The Populist Party Politics of 1892 - Essay Example

? The Populist Party Politics of 1892 due Question one: Rebuttal to arguments advanced by William Graham Sumner Professor Sumner fronted an argument that natural accumulation of wealth should not be interrupted and that monopolies should be let to grow, thanks to what he coined as the law of ‘survival for the fittest’. This law, he clarified, implies that government shouldn’t interfere with monopolies and instead let rightful winners take their share. In earth- hunger, Professor William Graham Sumner states that: “Before the tribunal of nature a man has no more right to life than a rattlesnake; he has no more right to liberty than any wild beast; his right to pursuit of happiness is nothing but a license to maintain the struggle for existence... (Sumner & Keller, 1913 p 234) ”. This argument is aimed at ensuring the poor do not get any support for social justice against the rich and that wealthy slave owners should be left to continue with oppression since they happen to be strong in the natural sense. As an observer of the Cotton Farmers Alliance, these arguments by Professor Sumner are more than disturbing given the degree of oppression witnessed in Houston that called for cotton pickers strike. The foundation laid by America’s founding fathers demanded justice for all, rich poor, black or white. Speaking against government support for the less fortunate as advanced by Professor Sumner is contrary to the founding principles of the United States. Justice must be done to reduce the growing gap between the poor and rich members of the American society and this can only be done with government protection of the voiceless. Before nature, we are not any better than the wilder beasts and rattle snakes, but then we are not living in the wild as Professor Sumner would like to make us believe, we are human beings with a sense of intelligence living in a civil liberated country that was founded on the platform of justice and freedom for all. These founding principles have the implication that the rights of the ‘wild beasts’ are protected against attacks from ‘lions’ and that as the American ‘lions’ industrialize, the ‘wild beasts’ that are the poor cotton pickers, must be carried along in clear structures that assures them a place in the table of industrial success. The kind of unrest witnessed in the south is a product of years of oppression and to mitigate this, government must come up with clear protection policies which will ensure that the fruits of industrialization are shared by both the cotton pickers and the industrialists as the American society works towards closing the rich-poor gap. Professor Sumner argues in his book: What Social Classes Owe to Each Other; that social programs by the government to help the poor are contrary to nature and robs hard working people of their rightful rewards. He forgets that the alleged hard workers are propelled to success by the poor laborers who toil to make their enterprises successful. It’s an act of fairness to give the laborers a share of their output because no success can be realized if it were not for the efforts of cotton pickers in the south. The economic principle of fair reward is the basis of my support for social programs that will ensure cotton pickers share into the success of industrialization through these programs. Sumner’s ideologies have no place in the American society after my observation of happenings in Houston. Question Two: The Populist Party, 1892 Common problems Addressed by the Populist in Nebraskan and Georgia Key to the issues facing the Populist of Omaha and Georgia are economically traversing issues, which were so dominant in the U.S.A in the late 19th century. Therefore, in the event of such a convention, the two groups would have similar issues to rise on a wider scale. Some of the issues include labor and remuneration, the legal and justice system as well as taxation (Sumner & Keller, 1913). Watson from Georgia speaks of exploitation of the average laborer in the state of all colors. He explains that both blacks and whites of the state undergo the same kind of oppression in terms of working conditions and durations with little or no pay. The laborers work throughout the year with the benefits going to the merchants or employers who are equally of all races. In this case, the issue of exploitation is not dependent on race but based on equality among the citizens. According to the populist party of both states, the legal system has become a luxury that the poor cannot afford. It is due to the legal system and its proceedings that the poor cannot find just. The law only protects the rich while they continually exploit the poor people. The courts expects the poor who are struggling to meet their basic needs to pay bond in order that their cases be listened to leading to the poor masses loosing their property while also living in poorer conditions. From the platform of Omaha, the issue of concern is taxation where citizens are heavily taxed at the expense of heavily profiting corporations, which evidently benefit more than the citizens (Sumner & Keller, 1913). This is form oppression, the populists in Georgia are keen to address. They realize that the existing parties, the Democrats and the Republicans are not ready to bring the change but are only protecting the multimillion corporations. The two groups converge in this front. Solutions to the Common Problems To the problem of labor exploitation, the populists are advocating laws, which will entitle the laborers to work leaves while also reviewing their remuneration. They will also seek to ensure the employees are able to get their dues readily without being duped of their sweat through legislations, which will make employers liable (Sumner & Keller, 1913). Further, they will seek to facilitate access to justice through courts without people having to pay. This is included in the people’s rights to be easily available. The law they seek to promote will ensure that the poor as well as the rich have a right to hearing before their case is determined which would effectively guarantee better working and living conditions while also protecting the rights of the exploited employees. Through their policies, the populits would campaign for more taxation on the corporations while ensuring commensurate taxation on workers. This would ensure that the tax regime was able to take care of the high income earned by the corporations (Sumner & Keller, 1913). The tax burden would be even to the workers or laborers. Differences in the Two States: Nebraskan and Georgia Key to Nebraskans is issues related to money circulation for the purchase and sale of agricultural produce. The Nebraskans will also detest inflation. Georgians on the other will highlight issues of race and color animosity as well oppression of laborers in terms of taxation and exploitation. Identifications In complete sentences; identify and give the historical significance of each of the following: 1. Samuel Gompers He founded AFL (American Labor Foundation) and became the organization’s president through which he promoted harmony among the many craft unions within the AFL with the objective of reducing jurisdiction conflicts. 2. Grover Cleveland The only president to have led America in 2 non consecutive terms, he opposed high tariffs and subsidized payable to both businesses and farmers. He was instrumental in fighting corruption within the American system thereby reinstating integrity to the American political system. 3. Jane Addams She founded Hull House in Chicago and fought for the rights of mothers, proper public health and peace among comminutes of the world. She was the ideal woman that was looked upon by many middle class women in their fight to improve their communities. 4. Battle of Wounded Knee This battle reminds Americans on the consequence of misunderstanding and oppression. The deaf tribesman who led to the nettle was simply misunderstood but in the end, an estimated 150 people lost their lives in the enraging gun fire. 5. Mary Elizabeth Lease Her contribution to the suffrage movement enabled America women to get access to the power to vote and run for political offices. Her work is what enabled modern day women political leaders to be who they are today. Bibliography Sumner, W. G., & Keller, A. G. (1913): Earth-hunger, and other essays, by William Graham Sumner, edited by Albert Galloway Keller; New Haven, Yale University press. Read More