Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 August 1900 — This Is True As Gospel. [ARTICLE]

This Is True As Gospel.

Our republican friends well remember that four years ago it was impossible to find a republican in this whole country who would admit that the republican party favored a single gold standard. They were all for both gold and silver, as was their candidate for the presidency. All the talk of the democrats that the election of McKinley and a republican congress would fasten the gold standard on the country was most nonsensical. Thousands of republicans all over this broad land that voted for McKinley in 1896 would have repudiated him at that time had they any that the gold standard currency bill would have been adopted. But how did it turn out? The gold standard bill was adopted and to-day the administration is using this very piece of legislation—with the trusts and bankers—as campaign thunder. Now they tell you there is nothing in the democratic cry of imperialism; it is too silly to even think about. Why, the republican party is as much opposed to militaryism and imperialism as any democrat dare be. But wait. By the same subtle trickery that the republican party gained an “endorsement’’ of the gold standard in 1896, it will attempt to get an “endorsement” of imperialism in 1900, and the re-election of William McKinley to the presidency will fasten imperialism and all its attendant evils upon this country just so sure as there’s a God in heaven.

The following editorial from the I Chicago American is in point: To-day the Democrats accuse the Republicans of aiming at imperialism. In a feeble sort of way the Hanna machine denies that its tendencies are imperial. But ! let the country vote to continue Hanna-Republicanism in office and up will go the cry that Imperialism has been formally indorsed. In 1896 the Democrats declared that the Republicans intended to put the country on a single gold standard. That was denied by the Republicans, and Mr. McKinley expressed great anxiety that other ; nations should come in on a 16 to I 1 basis. But the election w’as de- ■ aided against the Democrats, and I what happened in the silver matter? A bill was passed by Hanna via McKinley. This bill permanently—or as permanently as Republicans could do it—outlawed the white metal. Disclaimer today and frank confession tomorrow. Such is the Republican scheme. Re-elect McKinley, Imperialism will be pushed to its extremes, the great standing army —ready for China or any American city with ' a strike on hand—will be built up I out of American families. Then if you voters cry out you will be laughed at. You will be told: I "Why, the whole election turned on 1 Imperialism. Bryan said it was the para- | mount issue. When "McKinley was reelected Imperialism was endorsed by the American nation, and the will of the na- , tifin must be obeyed." If you want to kill Imperialism I you must kill it NOW, at this elecI tion. If you do not want a great army ready to march hither and yon at Hanna's command, you must vote against that army THIS FALL. If you don’t want to see the ; power of trust monev backed up by a great STANDING ARMY CONTROLLED BY TRUSTS, you i would do well to vote against the i whole trust brood THIS fall. If you vote for Imperialism this year, don't complain when you got Imperialism in big doses right after election. There must be an investigation of the county records—the people demand it. The democrats of the Benton-Fountain-Warren judicial circuit have nominated John W. Sutton of Williamsport for judge, to oppose Judge Rabb, Again: What service did Francis Bostwick (the Barnacle editor's daughter) perform nt the late railroad election that Jasper county was under any obligation, either legally or morally, to’pay her sl2?

“A large standing army is not only a pecuniary burden to the people and, if accompanied by compulsory service, a constant source of irritation, but is ever a menace to a reiiublican form of government.”—From William J. Bryan’s Speech of Acceptance.

The case of an Omaha editor charged with contempt of court, has been the means of obtaining from the Nebraska Supreme Court an opinion on the right of newspapers to criticise judicial acts. Says the court: “Our decision# and all of our official actions are public property, and the press and the people have the undoubted right to comment upon them and criticise and censure them as thSy see fit. J udicial officers, like other public servants, must answer for their official actions before the chancery of public opinion; they must make good their claims to popular esteem by excellence and virtue, by faithful and efficient service, and by righteous conduct.

After being out but 53 minutes and taking only one ballot, the i’ury unanimously found Caleb ’owers guilty of conspiracy in the murder of Governor Goebel of Kentucky, and fixed his punishment at life imprisonment. Those who followed the trial closely know that the verdict was a righteous one. When the jury retired to their room, Juror Porter, a republican school teacher, was the first to speak and said: “Gentleman, I have said that I did not believe Goebel’s murder the result of a conspiracy, I did not think Caleb Powers could be guilty, but I have heard the evidence and I am convinced he is.” Yet we have the humiliating spectacle of other conspirators in the plot to murder being furnished a safe refuge from the law’s clutches by our republican governor. One of the conspirators (Taylor) is making republican speeches for the republican state committee, while Another (Finley) is editing a republican newspaper!

Congressman Landis, speaking at Lebanon the other night, said of Gov. Mount, who was on the same platform: “He has demonstrated as governor that no gang of political bloodhounds can trace a legally elected governor of a state into Indiana and take him back a fugutive.” Mr. Landis is treading on tender ground. Before this he had placed himself in the attitude of defending political assissi nation—he and others of the same brand. The man whom the supreme court of the United States declared to have been legally elected governor of Kentucky was murdered in cold blood by men who were very close to W. 8. Taylor, the usurping governor. Taylor did all he could to screen the guilty. He surrounded them with soldiers, and when at last the suspected ones became known he issued pardons in the vain attempt to shield them from punishment. Then as soon as the court declared against him he fled in the wildest alarm from Kentucky and took refuge in Indiana. Flight may always be shown as evidence of guilt, and yet Mount, knowing that Taylor and others had, run away from arrest and trial on a charge of murder, refused to honor a requisition for their return. Mount and Landis and Hernly and their kind are apologists for and defenders of political assissi nation and shielders of persons duly indicted as assassins. If there is glory in it, if there is anything to be proud of and to brag about, they are welcome to it.

The Barnacle refers to George W. Castor, trustee of Milroy tp., as a democrat, and we do not question the Barnacle’s statement as based on the cow-puncher’s idea of what constitutes a democrat. The record of Mr. Castor’s democracy, however, is not such as would commend itself to loyal democrats of Jasper county. Mr. Castor was originally a republican, we understand, but became imbued with the populist doctrine for a short time and was nominated for township trustee in 1894 on the populist ticket, (no democratic ticket was put in the field) and was elected by the combined votes of populists and democrats. Soon after his election to this office, it seems, he forgot the people who had placed him at the head of their township government and has since utterly ignored populists and democrats and gone back to his first love, the republicans. What little patronage he has had to bestow has been given to republicans, who had no claims whatever upon it. His annual reports have not even been given the Barnacle, but were given to avowed republican papers. Two years ago Mr. Caster was “indisposed" on election day and did not appear to open the polls. An election in Milroy tp., as a result came very near being defeated, but was, after considerable delay and extraordinary effort on the part of the voters, arranged for and held, but the vote of the township trustee was not recorded as among those who voted. Today you will not find a. democrat in Milroy township who will say

that he believes Mr. Caster is a populist or democrat either, and to do him justice we will add that we never heard of his claiming to be the latter. The Barnacle is very hard up for followers when it claims Mr. Caster as a democrat, and, you know, the cow-puncher hates populists as the devil does holy water. Since its admission as a state in 1816, with but four exceptions—--1824, 1836, 1848 and 1876-the electoral vote of Indiana has been cast for the winning candidates for the presidency, and for the past 20 years there has been no break. Of this number the names of eight ended with the letter “n.” Bryan and Stevenson are sure winners, and will carry Indiana by at least 40,000 plurality. See if they don’t. Robert Parker wrote W. J. Bryan a Letter offering him S2OO for a one hour s speech at Fountain Park Assembly. Mr. Bryan replied that he did not speak for less than SSOO per hour. The great democratic leader’s struggle to be a friend of the poor man is likely to make him a millionaire.

The above is copied by the Official Apologist here from the Goodland Herald. The statement is only partially correct. About three years ago, so Mr. Parker says, through Hon. Anson Wolcott, he offered Mr. Bryan ‘s2so for an hour’s non-political speech at Fountain Park. At that time Mr. Bryan was devoting much of his time to lecturing and had engagements a long time ahead. Mr. Wolcott opened up a correspondence with him and reported to Mr. Parker that Mr. Bryan could not afford to come for less than SSOO. Mr. Parker did not want to take the chances on bad weather, etc., of the investment paying out, and Mr. Bryan was not engaged. Mr. Biyan’s presence would, of course, have been a great attraction and thousands of people would have paid their money at the Park gates to see and hear him. Mr. Bryan never has made any charge for speaking at any gathering that was free, but he has received good round sums for speaking where the affair was purely speculative, and has turned large sums of the money so received into the democratic campaign fund to assist the cause he stands for. His refusal three years ago to come all the way from Nebraska to make a nonpolitical address at Fountain Park for speculative purposes will lose him no votes in November.