Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (April 3, 1903)
wrw 'w KtQ ! r ...! V 3 .VOLUME 3, NUMBER 11, complete and abject surrender of those who xnado the fight in 189b and in 1900. And this surrender is not confined to the party's position on tho money question. It moans that the party must stop its opposition to the demands o organized wealth on all questions, must nominate a ticket composed of men who aro in the confidence of tho money magnates and tho trust magnates, and then, allow the parly to he so organized that it can collect an enormous campaign fund from the men who arc enjoying special privileges and immuni ties at tho hands of tho government Reorganiz es do not stand for any real or positive reform. This is tho harmony program, and there is no reason why any truo believer in democratic principles should be deceived by it If tho men who talk about harmony so much really want harmony, why do they not content themselvc3 with contributing their mite toward democratic success? Certainly those who helped to defeat tho party, if they realize the gravity of their of fence, will ho ashamed to ask for leadership, and those who aro not restrained by a sense of pro priety can hardly be trusted with tho reins. The voters who in 189G and 1900 risked social and business ostracism aro perfectly willing to welcome back and forgive those who went astray, provided those who return come back changed in sentiment and purpose. But why welcome men whoso only object in coming back is to mako tho democratic party an adjunct and an aid to tho republican party? Why have a fight in tho convention if it is going to result in renewed alienation unless tho party sounds a retreat? In stead of inviting harmony these so-called "har monizers" aro only planning for more contention. Mr. Bryan's views and conduct affect only himself and thoso who choose to bo influenced by what ho says or does, but ho can no more- shirk his responsibility, bo it great or little, than other democrats can. Evory democrat owes a duty to himself, to his party and to his country, to con tend for thoso things which ho believes to bo best If Mr. Bryan could relieve himself from this re sponsibility merely because thoso who have op posed him would bo gratified by his silence, then democrats might, with tho same logic, bo urged to cease contending for democratic principles be eaiiBo their silonco would gratify tho republicans. If Mr. Bryan, with his knowledge q tho plans and purposes of tho reorganizes, refrained from point ing out tholr monaco to tho party's 'welfare; 'iu? could justly bo accused of ano?tae"6r cowardice. Who is under groator obligation than ho to tho 4 , democrats whi woro loyal in both campaigns? Tho fact that ho is not a candidate for any office makes It moro imperativo rather than less that ho should do a citizen's part in tho discussion of public questions and in tho plans proposed for making democratic principles effective. What would bo thought of a neighbor who failed to give notice of an attempted burglary merely for fear of disturbing tho quietude- o a neighborhood? The leaders among the reorganizes are making a burglarious attempt to enter tho democratic party for tho purpose o carrying away whatever It has of valuo to thoso who occupy the house, and it IB timo to sound tho alarm. , n,n7 real (lemcrat Is deceived ho has him. self to blame, for tho admissions of tho reorgan izes aro sufficient to put all on their guard Lot us have harmony; not tho harmony that would enable tho wolf to enter tho lamb fold un noticed, but a real harmony between those who bollovo in a government of the peonle by ho people and for the people a minis ored according to tho doctrine of equal rights to all and special privileges to none -a government which would protect the people from ovory arm uplifted for their Injury. No other harmony is either desirable or possible mrr?lony,ib5nq?.et8 that aro destened to ob liteiato tho distinctions between democracy and tended05' CtlU nly brhlg GVi1' uowover wel in- JJJ The Logical Candidate. When a few months ago it wa3 stated n Grover Cleveland was. the conspicuous advisor St tho reorganizes, other representatives of that element denied, tho charge. t W1n(;n w,as Sllsgested by tho editor of tho Louisville Courier-Journal that Mr. Cleveland wol ambitious to become tho democratic nominee In 1904 the statement was greeted with general laughter. Yet today W0 find some of the rep sentatlves of these reorganizers actually boomin Mr. Cleveland for the nomination. D00mm A Washington dispatch to the Sioux City Tri bune, under date of March 19, says that "two weeks ago politicians hero talked Judge Parke? if by magic, ClevelandVname is aU demote The Commoner. tongues." In the same dispatch it is said that this political change "has developed With aston ishing rapidity throughout the east within the last few days;" and it is said that "something nearly approaching a serious demand that Cleveland be the candidate for president next year," is very no ticeable. It is added that "Mr. Cleveland has yielded to the extent of agreeing to make an ex tensive tour of the west in April and May." It is further explained that "the demand for considera tion of Cleveland was voiced by the New York World, now the sanest democratic newspaper pub lished in the east" The World in a conspicuous editorial under takes to show "why Cleveland is strong." The World says that "it did not require tho news o Mr. Cleveland's projected tour of tho west to keep alive or to stimulate public interest in the possi bility of his nomination by the democrats for tho presidency." The World reminds its readers that on Feb ruary 21 it presented "a number of reasons for thinking that as issues and events are now shap ing it is premature and illogical to reckon Mr. Cleveland out of the race." The World maintains that the third term objection to Mr. Cleveland is "not strictly relevant." It thinks that the fact that there would bo an interval of eight years, with two other presidents of the opposite party intervening would remove the third term objec tion. It thinks that the enemies Mr. Cleveland has made are not really worthy of consideration because his first election was greatly aided by the "enemies he has made." The World thinks that Mr. Cleveland's refusal to support the demo cratic ticket during the last two presidential cam paigns is not material because in that refusal "he had the company of a million democrats more or less." The World adds: "The whole question resolves itself into this: What other democrat is as strong as Grover Cleveland? What other candidate could command so many republican and inde pendent votes in the great pivotal states that aro absolutely essential to democratic suc cess? What other democrat ever did get so many votes outside his party in these states as Cleveland did in 1892, when ho carried not only New" York, New Jersey and Connecticut, '" but Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, California, and got one electoral vote in Ohio, so narrow was the margin there." In spite of all the objections that have been urged, the World concludes that Mr. Cleveland is "the logical candidate and the strongest candidat3 of his party." It is hardly necessary to engage in a discus sion as to tho claims of this man upon a demo cratic nomination. Democrats might be quite willing to forget that, after very nearly wrecking the democratic rarty in his second administration, Mr. Cleveland deserted that partr in 189G and In 1900 and gave whatever power and influence he possessed to the aid of the republican party; but it will bo a bit more difficult for them to forget Mr. Cleveland's undemocratic record in the White house during his second term. The World seems to think that the south may be. depended upon to cast its vote solidly for Mr Cleveland and that the objections to him in west ern states are not worthy of consideration. It says that these states ore republican and that even though a million democrats should oppose Mr. Cleveland in hopelessly republican states, "it would make no difference in the result " What assurance has the World that it can porsuado democrats oven in states that are not hopelessly republican to go to the polls and voto for a man whose bond deals and other engaee- Snfl1 ?5rGet' whoso Plain contompet for tho interests of his party and whoso open dis regard for the welfare of the country were vigor ously denounced even by the New York World il andomwSSa81 f anmzInS that these editors and politicians who assume to themselves a mo rn KT polital sagacity, as weU S upono JLiCfaJ VirtU' 8hould cl0SQ thoir eyes to the fact t S ArLPreSenc? of tUe S ovs under which What a magnificent spectacle tho democrntio party would present with Grover Clo?ouSS S ite standard-bearer in 1904; and yet If the demo cratic party is to stand for things which the S ganizors hope tho party will stand for, if the" hZfl? nVV11!7 t0 hQ reorganized for tho benefit of tho trust magnates, then Grover Clevr! landTjs; indeed, the logical candidate. If the democratic party is to be asked to re- vise its platform, to choose its candidate accord ing to the pleasure of men among whom Mr Cleveland is a conspicuous advisor, then it wili be far better that Mr. Cleveland himself be the candidate of this element Under such circum stances, no one' need be deceived. Democrats to their great sorrow know the man. They aro familiar with his record. They have every reason to know tho course he would pursue should ho bo elected for a third term; and if in the light of all this knowledge ho was permitted to. become tho party nominee democrats would have only them selves to blame for the result The democratic party, pretending to wage war against special interests, with Grover Cleveland as its candidate! Tho American people, struggling under tho enormous burdens that have been placed upon them through tho greed and avarice of trust magnates, turning for relief to a Grover Cleveland administration! What an inspiring spectacle, indeed, for sin cere and conscientious men! What a magnificent result for the contemplation of those who strug gle for the destruction of special interests and who hope for the restoration of popular gov ernment! JJJ . .. - - x ' The Aldrich Bill; In order that the readers of The Commoner may know what to expect from the republican party when congress meets in December, the Aid rich bill is printed in full on another page. It was called up near tho close of the last session of congress, but there was not time enough to force it through. It will be noticed that the secretary of the treasury designates whatever national banking associations he likes as depositories of public money, ahd that they are to be employed "as fiscal agents of the government, -performing whatever reasonable duties may be required of them." In these designated depositories the sec retary may deposit public moneys received from all sources, and may accept as -security any of tho interest-bearing obligations of the United States or of any state, also municipal bonds of any city of 5,000 inhabitants, provided the city has been in existence twenty-five years, has not for ten years defaulted in tho payment of interest and whose indebtedness does not exceed 20 pen cent of the value of the taxable property. It Is also provided that first mortgage railroad bonds mav be used as security for such deposits, provided the road has paid not less than 4 per cent per annum on its entire capital stock for a period of not less than ten years. The banks are to pay a rate of interest to be fixed by the secretary, amounting to not less than 1 per cent and the United States is to have a general lien on all tho assets of the bank, in. addition to the special se curity above named. The objections urged against this bill range themselves under four heads. The first objec tion was very forcibly stated by Senator Black burn in reply to Senator Bailey. The senator from lexas made a speech in favor of the Aldrich bill, lie said that while he was opposed to the col rufn , nn,necessary revenue, he thought it bet ien ?.epsItt the mney in the banks, and thus 3J ifcJ0 circulation, than to lock it up in tho iit i I?eotrtimated the amount thus to be de SS nla $300'000'000; he not only favored de- "Anntw charging of interest. He said: fr Proyifion In this bill that I would pre te? TaV?Qrtricn out' is the Provision for in ihn Lch he,ve that ifc would be better to avoid as nn?r nfof?bouf JhG evernment loaning money also Tblppfnf ? gll Shed from Positing it" He ient a Sifi.ifhe Provision giving the goyern is an nSS.?al Hen on dePOsits, saying: "There whfchTnWfentTr?0rte(i by the committee to the eovlif Cf ? is the Provision that gives bank nf nnt.a first 1Ien uPn the assets of tho erameSt S aU Br dPositors. The gov and th B SDecial security for its .deposit, demand SSJnV' secretary of the treasury to corned MinriiffiT'S is amPle " what he has be JecTto thP , w i Hce was at first inclined to ob but savq tLf ?i8lt,0 railroad bonds as security, thanTbstniall. bJeCtin 3 moro sentimental BallevWt?h,itatIo,1B are made to show Mr. bet S? Linl, Qe vm the sul)ct. and to give a The fWaazvT nK0f Mr' Blackburn's answer, impressed w Concessional Record will bo Bnmen LvL? n !eel,ns that Mr- Bailey'a ar" charrcterLtM"16 forco and logic that usually making hff rS sPecces. Mr. Blackburn in cans, but So Si , ,; stewart, and other republi ' Uut h0 hold his ground against them, an i UnHJnJ U jE'jmu