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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 10, 1905)
VWtimiji LiflS'M'MpBfWl.lJMI f fr- n if -T"" The Commoner. K s tional government, freedom of speech and liberty of press. . ,,, .. . But for the world's acquaintance with tlie in fluences that surround a Icing it would seem strange that the czar of Russia could have so long been blind to the advantages of constitutional government. Self-government is the panacea for discontent. Tho people will bear with patience evils for which they are themselves responsible, but will complain bitterly of evils of no greater magnitude when- those evils are brought upon them by the arbitrary action of a monarch. Para doxical as it may seem, a monarch increases his authority as he shares it with the people. The fear that tho people- may not be capable of par ticipation is ungrounded. The very desire to participate indicates capacity, and that capacity is still further developed by exercise. A ruler is likewise short-sighted If he imagines that he can increase his own security by silencing criti cism. Opposition expressed is less dangerous than opposition suppressed, just as powder is less harmful loose than when its pent up force must break its way out. Then, too, a public official needs assistance in the discharge of his dutie? even tho assistance of his enemies. They point out mistakes and utter warnings against errors. An enemy is often more frank than a friend, and therefore is often more useful. "Oh, that mine enemy would write a book!" is tho greatest tribute over paid to the value of free speech, and it is at the same time a tribute" to the wisdom and sincerity of the one who uttered the sentiment. A ruler usually has to pay his friends for their assistance, but with free speech and a free press, he secures the service of his enemies without compensation or promise of reward. Russia has her face to the light, and all the .. VOLUME 5, NUMBER 4, people of that country from czar to peajnn. ... share .the blessings which will flow from ?J ,n forms just Instituted. m the r The effects of this revolution in nB,u affairs will be felt the world over, wiilo i Su downtrodden people of Russia these reform, im provide relief from an acute situation, thi J" fcoimced tendency toward popular govermS will flfanrmmirA mnfirl0n, ., .. buvtrnient will discourage imnerialtam nmi . "ra publfcanism in whatever form and in whaLf section imperialism and republicanism mav ii struggling. The effect upon the American noo. will be advantageous because it will remind thim that when the people of "Darkest Russia" nn make such progress toward the American ideals there is every reason that the American pconlo should adhere to those ideals more strenuously than ever and .should vigorously protest against every effort to compromise them. ISTHE DEflOCRATIC PARTY DYING? The Now York World intimates that the demo cratic party is dying and the reasons for this impression are stated as follows: A Tammany city convention adopts reso lutions praising President Roosevelt for "the surprising courage, remarkable tact, dis tinguished ability and commanding influence displayed h" him as the central figure in the greatest peace triumph of the age." William Jennings Bryan, twice candidate for president on tho democratic ticket, ten ders to Mr. Roosevelt his sympathetic sup port in the campaign of regulating corpor ations in general and railway rates in par ticular. The Massachusetts democrats commend Mr. Roosevelt for his services in establishing peace between Russia and Japan. Tho Rhode Island democrats indorse Mr. Roosevelt's rate-regulation policy. The republicans of Massachusetts aro de manding a revision of the tariff. Former Senator Caffery, of Louisiana, says the southern democrats are protection ists, and predicts the organization of a new party. When a president elected as a republican moves for reform upon the lines proposed in three successive democratic national platforms, it would be strange if he did not have the sup port of democrats. The failure of democrats to support him in that proposed reform would pro vide better proof that the democratic party is dying than the New Yrrk World is able to cite in the patriotic, democratic and consistent atti tude taken by democrats generally with respect to Mr. Roosevelt's efforts to enlarge the powers of the interstate commerce commission. Former Senator Caffery of Louisiana has not for many years been an authority on democratic opinion, and that the republicans of Massachusetts are approaching the democratic position on the tariff question gives no reason for the belief that the democratic party is dying. Democratic principles as they were presented in 1896 and in 1900 are, admittedly, more popular today than ever before. And when we see dis tinguished republicans advocating democratic methods in the effort to provide the people with relief and prevented from establishing reforms because their party is wedded to its corporation idols it is absurd for any one to contend that "the democratic party is dying." More and more the American people are com ing to realize that the democratic party repre sents the real conservatism of the country that it stands between the radicalism of the re publican party on the one hand and the radical-' ism of the socialist on the other. More and more the people are coming to understand the evils of monopoly as described by democrats in 1S96 and in 1900, and more and more they are coming to believe that the democratic methods for reform along th,ese lines must be adopted if popular government is to be preserved. The Washington Times, in an editorial printed int itg issue, of September 21, while dis playing its gratitude for republican victory in 189G and 1900 on account of the money question, added: "Now it is clear to us that practically every other notable feature of those two dema gogic platforms was fully justified." And the Times further expresses regret that the opponents of the democratic party in those two campaigns were too "pig-headed" to perceive that while that party's deductions might be all awry its "prem ises might in the main be sound." Also, that the opponents of the democratic party in those campaigns would feel better today if they had not jumped "to the preposterous extreme of con tradicting every premise on which those policies were supposed to hang down to the Ten Com mandments.1' Time was when political parties were pre sumed to display strength and political leaders were regarded as statesmen when they withheld their endorsements of proposed reforms advo cated by the opposition; and there have been instances where men vigorously fought the very reforms which they had previously as vigorously advocated, and all because the opposition had adopted their own plans. But such things are of the past. If democrats are not sufficiently sincere and patriotic to support their own plans for reform, even when those plans are adopted by sincere republicans, then they are incapc'jle of giving strength and vitality to the political organization to which they belong. If the democratic party were made up of men who would desert their principles and their policies simply beca'use an honest republican had undertaken to -put those principles and policies into effect, it might? 'in' truth,' 'be daid that tho democratic party, fa , dyjng.;. , , . , But at this time when the masses of the peo ple are hopefully turning to democratic policies, and when those republicans who are honestly striving for reform find their efforts thwarted by the powerful hold which monopoly has upon their own organization, there is every reason for the democrat to have faith in his party's vitality, and hope. for the ultimate adoption by his coun trymen of the principles for which his party has fought. THE GREATEST GOOD TO THE GREATEST NUflBER J. T. Harness of Colorado, Tex., writes: "En closed find eighteen subscribers and money order for same. In a few days will try to get up a list 4 of signers to the primary pledge. Could and would have done so before, but to me it didn't look right until I had sent in some subscribers. Faith without works is dead. Prefer to show my faith, by my works, small and humble as they are. If my good wishes would give you sub scribers by the millions you would surely have them. Those sending in lists to the primary pledge should kill two birds with one stone by sending in subscribers' names as well. Yours for the greatest good for the greatest number." Taking advantage of the special offer Com moner readers have sent in subscriptions to The Commoner in number as follows: George I. Gar gett, Alma, Mich., 22; Benjamin Stagg, Crowley, La. 14; Dr. O. H. Russell, Lomax, 111., 10; I. N. Hodge, Bremen, Ohio, 7; John Roush, Lewis, la., 6; J. W. Hardaway, 'Umatilla, Fla., 9; R. O. Thomas, Montague, Tex., 6; James Pace, Nowata, I. T 6; S. C. Vedder, French Gulch, Calif., 6; John Anderson, Rogersviile, Tenn., 10; William SimmonB, Hinton, W. Va., 10; Perry Craig, Pleasant Hill, Mo., 6; W. T. Conner, Guthrie -Center, la., 10; Levi Moyer, Edinburg, Ind., 10; A. S. Beardsley, Dillon, Mont., G; W. N. Clay, Barboursvllle, W. Va 6; J, C. Moyer, Kent, Ohio, 8; B. L. Thomas, Dyersburg, Tenn., 7; G. L, Hettick, Quenemo, Kans., 10; H. M. Cochran, --Union Star, Mo., 6; J. G. Briggs, Versailles, Mo 6; Xi. W. Jones, Foster, Mo., 6; J. R. Brim, Mesa, "Yash., 6; jMMcComb, Wabash, Ind., 6; Charles n E. Demoret, Shandon, Ohio, 6; George B. Jones, Andrews, N. M., 6; E. M. Crawford, Petersburg, Tenn., 7; W. T. Tujl, Magnolia, Miss., 12; B. J. Carney, Yellville, Ark., 8; W. H. Butler, Cayuga, Ind., 6; S. P. Elliott, Conifer, Colo., 7; G. H. Fairbanks, Cleveland, Ohio, 6; J. W. Canaday, NeeBes, S. C, 6; Dr. E. B. Koger, Tate Springs, Tenn., 6; J. H. Ball, North Nassau, N. Y., 8; P. B. Hart, Lamont ,Okla., 10. The following named subscribers have each sent five yearly subscriptions: J. H. Mobley, Piru, Calif.; S. L. Rycraft, Alsea, Ore.; Cyrus -Clary, Baldwin, Kans.; P. B. Hart, Lamont, Okla.; H. A. Cornell, Phosphorta, Fla.; D. H. Sweet, Thomp- sonville, HI.; J. F. Sophy, Garretson, S. D.; B. Depue, Wellington, W. Va.; I. N. McClintock, Horton, Kans.; D. S. Burson, Richmond, Ind.; W. J. Reid, Sheridan, Ark.; Patrick J. Sullivan, Naugatuck, Conn.; George W. Cline, Albany, Ore.j John Shimp, Springfield, Mo.; R, F. Bostick, Gainesville, Tex-.; J. H. Cantwell, Prohibition, La.; C. D. Brewer, Marshfield, Ohio; H. C. Risk, La Belle, Mo.; G. H. Van Home, Beatrice, Nebr.; J. S. Ennis, Korn, Okla.; O. L. Moore, Jefferson City, Mo.; S. F. Poindexter, Lynchburg, Va., B. W. Mathis, Crystal Springs, Miss.; R. A. Page, Milan, Mo.; William Charet, Hazleton, Ind.; i. M. Judy, Adrian. Mo.; J. H. Shoe, Degraff, Ohio; William E. Rose, Council Grove, Kans.; J. M. McClay, Shenandoah, la.; C. C. Hughes, New Boston, Mich.;; D. a St. John, Clarendon, N. Y.; Thomas Hannett, Shepherd, Mich.; J. H Manley, Buckhannon, W. Va.; J. B. Ingram, Keller, Wash.; George B. Harden, Maxwell, Calif.; G. W. At- ticks,,New Cumberland, Pa.; J. W. Nichols, Mor gan, Ark.; Thomas Connell, MCiongah, W. Va.; James W. Woolf, Post Oak, Mo.; G. H. Little wood, Lisle, N. Y.; F. F. Keller, Scottdale, Pa.; D. B. Spencer, Farmington, 111.; Silas A. Cline, Danville, Ind.; C. R. Feist, Easton, Minn.; George C. Voshell, Aurora, Ind.; George '. M ore, Green ville, O.; Mark Gordon, Lincoln,. 111. ; W. F. Coal ing, Rock Elm, Wise; Joseph E. Henry, west Brooklyn, 111.; J. T. Myers, Everton, Mo.: mer L. Bosley, Heater, W. Va.; John F. Neill, Higgtns ville,'Mo.; A. C. Clary, Bryan, Ohio. JJJ REFERENDUM NEWS The Referendum News has been established by the People's Sovereignty League of America, with headquarters at Washington. The News n to be published monthly and will be JJ.V," the referendum movement. George H. bnmt, conspicuous among the energetic and pawsta b reformers of the day.fs editor. The first nuninu. recently issued, will be interesting to people ueu-. erally, while it can not but be helpful to the portant reform for the advancement ot uni" the Sovereignty League is striving. JJJ FOREVER? The St. Louis Globe Democrat (KiKSiel says "The flajg which is up in the P1"1'"1,,' will stay -p fo&ver." Then what become, oi claim so frequently made that according tc i republican policy the people of the Pliiupi'"1 aro ultimately to have independence? .tria vv .N gLiJuvjit. i,F, -SaK Ai :