FEBRUARY 9, 1?C5 Uc Nobraohcw Independent PAG 3 15 The Main Reason Why- Editor Independent; One more bat tle for political reform has been lost, once more the majority have endorsed tha policies of the republican party. Acknowledged anew their servility to the monopolist, and again given their approval to the imperialistic policy of forcible expansion and all other iniq uities of past '.administration. Why should it not be that way since the majority, have so willed it May -be after all we are wrong in our conten tion that the people are in the main honest and intelligent. If the majority of the people are indeed honest and intelligent, why do they not give more ' evidence of it. Take for instance the campaigns of 1895 and 1900. The party that appealed to the honesty, integrity' and humanity of the people was thrown down by them, while the party that ap pealed to the spirit of selfishness, greed ' and brutality, was endorsed. ; Were the leaders of the democratic party . so much to blame after all in adopting republican tactics with the l'.U" of winning? Now, the fact that the lepublican administrations did not carry out to" the full, the iniquitous promises of the platforms, i3 to the credit of the administrations, but not to the credit of the people who en dorsed the platforms. In the matter of the gold standard they did the very opposite of what wab promised in both platform and public and political speeches, in that they in creased the supply, of money instead of decreasing it. It would almost seem in some cases that their dishonest pre tenses were only for the purpose of catching votes, , and - that beneath all that was the honest purpose to serve the best interest of the people in spite of the fact that the peopie were too dishonest to vote for their best inter est There is no use in denying, that .the idea of "people's government" ;is on the wane and it will continue ,to wane until the citizenship become hon est enough to assume their responsi bilities toward government Talk about dishonesty among officials. If there were one-half of the dishonesty among the - administrators of government as the average voter exhibits, we would have something to complain of sure enough. Bad off as we are, we are better off than we deserve. Suppose that , by hook or crook, or trick we . could succeed in electing an honest and capable set of men from one end of. officialdom "to the other, what would it all amount to without the support pf an honest citizenship ? Suppose we had . elected Bryan in 1896 .or 1900 with only- a small part of even his rown party understanding or being in -sympathy with his ideals. I tell you we are beginning at the wrong end of this reform business. Abusing republican administrations, trusts, combines, mo nopolies, while the real culprits, the voters, responsible for the whole mis chief, remain unchided. The-need is for a hand strong enough to throw the whiplash of reproof on the dishonest citizen. Where did the trusts get all their advantages- and powers? Why, the fool people gave them to - them. None of these great advantages were taken away from the people by force, they were -all free gifts. And in spite ofall that is said the trusts are fairly temperate in the use of their powers; they are dishonest; yes! They take un lawful advantage, yes! They crush out honest competition, yes! They do many abominable things, 7es!-yes! But here take the average citizen, too dis honest to cast an honest ballot, and give him suddenly this great power, this strangle-hold on the throats of the American public and see what he would - do. - : . -'-i .The worst of "trust oppression" would seem like humane benefaction, in comparison. ;i . . Take .the "honest farmer" (and by the way? it was the -'honest farmer" that defeated reform when it was so near to winning). . Take the "honest farmer," I say, and give him the con trol over the price of meat that the meat trust now enjoys, ani meat would rot in their ' smoke houses" at the price of dollars per pound because none but the very rich would . have money to buy it The majority of the citizenship has lost their respect for law,- their love of right, and - retain only their fear of the penalties of the law. Such a condition will surely low- ecthem (as it should) from their high er office of citizens,; where they are the makers and defenders of law-by virtue or tneir respect for right and justice, and the legacy of liberty left by the forefathers, and will lower them from their present high estate to the degraded one of subjects b laws and conditions over which they will have no control. And whose fault will "it be? The most dangerous element in poli tics is not as is popularly supposed, the bribe giver or the bribe taker, be cause", they are. comparatively few, in number. But it is that great mas3 of respectable honest" citizenship that will vote fofvicious measures without- any reward. ' - Suppose you had a certain work to do that required the abilities of five men, and had the wherewithal to pay but one of them for his labor, you would have a hard time getting the work done. Not so with the monop olist, when he figures in politlC3 he hires about one-fifth of the voting strength, that he needs, and finds the other .four-fifths, ready to, .work for nothing and pay for the privilege be sides. Thui it is that about one-tenth of the voting strength can over-power the other nine-tenths. Ask the average voter o? the major ity party, what. he thinks of certain legislation, and he .will tell you he knows nothing about it Ask him what he thinks of the platform of his party. He will tell you he hasn't read it, Then ask him how he can vote Intel- 1 'gently, knowing nothing about what x is doing, and he will proudly tell . u that his party bosses know what tL; y are about, and that he is "willing to eave the whole matter xto them knowing, that it will be attended to right"- "': 'y'" "X'-v:-- :r Such faith! Such perfect trust and confidence, were; it exercised in his God, instead of the Idolatrous direction in which '. he does exercise it, would save his fool soul from perdition. 5 And we 'are eternally finding fault with the administration, is if it could help" itself? With the mighty power of the monopolist pulling in the wrong direction, and the mighty force of the majority of the people, pushing In the same direction. And . the president i3 often unjustly criticized. He is ex pected to exercise super-human powers In the "trust busting" business. How he owing as he doe3 his position to the friendliness of -the monopolist to him personally, and the popular endorse ment of trust rule by' the people? Is he more than human? Is he a sort of demigod? Is he able, gigantic though he be, to-stand against all the world alone? ' Isn't he doing as well as could be expected, handicapped as he is? Take for Instance his first public ut terance after being assured of his re election, when he said he would not under any circumstances accept a third term. What Was that but a rebuke aimed at the slobbering flatterer and idolator. It ha3 come to a pretty pass in this country when the patriotism and firmness of one man is all that stands in the way of the change from republic to kingdom. . Read his message strange medley, strange mixture .. of bad and good, showing that the; better nature of the man wa3 struggling for expression in spite of his evil environment. Instead of being criticized he is rather to be pitied. He might be likened to a great giant bound with many strong bands. For in his struggles in the right direction restraining cords seem to tear and cut through the very tendon3 of good intentions. Why should he be required to make a martyr of him self try-going' up, against this awful power alone? -'-Let the people move in the matter of the regulation of the trusts first,, and if they fail to do it; then let the trusts rule them forever and ever. - ? , SIB FOREE. HEADACHE "j At a0 4rug item. 25 Dm 25. j A Queer Populist Editor Independent: As my subscrip tion on The Independent expires Feb ruary 1, next, I deem it proper that I should give you - my reasons for not renewing It,5 and notify you to J quit sending it. to me after that date. I am a true "populist, my first presi dential vote was cast for B. F. Butler. I also voted for Streeter, Weaver, W. J. Bryan twice, and last fall for Watson, not because I liked' Watson or his cam paign, but for the principle. ft" ..What makes me quit The Indepen dent is the way you have- haaVof late to hurl abuse at W. J. Bryan. Populists may think it is proper to vote for Roosevelt and ridicule Bryan. but it don't work, with . me. ; I- think Bryan would have been elected presi dent in 1896 but for Thos. E. Watson. I listened to one speech Tonl Watson made in Osceola, Neb., that fall and that was enough to satisfy me that Watson and. some others didn't help Bryan any. i ! . . -It' seems tot me while, reading: your paper that you have got a notion in your head, that to build up yours and Tom Watson s political fortunes it is necessary that you tear down Bryan and the reform democracy. In this NO INSTITUTION IN AAERICA HAS GREATER PROMISE THAN THE Bankers Reserve Life uy Comb any OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA ... . . - r With its 70 Per Cent Record of Increase of - Gross Assets During 1904 Progressive Salesmen or Agents do well to Con tract for an Agency of this Teh AMIIion Dollar Company For Information, Call on or Address B. H. ROBISON, President 1 " " 1 1 1 " ' 1 .. " you, of course, can do as you please, Jut I will not be along with you in it. Ana tne wooas are-run or otners (good pops too) that think, likewise. Hoping tliis explanation is all .that is necessary I a3k you to scratch my name from your mailing list Feb. 1, 1905, as that is the date when my sub scription expires. JOHN P. CARLSON. Osceola, Neb., R. F. D. 1. (The Independent will continue to print what the rank and file of the party have to say about Bryan, Watson or, any other political leader. If any other populists around Osceola,, Neb., have a different view, it will be glad to print their opinions also. Ed. Ind.) FARMERS, ATTENTION. Do you wish to sell your farm? l so, send full description, lowest price and best terms. Or, if ycu wish to buy a farm, ranch or Lincoln home, WTlte to or call nn Williams & Bratt, 1105 O st. Lincoln. Neb. FARMS For Sale S I fUlllIU j MULHALL, Sioux CUy, Iowa. DIAMONDS! We can sell you a diamond for 110.00 or for $300.00, and at all prices between. Let us know your wapts and we will gladly serve you. . r --v Tl. G. WOLFF, 139 So. 13th St. ; Lincoln, Nbb Stock Merchandise For Lond Large general stock of merchandise now running in a good Minnesota town and doing good business which I will exchange for good improved land and some cash. FRED F. CLAR.K, 426 Boston Dlk., Minneapolis, - Minnesota, GEO. W. BKKGE, Attorney. IN TlIK DISTRICT COURT OP LANCASTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA. NOTICE OF SALE. Ia the matter of the estate of Conrad Schmidt, decensed. Notice is hereby siren that la pursuance of an order by lion. A. J. cornlsh, one of the judges of the District Court of Lancaster County, Ne- ' braka, made ou the 31th day of January, 190t. for the f ale of real estate hereinafter dlserlbed.there will be sold at the East Door of the Court House in the city of Lincoln, Lancaster County, Ne braska, on the 28th day of February 1905, at tea o'clock A. M. at public vendue to the highest bidder for cash the following described real estate, to-wit: Lot nine (9) in block thirteen(13) of C'nhn Mctcalf fc Farwell's Pub division of I the North half ( N. of the Northf ast quarter t. . y) or section iweniy-wree (ay, townsnvp ten (10), range six (6), F.ast of the 6th P. M., in Lancaster County, Nebraska: 8ald sale will re main open one hour.. Said real f state will be clear except taxes tor 1904. KATE SCHMIDT TROUT. Administratrix of the estate of Conrad Schmidt, deceased. Dated this 6th day of February 1905. your wife the drudgery and labor and yourself money you should use gas for cooking and heating. A gas stove is ready to respond immedi ately to. the touch of a lighted match at any time of the night Think what this means in case of sudden illness. ' Gas Ranges, Heaters , and Water Heaters at cost UliCOLII GAS & ELECTRIC LIEUT COMPAIIY . Opn Evenings Auto Phone 2575 Bell Phone 75 SHERIFF SALE Notice is hereby given that by virtue of an order of sale Issued by the Clerk of the Dis trict Court of the Third Judicial District of Ne braska, within and tor Lancaster county, in an action wherein Peter Judge Is Plaintiff, and Charles W. Burkett et al. Defendants, I will at 2 o'clock p. m.. on the 28th day ot February; A.D. i!K, at tne east floor 01 the uourt House, in tne city of Lincoln, Lancaster county, Nebraska, of fer for sal eat pu duo auction tne following de scribed lands and tenements to-wlt. Lot Seveu (7) Block 73: Lots Two (2 Nine (9) Block 79; Lot One (1) Block 20; Lots Six (6) and Seven (7) Block 87; Lots Four (4), Five (5),-Six (6) &ud Seven f7 Block 13: Lots Seven f 71 Nine f9V Ten . '. - ' ' .. . . v. . . . . At. : (10) ock 3H. Lots rive (o) ana t.ieat ) uiock 40; I ot Ten (10) Block 44; LottTwo (2) and Six, (6) 151oce zo: an in tne town oi iiawtnonre, JUan- i caster connly, Nebraska. Given nnaer my nana tnu 2utn aay of January A.D. 1905.. - NICHOLAS RESS, Sheriff. S. B. HAMS, Attorney. NOTICE Notice is hereby given to all whom It may con cern, and especially to Sarah J. Woriey, non resident defendant, that on the 25th day of Jan uary A. D. 1905, Charles Dunning as plaintiff filed hia petition in the District Court of Lancaster county, Nebraska, against Henry V. Headland, administrator of the estate of W1K Ham H. Woriey deceased, Sarah J. Woriey, an? lot eight hundred and twelve (812) and E. 15 ft. of lot eight hundred and thirteen (813) In the village of Waverly, Lancaster county Nebraska, as defendants, the obiect and prayer of said pe tition being to foreclose certain liens for taxes set out in said petition existining in plaintiff's favor against said real estate, to have said defen dants and all other persons barred of any claim to said real estate and for equitable relief and that said real estate is made a party to said ac tion. Answer to said petition is required on or be lore Monday March 6th 1905. : . CUAHLES DUNNING, " ... PlainUfK, Tom Watsou's magazine and The j clubs of five or more a special rate of 1.40 will be allowed. Address or ders to The Independent, Lincoln, Neb. . i -