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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 11, 1910)
rrzw!gN&i& . --w" rffcfo-fc.aaft &&&&- The Commoner. VOLUME 10, NUMBER; , 2 ft kr f Btltution, declaring: "Tho pooplo of theso United Stntos aro tho rightful masters of con gresses and courts, not to overthrow tho con stitution, but to overthrow tho men who per vert tho constitution." On tlio (lucHtion of capital and labor, Mr. Lin coln was very explicit. He said: "Monarchy itself is sometimes hinted at as a posBiblo rofugo from tho pdwor of tho people. In my present position 1 could scarcely bo justi flod wero I to omit raising a warning voice against this approach of roturning despotism. "It is not needed nor fitting here that a gen eral argument should be made in favor of pop ular Institutions; but there is one point, with its connections not so haclcncyed as most others, to which I ask brief attention. It is tho effort to placo capital on an equal footing with, if not above, labor, in tho structure- of government. It is assumed that labor is available only in con nection with capital; that nobody labors unless somobody olso owning capital, somehow by tho uso of it, induces him to labor. "Labor is prior to and independent of, capi tal. Capitnl is only tho fruit of labor, and could novor have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor Is tho superior of capital, and deserves much tho highest consideration. No men living aro moro worthy to bo trusted than thoso who toll up from povorty; nono iess iucllncd to take or touch aught which thoy havo not honestly earned. Lot thorn bowaro of surrendering a political power which thoy already possess, and which, if surrendered, will suroly bo used to closo tho door of advancement against such as thoy, and to fix new disabilities and burdens upon thorn till all of liberty shall bo lost." In ono address, In dofonding himself from tho cbargo of warring against capital and antagoniz ing tho rich simply becauso thoy wero rich, Mr. Liucoln said: "I do not bollovo in law to prevent a man from getting rich; It would do moro harm than good. So whilo wo do not propose any war upon capital, wo do wish to allow tho humblest man an qqual chanco to got rich with everybody else. "When ono starts poor, as most do in the race Sf Hfo, free society is such that ho knows bo can otter his condition; ho knows that there is no flxod condition of labor for his whole life. I am not ashamod to confoss that twonty-fivo yoars ago I was a hired laborer, mauling rails, at work on a flat boat just what might happen to any poor man's son. I want every man to havo tho chanco in which ho can bettor his con dition, when he may look forward and hope to bo a hired laborer this year and the next, work for himsolf afterwards, and finally to hire men to work for him. That is tho true system." Ono statoment made by Abraham Lincoln In his famous speech deliverod at Alton should bo kopt before tho people by every advocate of popular government. On that occasion, Mr. Lin coln said that there was ono issue that would continue in this country, "when these poor tongues of Judge Douglas and myself shall be silent." Ho explained: "It is tho etornal strugglo between theso two principles right and wrong throughout the world. Thoy aro tho two principles that have stood faco to faco from tho beginning of time, and will over continue to struggle. Tho one is the common right of humanity and tho other the divine right of kings. It is the same principle in whatever shape it develops itself. It is tho Hamo spirit that says, 4You work and toil and earn bread and I'll eat lt. .No matter In what shape It comes, whether from tho mouth of tho king who seeks to bostrido tho people of his own nation and live by thQ fruit of their labor, or from one race of men as an apology for enslav ing another race, it is tho same tyrannical principle." Tho "poor tongues" of Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas aro silent; but the issue continues, and tho American people aro face to faco with that issue at this time. The common right of humanity is now contesting with the dlvino right of kings. It is plutocracy against democracy. Tho few says to the many: "You work and toil and earn broad and I'll eat it " In this shape it comes; and oven though Abra ham Lincoln had not given us tho assurance, intelligent men know that in whatever shape Bucn a doctrine is presented, whether from the mouth of the king who seeks to bestride tho people of his own nation and live by the fruit of their labor or from a handful of men, who because of special privileges obtained under tho iciw .. tu tiiBiiive uiq masses of tho people, it is the same tyrannical principle. V. ADDRESSED TO BRITONS BUT VALUABLE TO AMERICANS "Everv erain of freedom is more precious than radium, and the nation that throws it away is the most wanton of prodigals." David Lloyd-George in House ot Commons, WHERE DO THEY STAND? There are at least five candidates for senator in the state of Mississippi and only one of them lias taken the people into his confidence to the extent of stating his position upon the ques tions with which he must, as senator, deal. Dem ocrats everywhere must appreciate the folly of electing men to- office without understanding their attitude on vital questions. Mississippi democrats ought to write to every candidate for United States senator now seeking election at the hands of the Mississippi legislature, asking him for a statement of his views. It will not do to elect a man to the United States senate or to congress simply because he happens to be an agreeable gentleman. The people need real democrats, men who understand the gravity of the situation and who will work and vote for tho public interests rather than for special in terests. Ask the Mississippi candidates for senator to give an explicit statoment of their position on tho tariff question. Do they endorse the tariff plank of the 1908 national democratic platform? Do they believe that a platform is a pledge and that it must not be violated? Do they believe that all conspiracies in restraint of trade, all monopolies, are bad trusts? Do they understand that monopoly has no rightful place in our system of government? Are they op posed to ship subsidy, to national incorporation, to the central bank? Do they favor the income tax? "Where do they stand upon the various questions that are dear to the hearts of free men? Let every reader of The Commoner in Mis sissippi call upon the candidates for senator for a statement of their views. similar report as to Iowa. The only comfort that has come to Mr. Taft in the last thirty-six hours is that his federal incorporation bill has made a hit with the big bosses of the senate and is likely to be reported favorably." If Editor Allen and Senator Dolliver had told the people the truth as to the source of Mr. Taft's campaign funds, and his close affiliation with special .interests, the republican presidential' ticket would not have fared much better In: 1908 than it would if the election should take -place tomorrow. ' "MORALIZING THE LIQUOR BUSINESS" The directors of the California State Brewers Association recently met in San Francisco for the purpose of "considering measures to place tho liquor business upon a higher plane." They resolved, therefore, to cultivate among liquor dealers "the due observance" of all national, state and local laws and regulation. Referring , to theso resolutions, the San Francisco Star de mands some proof of the seriousness of the California brewers. Th0 Star also throws out this significant hint: "There are certain laws in regard to corrup tion of voters and legislators, apart from the laws made to regulate the liquor traffic. There are laws against the bribery of jurors and against political intimidation of voters and can didates for public office. Let the brewers re member these laws and cease their continual violation of them. That will help .to moralize tho liquor business." JUST MICE A SENATOR Mr. Hedley, general manager of a public ser vice corporation in New York, was asked by a committee of citizens to give the public certain rolief. His reply was: "I will study the situa tion and then do as I please." How would Mr Hedley do as the republican candidate for-United States senator to succeed Mr. Depew? He cer tainly talks like a stalwart republican. REPUBLICAN PROSPERITY ITEM Here is a republican prosperity item printed in the want adds of the Lincoln (Neb.) Journal: WANTED Somebody to give employment to young, bright, well educated lady, trained nurse. She can give massage and Swedish movement. Can do typewriting, stenography, and bookkeeping. Splendid housekeeper, good musician and expert proofreader and re porter, used to newspaper work. A few more talents can be furnished when required. Send answer to "B. N. O." 642 So. 28th. It would seem that such a talented woman would have no difficulty in obtaining employ ment with the "grand old party"" turning -out prosperity at the old stand. "WE TRY TO PLEASE" A Washington dispatch to the Lincoln (Neb.) Journal, republican, says: "Republican members of the house are be coming alarmed at their inability to shape up matters for the coming congressional campaign in a manner upon which the two factions in the house can agree and at the same time please the president." It is also becoming plain to many old fash ioned men that the republican party will find it difficult to "shape up matters" so that they will suit the rank and file of the republican party and at the same time please the president. IN OLD VHtGINIA William Hodges Mann was inaugurated, Feb ruary 1, governor of Virginia. In his inaugural address he put himself on record as regards the liquor question, which it is thought will be the feature of his administration, by saying: "I simply reiterate my steadfast opposition to the saloon and my confidence in the people of Vir ginia, who have the right to settle this question as to them, shall seem best." In old Virginia, too! So it seems that, after all, the democratic party is not necessarily the whisky party. J FROM OLD MISSOURI Clinton, Mo., February 1, 1910. The Com moner Lincoln, Neb. Dickinson elected to con gress in Sixth Missouri district by more tZ 3 700 majority. Thanks to The Commoner fo its help. PEYTON A. PARKS, Chairman Democratic Committee. "NOT A PRECINCT" The New York World prints this Washington dispatch: , b "The president was jarred today by the word brought from Kansas by Editor Henry J. Allen of Wichita and announced at a dinner in New York that Taft today could not carry a town ship in the Sunflower state. Likewise Mr Taft was jarred by Senator Dolliver, who made a Five yearly subscrip tions to The Commoner for $360 cents each 4-' ; r; 'i '"' ' W V p'.T.frWMiMwim ,iaw ,-, - "' " - ' - WCUKB3B