ho left something better than
money.
Mr. Roosevelt still insists that publicity is the
best way to curb the trusts. Linotype shackles are
something now.
Mr. McLaurln doubtless feels satisfied slnco
his "commercial democracy" landed its entire rank
and file a wlnhor.
Houso-breakors and highwaymen should form
a union and demand that they too bo shackled with
writ3 of injunction.
Tho best way to solve labor troubles is for
employing capital to glvo labor a just share of tho
profits arising from tho labor.
. Senor Buoncamino's testimony, somehow or
other, reminds us of Llttlo Tom Tucker, tho
juvenile who vocalized for his evening meal.
By granting amnesty to all American pris
oners in the isle tho Cuban congress has relieved
President Roosevelt of a very disagreeable task.
Tho beef tnist has promised to be good, but it
sounds very i ich .liko those "gentlemen's agree
ments" wo usvu to hear about in railroad circles.
. From a democratic standpoint there is some
thing, wrong with tho democratic platform that
meets with tho approbation of republican politicians.
Attention is callqd to an offer made elsewhere
In this issue of "Lots of Five" subscription cards.
Tho. Commoner asks. all of its readers to examine
the offer carefully.
The Commoner.
Mr. Cannon declares that it Is timo to call a
halt on nocdless and reckless appropriation of tho
people's money. Mr. Cannon always was a great
hand at padlocking tho horseless stable.
Mr. Lodge says ho "will answer in his own
way in his own time." Mr. Lodge would better
hurry. Men who believe as ho does have no timo
to waste if they desire to speak officially.
Tho Chicago Tribune asserts that criminal
proceedings were not brought against the trust
becauso tho evidence was not strong enough. Tho
Tribune always maintains a good humorous de
partment. Edward VII. and J. Pierpont Morgan dined
with Ambassador Choato. Wo are now prepared to
boliovo tho story that most of tho jewels in the
British crown have been removed and imitation
stones inserted.
If democrats who are true to democratic prin
ciples will do their duty the next national demo
cratic convention will not need to wasto time in
providing thumb-mark experts to pass on the loy
alty of men who claim to be democrats.
1 1
The republicans have decided not to push tho
Fowler bill until after tho election. This is just
what was expected. They dare not pass such a
bill now. They will wait until December and
rush it through during the short session.
When Americans celebrate the Fourth of July
in Manila they must bo careful not to read tho
Declaration of Independence. It is a crime to read
the Declaration in somo parts of tho territory un
der the jurisdiction of the United States.
Naturally the republican organs resent the
truth about certain army officers and denounce
it as "attacks on the army." Whenever a pet re
publican scheme is opposed the.republican organs
begin to howl about "attacks on the national
honor,"
Admiral Crowninshleld (pronounced Crun
eholl) is on the other side of the ocean, but the
world power that seizes tho opportunity "to attack
us under tho impression that Crowninshleld is our
greatest sea fighter will have plenty of time for
afterthought.
Bishop Thoburn says we are "in the Philip
pines by the act of God." Will tho truly good
bishop please point to the chapter and verse which
tells us to go with bayonets and torches and water
cure to preach the peaceful and loving gospel of
tho Nazarono?
Tho Memphis Morning News is showing tho
people of Tennessee what a real democratic paper
can do, and tho people who live in the neighbor
hood of Memphis will enjoy the novelty of read
ing a fearless and able exponent of pure and
undefllod democracy.
One striking difference between the Indiana
democratic platform and the Tennessee democratic
platform is that republicans have somo words
of commendation for the former. Democratic plat
forms that meet with the commendation of re
publican organs are lacking in something.
Senator Quay writes to a constituent that he
will "give careful consideration" to tho resolution
providing for tho election of senators by the
people. In view of tho fact that the legislature of
Pennsylvania is on record in favor of the elec
tion of senators by tho people, Sonator Quay ought
to be able to speak more definitely.
The' resistance offered by the Boers has ma
terially strengthened free government. It is a
vicarious suffering that makes other republics
more secure by showing how difficult It is to ever
come men who love liberty better than lifo, and
no nation will profit so much as this nation, whose
guardianship of tho republics of Central, and
South America is not less likely to be disturbed.
The traveling salesmen are beginning to feel
tho effects of tho mercantile combinations, for
where competition is destroyed the salesman loses
his place and the salary that he once drew is added
to the profits of the concern. It is suggested that
tho retail dealers agreo to give their trade to the
Independent jobbing houses, "but this remedy is not
sufficient. It is much easier to form a combination
among a few manufacturers than to form a com
bination among the retail dealers. The remedy is
by law, and until .the people are ready to employ
a legal remedy they will have to suffer for tho
exactions of the trusts.
Mount Peelce erupted and killed 20,000 people,
and America stood aghast. More deaths hava
been tho result of an eruption of imperialism and
greed in this country, yet thousands of people
profess to seo tho hand of God in it and encour
age further eruptions of the samo kind.
A reader of The Commoner calls attention to
the fact that during the month of May the mlnta
of the United States coined $426,000 worth in gold
and $1,873,000 worth in silver and all of this sil
ver was coined at the ratio of 16 to lwithout wait
ing for tho aid or consent of any other nation.
The democrats of Logan county, Ohio, met at
BellefQntaino the other day and not only indorsed
tho Kansas City platform, but instructed their
delegates to tho state convention "to support no
man for state or congressional honors who is not
in full sympathy with democratic principles as set
forth in said platform." This has the right ring
to it.
Congressman Green of Pennsylvania, who vis
ited the Philippine islands last summer, has de
livered a speech in the house of representatives
setting forth the evidence collected by him in
support of the proposition that the Filipinos are
capable of self-government It is a convincing
document and will appear in The Commoner in
full during tho campaign.
The Chicago Tribune asserts that there are to6
many anthracite coal mines operated, and says:
"If the surplus laborers were out of tho way it
would be possible for the operators to give tho
miners at least 200 days' work in the year at fair
wages." Of course the Tribune knows that if tho
surplus laborers were out of the way the operators
would import more. That's one way they have ot
keeping the wages down.
Hill and Cleveland are to attend a harmony
meeting in New York. Why should it seem nec
essary to harmonize Mr. Hill and Mr. Cleveland?
They have always been in harmony whenever thet
interests of Wall street demanded harmony. Why -should
Cleveland be invited to a democratic meet
ing? Until he expresses an intention to return
to the, democratic party there is no reason why ho
'should 'be Invited to speak- before democrats.
Mr. Hepburn of Iowa would have us believe
that General Smith's attorney uttered a falsehood
when he admitted that General Smith had issued
the brutal order. But Mr. Hepburn believes that
men can tax themselves rich, that the narrower
the financial base the stronger the financial situa
tion, and that the Declaration of Independence has
not been ignored by abandoning the principle of
consent of the governed. This will explain Mir.
Hepburn's position.
It. is reported that the United States has been
offered, a statue of -Frederick the Great on condi
tion that it bo set up in the national capital. It is
hardly possible that any large number of our
people will be in favor of accepting such a gift,
no matter how kindly he may feel toward the per
son offering it. The difference between a monarchy
and a republic is so great that a republic can hard
ly afford to begin the erection of monuments to
kings and emperors. We cannot afford to oblit
erate the difference between a government resting
upon the consent of the governed and a govern
ment resting upon the divine rights of kings. Tho
fact that the statue is offered as a gift does not
change the situation. There is an old proverb that
"a gift Is more expensive than a purchase," and it
would be a costly gift if to receive it our nation
would have to appear before the world as friendly
to the monarchical idea.
As an illustration of the temper of the people
attention is called to a democratic convention in
Wayne county, Illinois. The committee reported
a series of resolutions that did not mention the
Kansas City platform and In tho noise and confu
sion usually attendant upon conventions, many
did not notice the omission. However, as soon as
attention was called to it the, convention showed
its feeling on the subject and it only required a
moment's time to add a resolution indorsing
democratic principles as set forth in the Kansas
City platform, and having thus set themselves
right the democrats proceeded to the other busi
ness before .the convention. One stalwart an!
watchful democrat can thwart the schemes of tho
reorganize in almost any precinct .and a lew
who are on tho alert can usually prevent the re
organizers from capturing a county convention.
The nearer you get to the voters the less strength
tho reorganizes show. -
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