Newspaper Page Text
Banks County Gazette.
VOL. III.—NO. 6.
THE PEOPLE S PARTY
IS SHOT AT FKOM ALL SEC
TIONS AND PARTIES.
Our Dear Brother Handles Our
Third Party Proclivities
Right Gently.
Editor Gazette:
I had waited sometime after your
editorial immediately following the
St. Louis convention hoping that you
would give to your readers the
platform of the party to which
your then belonged, the prohibition
party. But since you have consci
entiously decided that you can bast
subserve the interest of your fellow
countrymen by—to use The Atlanta
Constitutions phrase—“flopping” to
the third party, of course I have not
looked for its publication, not that
you were opposed to prohibition but
that the prohibition party being no
longer your party you would matural
ly give all your time and talents to
your own party.
But, Mr. Editor, there are a good
many men in Banks that like myself
cannot see the reform that our good
friends, the third party men, are try
ing to bring about, or rather, we can’t
see that the third party will bring the
reforms we need.
I wish to formulate the reasons why
we can rot endorse the old parties and
wherein we still believe the prohibi
tion party to bo the soundest party
existing to-day'in American politics.
We believe that all the reform
needed in this government may prop
erly be embraced under four heads, as
follows :
1. Abolishment of the liquor traffic.
2. Tariff reform, or reduction of
the tariff.
3. Financial reform.
-1. Suppression of monopolies and
trusts, and the regulation of labor and
capital.
We believe that all the details of
reform may be included under these
four divisions.
Well, how stands the existing par
ties to-day relative to these four quetr
tions?
We all believe without controver
sy that republicanism stands unaltera
bly oppose to them all; standing for
whisky, high protection and monopo
ly. We say that all southerners ad
mit that, fwith the exception, of
course of a tew republicans), hence it
would be a useless consumption of
time to discuss that.
I>ut what of democracy?
Democracy in its platform declares
for tariff reform. As to financial re
form it is irrevokably divide,'; one
wing wishing to change the present
financial laws, the other to leave them
as they are. As to whisky it is
distinctively a whisky party, both in
platform and policy, declaring itself
opposed to nil sumptuary legislation.
But how stands the new party ?
It is in favor of two of the above
propositions ont of the four—financial
reform and suppression of monopolies.
It doesn’t breath a-word about the
tariff—the infamous tariff—the rob
ber tariff tfiat is eating up for us $47
out of every $100!
As to whisky, the prohibitionists of
the nation did everything possible to
get their plank embodied in their
declaration but failed. But the third
party, by rejecting prohibition, allied
themselves-like the old parties, with
the whisky element. Therefore this
party, we believe, d.,es not embody
true reform any more than the other
two.
We now call attention to a party
with a platform which embodies real
true reform, the prohibition party.
Let’s examine its principles:
PLATFORM.
1. An amendment to the constitu
tion of the state and of the United
States prohibiting the traffic in intoxi
cating liquors as a beverage.
2. The dissolution of all govern
mental partnership in the liquor
business.
Wc hear a vast deal about finan
cial reform these days. The enforce-
ment of the above planks would give
us reform indeed! In sound num
bers the peoplo of the United States
spend annually $1)000,000,000 for !i
quors. Now this money is literally
and truly thrown away, as much so
as if it were sunk in the bosom of the
Atlantic ocean. This sum is more
than the nation spends for bread and
meat combined. If it were divided
among the population it would be
fifteen dollars per capita.
Reliable statisticians tell us that
three-fourths of the crime are tracable
to whisky. Suppose we abolish the
liquor, it will mean only one fourth
of the present crime, which will mean
the seduction of courts, abolishment
of jails almost, stoppage of expendi
tures for prosecution, not to count
deliverance from the wails of broken
hearted women and children. We
should say that this would all be the
saving of another billion of dollars,
making if added to tae other per
capita, thirty dollars per head to
every man woman and child in the
union. This wo Id mean enough
money to clothe and feed everybody,
and what more would we want? We
are speaking of facts. What need to
coin money to be expended in making
us brutes?
3. The extension of an improved
free public school system, scientific
temperance instruction in all schools,
and national aid to education and
public improvements.
What other party gives your child
a tlirought? \V hat other party recog
nizes the obligation of the nation to
its young people ? None.
4. Fair and reasonable protection
of American lain rers and manufactu
rers in their competition with other
nations.
It would not be straining for effect
to say that this means tariff reform,
since the present McKinley tariff is
nothing more than a leachcrons, rob
ber tariff, oppressing beyond measure
the consumer. If the tariff the Ameri
can people pay was a cited tax there
would he revolution in twelve months.
This plank says reasonable protection
which means any other than we now
have.
5. Laws to guard the rights of
workingmen and of the general pub
lic in their relations with capital and
corporations, and to provide for the
arbitration of differences.
All can endorse this principle.
6. Equal rights for all in the suf
frage, with such limitations only as
shall he adopted to promote the puri
ty of the ballot a:ul the interests of
all classes.
This plank is the bugaboo of most
people in the prohibition platform.
These same people are very inconsis
tent. One says, while I can’t endorse
government ownership of railroads,
yet I’ll join the third party, as in the
main it is a good party. Another
says I can’t endorse the whisky plank
of democracy, yet 1 think it the best
party all told and will waive this ob
jection. Then you say to him, here is
the prohibition party; join it. But
lie says, ob, no, I can’t do tlmt; its a
a good platform, but its got woman
suffrage, therefore I reject it. See
the inconsistency! The writer has
never been an advocate of woman’s
voting, but if you’ll give us the re
form embodied in the rest of its plat
form he’ll swallow it whole and rejoice
in it.
7. One cent postage, postoflice
telegraphy and postoffice savings
banks.
No comment needed.
8. Prohibiting all combination of
capital to control and increase the cost
of products to popular consumption.
Or, in other words suppression of
monopolies and trusts. Don’t you
favor that ?
9. The preservation of public lands
for actual settlers.
Read the first article in The Ga
zette of week before last again and
see if you don’t favor this too.
10. Prudent provision by the gen
eral government for the financial re
lief of the people.
No argument needed.
11. The substitution for the pres
ent national hanking system of a
HOMER, RANKS COUNTY, GEORGIA: JUNE 14, 181)2.
direct issue by government to the
people of all monies which shall be
legal tender for all dues.
Does not this embody the gist of
the best part of the third party plat
form—abolition of national banks and
sub-treasury ?
This platform is the very essence of
perfection. It contains not only the
cream of all other platforms, but it
goes farther and strikes at another
great question, the morals.
We hear a vast deal these days of
corrupt polities and corrupt laws.
Why are politics and laws corrupt?
Because men are corrupt. As long
as men are corrupt laws will be cor
rupt. This corruption means tho
death of nations. It slow Babylon,
it slew Romo, it will slay this nation
of ours unless there is reformation.
How shall we have good laws ?
Make good men. If men are hon
est laws will be honest. If not all
the lagislating we do will he but bind
ing the galling fetters the closer.
Prohibition proposes to reform
men; to make men. What other
party does?
But some man says, I like your
party but seeing no likelihood of its
prevailing I shall not join it.
Do you believe that truth will at
last prevail ? If you do you had bet
ter stand with the truth. Shall you,
believing that this is right, forsake it
for policy ? Because it is delayed in
coining shall you jump upon the
platform of some other party ? Shall
you forsake Christianity because it is
slow in taking the world?
We reject such logic. If God bo
God, and right is right, the truth
must prevail, and here we stand, un
swerving, unfaltering, unchangable.
W. A. Harris.
The Great Revolt—The People
Are in It!
Fort Smith, Kan., Sentinel.
The Patrick Henry Club had an
other rousing meeting Saturday,
night, May 21, at Biswell Springs
church.
Old party collars-wearers were
there loaded to tho brim to reply,
hut after our President had rend the
People.’B platform, they weie invited
to lead off in opposition to those
principles, they all, with one accord,
failed to rattle. Not a sinner said a
word, though offered time and prom
ised a respectable hearing.
To attack thoso grand principles
was too much for their caliber, and
really they were not loaded that way
at that time.
After roll call and usual routine
had been gone through with, your
correspondent was invited to speak
in behalf of the People’s platform,
which he did for an hour, in his usual
fmner-like, plain style, without note
or preparation.
Several new names were added to
the club; also a nice little club of
subscribers for your paper.
All seemed to think it was the right
thing in the right place
Every toiler should read at least
one good reform paper.
The democrats called a meeting at
Auburn !o organize a democratic
club. So few attended that they
failed to organize, but did agree upon
a motto for their club after it shall
have been born. Don’t smile, gentle
reader, but their motto is, “Equal
rights to all, special privileges for
none.” Shades of Jefferson and
Jackson defend us.
The simpleton that can be caught
with such chaff as that needs the
fool-killer in his neighbor bad. He
would bite at the naked hook after
the bait had been gone a week. I
am real glad that they have got some
thing at last, if only a motto. Poor
old democratic party, “By their fruits
(not mottoes) ye shall know them.”
A B Barrett.
Corresponding Seo’ry.
The speaker of the House is get
ting so he dreads the appearance of
Tom Watson and Jerry Simpson.
When he expects them to call for
recognition he looks in some other
direction. Crisp is a cowar.l.—To
peka Tribune.
SUPPORT OF THE GOSPEL.
Brother Haulbrook Conies Rack
at His Antagonists.
Editor Gazette :
I see in your issue of May 10th
that Brothers Lockhart and Slander
is in opposition to my theory on sup
port of the gospel.
I am not surprised, and will say
by way of introduction that I feci a
delicacy in attempting to reply to
both at once. It will not give me an
equitable position only at the expense
of the patience of your readers.
However, Brother Slinkier calls my
attention to the 14th verse of the 9th
chapter of Ist Corrinthiaus. Why
did ho not call tho attention of the
readers of The Gazette to Paul’s
final conclusion in the same chapter ?
Paul wrote the gospel of Christ
without charge that he might not
abuse his power in tho gospel.
We ail know something about the
influence of money; what it has done
and may do is like the sin of unbe
lief. Thousands are led to the halter
and many to shameful graves for
money. Judas betrayed his Lord for
money, and he is stiff betraying Him.
That is the reason, Brother Sbuider,
some of us Baptists shut ourselves up
in our shells; we believe in the regen
eration of the spirit and power of
Coil working on the hearts of men,
and not by the use of money. We
do hot believe in making the use of
money essential to salvation.
When Simon saw that through lay
ing on of the Apostles’ hands that the
Holy Ghost was given he offered
them money, saying: “Give me this
power that on whomsoever I lay
hands he may receive tho Holy
Ghost.” But Peter said unto him;
“Thy money perisheth with thee be
cause thou hast thought tho gift of
God may he purchased with money.”
Brother Lockhart says I have work
ed myself mto a great frenzy over a
1 ittle of nothing. It seems that he
considers my position not worth no
tice.
I had rather live in a wilderness in
tents as did our forefathers, with the
firm principles of the doctrines of the
Bible planted in my heart, being led
by the spirit of God and believe the
truth, than to live in a palace with all
this world’s goods aiding the Roman
power after the ordinances and doc
trines of men.
Has it ever occurred to you, Doctor,
that this Roman power was in exist
ence when Christ came into the world
and that it is in existence to a very
large extent now in this country?
Christ went into the temple and began
to cast out them who sold therein
and them that bought, saying unto
them: “It is written, my house is tho
house of prayer, but ye have made it
a house of merchandise.”
1 speak in reference to the Baptist
church because I am a Baptist. I
cannot understand where your found
ation is, or rests upon. “Wherefore,
if ye be dead with Christ from the
rudiments of tho world why, as
though living in the world are ye sub
ject to ordinancesV” “Touch not,
taste not, handle not.” “All are to
perish with using after the command
merits and doctrines of men which
thing has indeed a show of wisdom.”
In Colossians wc see that all these
things are perishable objects. If we
would administer to the necessities of
our pastors of the products of our
labor and let those give money who
desire to do so, we would lay the
foundation for unity of spirit; but
your turning men out for nonpayment
has become a stumbling stone to
some of those in the church, as well as
out side.
I believe in being led by fear to
support the gospel, but not by the
works of the few, for it is of no effect.
You speak of equallity by the
assessment plan. What is the result?
You take from the poor and give to
the rich in many instances. There
are ministers who labor hard with
their own bauds, as Paul did, and
preach without money or price who
do not get a comfortable living, yet
they do not complain like some of
! tae large salaried preachers.
A few of the brethren elect the
preacher and fix the salary, then send
out clerks to collect the money from
the men who never made the con
tract. You turn men out of the
church for not complying with the
contract you made, not tho contract
he made at all. Our common laws
do not force us to comply with other
men’s contracts.
The founder of the church of God
has never said that you must pay other
men’s contracts unless it is volun
tary in its freeness, and if it is volun
tary it is a gift and not a tax.
The Apostles, when thev preached,
did not take a text, much less confine
themselves to any one place of wor
ship. They wore ready to disclose to
the world what they knew of Christ
and the resurrection of the dead with
out money and without price. They
knew full well tho nature of men,
and have forewarned us of the deceit
fulnes:; of humanity as regards money,
and )et joii say men ought to be
turned out of the church for non
payment.
How do you know hut that those
oppressive laws you helped to make,
which are not founded upon the scrip
tures, was not the cause of the person
being excluded ? If the blind lead
the blind all will fall in tho ditch to
gether. Ido not say that that is the
case in every instance as I am not
permitted to judge, but we had better
give place to judgement.
“Vengence is mine, saith the Lord.”
It is much easier to lead than to
drive. There are delinquent mem
bers who do not gave anything and it
is because of such laws. It creates
an unwillingness rather than a wil
lingness.
In conclusion, if I have said any
thing to hinder any from performing
their duty, it is not intentional. We
should read the scriptures to see what
our duty is and then go forward in
the discharge thereof.
F. M. llai .IiROOK.
The word to charge the enemy will
soon pane down the lino of the reform
army. When that gallant band with
banners unfurled, with the stars and
stripes floating in the playing breeze
—9,000,000 mortgages on the homes
of the people inscribed upon their
armour—with love in their hearts for
humanity, their country and God,
will advance to the conflict. What
power can resist the force of this
mighty host? Inspired by a divine
power, they will crush to atoms any
who would oppose their onward
march. The tottering throne of King
Mammon will be overturned by the
victorious army. Tyrants will turn
and flee before the righteous wrath
of a long suffering people. Let the
word pass, wo are ready for the con
flict. The people must rule. The
babies must have bread. Our homes
must be saved.—National Reformer.
Let it not be forgotten that when
Grover Cleveland took the oath of
ollice, as president, he found thirty
millions of the public money loaned
to national banks, without a cent of
interest being paid for it and which
the banks were loaning to the people
at from 10 to 30 per cent per annum.
That instead of correcting the evil, he
speedily increased the amount to G'i
millions.—Hinesvillc Gazette.
Delays are Dangerous.
We have seen that delays are dan
♦ *'
gerous. We have seen that by delay
an insignificant thing can grow into
a monstrosity. “A stitch in time
saves nine” is a true old adage that
contains much philosophy that can be
applied to some plinso of every avoca
tion and calling in life.
The farmer who carries on business
in a sort of slip-shod manner is not
apt to make a success of farming. If
he pays no attention to his stock, im
plements and hands he need not ex
poet to have fat, sleek, gentle stock,
or first-class implements, and instead
of fertile lands, he may expect them
to be barren with all the good, rich
soil gone, crossed by gullies, and cov
ered with thorns and briars, daily be
coming poorer, all because a few
washes were not stopped, a hedge not
SINGLE COPY THREE CENTS.
trimmed, a spot not fertilized a ditch
not cut, or a terrace not raised. The
crop is destroyed by stock because a
few rails were needed on the feuce or
a line of wire was delayed being put
up. The. out houses are becoming
shackling and unfit for storing away
the products of the farm. The corn
is rotted by a leaking roof when a few
boards with a hammer and some nails
in the hands of a thoughtful man
would be a simple remedy.
Delays ate dangerous, and the man
who neglect, duty is traveling a dan
gerous route. It would be better if
he was to abandons it. The merchant
who is careless and thriftless will
make a failure. The physician who
delays to administer to the coinfort
and welfare of his patients will not
be counted a success in life. The
lawyer who neglects the iuterest of
his clients is not sought after to plead
1). 'ore the bar. The engineer who is
neglectful and forgetful of bis duty
is not the man demanded by the rail
road managers.
And so with government. The
world needs men in office who will
dare to do their, duty, let it cost what
it may; men with knowledge of their
duty who will not delay doing it.
“Give the Democrats a chance.”
They need a larger majority in the
House. They only have a majority
of 147 and it is not large enough to
do anything. Out of 336 representa
tives we would suggest that, in order
for the democrats to be able to accom
plish anything, they should have at
least 3-15. This would give them a
majority of 334. We w'ould aportitm
them about as follows : Seventy-five
at the race-tracks, seventy-five at
home looking after their re-election,
one hundred and sixty-seven left for
a quorum and seventeen not account
ed fpr.—National Reformer.
The Way Not to Dolt.
When you want t*> put a atop to
the illicit sale of liquor, and bring the
violators to justice, the 'way not to do
It is to tolerate the coming forward
of a half dozen highly moral and ro
ligous lawyers to defend them, and
then adjourn to the joint and partake
of the forbidden fruit.
When you want to raid the gamb
ling houses and convict the keeper
thereof, the way not to do itds to
arrest them and bring them up before
acouit in which two-thirds of the
attorneys that practice before it are
men who spend a portion of every
night during the term in a quiet little
game of poker.
When you want to have laws made
that will put a stop to drinking and
other excesses and vices that contam
and ruin the youth of our notion, the
way not to do it is to send men to
your legislatures and congress that
are habitually guilty of such vices
and excesses. And, in this case, it
will help you not to do it to have
them meet in a building where a
high government official keeps a
saloon.
In short; when you want to do
away with a wrong, the way not to
do it is to employ such agents to
carryout your designs as, bj interest
or desire are on the side of sin and
against the reforms that you ask for.
—Sentinel, Ness City, Kan.
The president’s salary is $50,000 a
year. Twenty years ago 30,0QP'
bushels of wheat would have paid it;
now it takes more than 00,000
bushels. Twenty years ago 500
bales of cotton would paid it,
now it will take about 1,700 bales to
get $50,000. The annual salary of
a congressman is $5,000. Twenty
years ago 50 bales of cotton would
have paid it, now it will take about
177 hales, and yet congress seems
resolved to reduce the currency, de
jnonitize silver, and keep up salaries.
This is a very hopeful view of the
promised reform, and a desire that
justice be done the people is conspic-
I ously prominent in congressiional
| movements. —Alliance Farmer, Ho
l mer, La.
I The Gazette till January 1, for 500