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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 3, 1902)
Ezzzxszzssat i The Commoner WILLIAil J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. . 3C Vol. 3. No. 37. Beginning to Think. I recently had an interesting conversation with a well-to-do republican and the substance of it is reproduced because it illustrates what is going on in the minds of many who have been so busily on gaged in business that they have neglected their civic duties. The republican referred to introduced himself on a railroad train and asked if ho might submit a question. Of course he was invited to ask as many questions as he liked. He began by explaining that he had grown up in a republican family and had voted the republican ticket reg ularly down to and including 19u0, but he said that since that time ho had been thinking and that he had come to the conclusion that some men wero accumulating such large fortunes that they wero acquiring a dangerous influence over the country -mong such he mentioned Morgan and Rocke feller. To assure me that he was himself In no danger of want he re- irked that for a number of years his income had ranged from ten to thirty thousand dollars per year. After enumerating the evils of concentrated wealth ho stated his con clusion, namely, that he could see but three possi ble remedies; first, the reform of monopolists so that thoy would cease tQ tyrannize over their fel ,0TO Jcond' restraining legislation, and, third, revolution. He did not have much faith in the reformation of the monopolists and did not like to think of the possibility of revolution, and he was almost convinced that the republican party would not enact effective restraining legislation. He asked me if I could think of any other remedies and I told him that he had covered the ground. I agreed with him that while an appeal to the conscience of the monopolist is proper and desirable it would not be fair to make the people rely for their safety upon the success ci. such an appeal. I assured him that revolution was not to be thought of; that those who would not protect their rights by the ballot need never expect to have them protected by force, and I had no difficulty "in agreeing with him that the republican party is impotent to supply a remedy. The republican party lost some of its best men in 1572 men who had joined the party from high motives and would not stay with it when it became corrupted by power. Then the green back and populist parties drew away a large num ber of republicans who were not willing to have the country run bya few finanaciers In their own inter ests. In 1896 and in 1900 the republican party again suffered from the desertion of many of its most intelligent and patriotic members some estranged by the gold standard and others by the policy of imperialism. The party thus weakened by con stant erosion was further injured by the accession of a considerable number of gold, corporation and monopoly democrats. Besides having exchanged its reformers for the money-loving and money serving element in other parties it has been mort gaged by its leaders to the banks, the syndicates and the combines. It is powerless to respond to tho wishes of the people and must in the end dis appoint those of its members who still entertain a lingering hope of its regeneration. Not only cloes the republican party refuse to yield to the reasonable demands of its better mem bers..,.but it gotn on-building the dam higher and higher, unmindful of the fact that each new plank Lincoln, Nebraska, Oct. 3, 1902. increases tho danger of a flood, for public opinion, now restrained, will some day sweep all obstacle away and mock tho efforts of thoso who attempt to stop tho progress of civilization and check thcr de velopment of human liberty. My caller informed mo that ho lenow fifty re publicans among his personal acquaintances who were thinking seriously on economio and political conditions and who wero reaching tho same con clusion that he had. It was encouraging to learn of this promised reinforcement from tho ranks of successful busi ness men. Wo have already a powerful army of tho middle classes thoso who have brain and muscle, who are willing to work and only desire a fair share of tho rewards of their toil the com mon people who are both tho wealth producers and warriors of the nation. We can never expect to secure tho support of those who can bo corrupted or coerced, for our party lacks the means either to buy or to compel votes, and let us hopo that It will always lack the desire to do so. Our ap peal must be to those who think and have the cour age to,act, and this appeal can bo made to tho rich as well as to the poor to the rich that thoy may leave their children a good government, which is a more substantial inheritance than wealth; to the poor that thoy may guarantee to their children a fair chance In the race of life. Tho democratic party is really tho conser vative party-o-iQenatioa;.-it builds upontimo honored principles and opens Its doors to those of every calling, profession and occupation, provided, they believe in equal rights to all and special privileges to none. 'It is gratifying to see that men of independent fortunes are awakening to tho seriousness of tho situation and beginning to search for a remedy for present ills. JJJ Reform by Commission. I At tho Oyster Bay conference it was decided that the president would not discuss tariff reform at this time, but Speaker Henderson's withdrawal forced the issue into the arena and at Cincinnati President Roosevelt admitted that it might become necessary to take the tariff off of some trust-made articles. By the time he reached Logansport, Ind., two days later, he was so Impressed with the riec esslty of tariff .reform that he suggested "a bi partisan commission to consider the entire subject and make a report to congress." It looks very much as if the republican party would have to do something and it Is not surpris ing that a commission is proposed. Of course the high tariff advocates favor a com mission, first, because it delays action a com mission must bo selected with care and that takes time; then it must Investigate thoroughly and that takes more time, and then it must pre pare a report and that takes still more time. Sec-" ond, the commission can be made up of men who do not want the tariff reduced, and their investi gations and reports can be made as favorable as possible to a high tariff; and, third, the manu facturers will have a chance to elect a friendly congress while the voters are feeling secure In the hope that the commission will attend to tho mat ter. A commission Is useless and only postpones the day of revision, if it does not prevent it alto gether. Congress is the only body that can re vise the tariff and the sooner it begins the better. The mention of a commission shows how frightened the republican leaders are, but it will not deter tho democrats from demanding that "tho Tevlsion be made by a body chosen by the people and representing them. Whole No. 8p. A Minister's Rebuke. Rev. Henry Homer Washburn of Christ's Epis copal church, Oyster Bay, N. Y., delivered a me morial sormon, at President Roosovelt's request, on tho anniversary of tho assassination of Prosidont McKInloy. Aftor an enumeration of tho many vir tues of the deceased executive, ho branched out into a discussion of tho trust question and is re ported as saying: So busy have wo boon with tho concerns of every day that few have realized that we aro marching on toward another national event How near or how remote it may bo, or what shapo it will assume, nono may foresee. Mr. Lincoln and others warned tho country against tho dangor of a rising monoy power. But capital was needed for tho development of trado and natural resources and business has moved along such natural lines that little concern for the peace of tho futuro has been felt Tho country has never been so prosperous as on tho day when tho report of a pistol startled the nation and numbered Mr. Mc Kinley with our nrrtyred presidents. Who can read history and believe that tho course of oventB happened by chanco? It was by no accident that Judas botrayed tho great Na zareno to ,bo crucified. But who can toll why Mr. McKInloy was so suddenly taken from the - earth In tho hour apparently- of his- greatest usefulness. Who could fill his place? Fortunately a David was vlco president How camo ho to be vice president? Was It by accident? How much planning and how many mla- .n naps did It take to create that accident? But ho has studied trust methods and is convinced that tho good of all demands that the trusts be brought under control of tho na tional government Is not this sound judg ment? Is not this a conservative proposition? How can ono have any knowledge of human nature and not see the possibility of danger, coming by and throush tho unguarded use of great wealth concentrated In the hands of a few? You hear of "good trusts" and "bad trusts." What does this mean, if not that un scrupulous men already at the head of cer tain trusts aro planning methods to cheat, rob, and oppress? What course will tho gen erality of business men pursue when they see wealth within reach of their grasp? To hold that no danger may como through great ac cumulations of wealth Is to ignore the teach ings of the Holy Scriptures. From Genesis to Revelations, tho Bible is filled with precepts and warnings regarding tho power and use of wealth. It declares that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, and it utters a prophecy that all may read who will: "Howl, ye rich men, for v the woes that are coming upon you." Evident ly the president sees and is convinced of the possibility of danger. a- There Is certainly danger ahead. Tho first utterances of the president favoring govern mental control have brought upon him caustic criticism. This shows the animus of the power he is seeking to control. Meanwhile slowly but surely wo aro marching toward a now national event Civilization ever pro gresses, but great reformers have generally como through tho perils of fire and sword. If ever circumstances indicated that ono was placed providentially . in tho executive chair of the nation, then tho circumstances that 'attended thev promotion of Mr. Roosevelt so indicated. If words mean anything his mo , ...t