The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1892-05-14
HON. POLK TALBERT ON THE PEo-
PIES PARTY.

The following letter from Hon.
Polk Talbert appeared in last
weeks issue of the Gloster Record:
have been asked this question::
stWhat do you think of the Peoples
Party movement IN our county "
and requested to answer It through
your columns.
j am not inclined to believe that
my thoughts or opinions with refer-
ence to questions that concern the
public are worth any more than
those of any other humble citizen,
vet | have no hesitency III express
ing them either publicly or pri-
vately, especially when asked to
do so.
Since my return from the recent
session Of the Legislature have
had neither time, inclination, nor
desire to thiuk aboat public mat
tiers, and for this reason had not
given the Peoples Party q mo
ment's thought till ! saw that some
of our most prominent and respect
able citizens had taken the pre-
liminary steps for organizing such
a party in our county. Since then
/ have given it some thought.
There is not the shadow of a
chance for the Peoples Party to
even approach success III the ap-
preaching presidential election
without "a polite, Il upheival which
is not at all likely to occur, aud
therefore not single reform would
be accomplished through its agen-
cy.
If we admit that al the reforms
sought to be accomplished by tins
party are for the best interests ~
the ppople we must also admit
that the REFORMS to which the
Democratic party is pledged are
the next best thing to Them IL
there is no prospect in sight for
getting these reforms, It seems u
me unwise to refuse to ielp get the
next hest thing when the prospect
for success is bright. The prospect
for Democratec success in the an-
preaching election ls tattrIlhG,
provided no part of the party :
present strength is withdrawn
from il. If q large part OF 1t goes
to the Peoples Party victory will
surely be inscribed upon Rpubli-
can banners. In this event tariff
reform. and other reforms, will b.
set back for an indefinite length Of
time and the party that is RESPONSE
BILE tor the evils brsettiug us given
new lease OF power.
My observation leads me to be-
lieve that great majority oI
Democrats are favorably disposed
toward the Oeala platform, and
that this platform will grow in
favor the more it is investigated
from the standpoint of reason Ivy
all fair-minded Democrats. We
may differ as 70 means and methods
but agree as to principles. Several
measures have already been intro
duced into Congress by leading
Democrats on line with this plat
form. 1t occurs to me, therefore,
that just now there is hope ofIecei'- :
ing needed reforms III the Demo.
cratic party, while there is none Of
securing them i'll the Peoples
Party.
Ii such reforms can be accom-.
plished within the Democratic
lines. where lies the hope TO us oI
the South for accomplishing them
ontsides | can't See it elsewher,
thon by a fusion with Republicans
To those who favor and believe IN
the supremacy Of the white race
can't see how such fusion could
be effected on terms they could re
card otherwise than as hunliallng
aud unsatisfactory if not dlsreputa.
BILE.
While / do not deny that tn,
Democratic party may have prac-
tically in many instances departeil
from the faith of its fathers and
founders, also brlieve that mas
much as majority of its rank and
file are imbued with pure aud un-
defiIed Democratic principles, i
can. if we will do our duty. be
UTOuEuI OdCk w thhb BbitN NH~te
it will again be recognized as llit
party of the people, BY the people
and for the people. We Of the
S iuth are under special obligations
to this party for its favors in recelri
years. 1t is now about to ente
upon another contest with the Old
enamy, the enemy of the 5 ,uth-
and l may add the enemy OF th'
conntry-the Republican party
Its leaders ask us TO try it. trusi
it, and be- patient with it once morr
| think we ought to do it, and thai
going off into the Peoples P.Ti9
now will pIove dangerous if no
ruinous experiment.
1 have not tried to answer the
above question as fully, p-rhaps
as it should he. for the reason tina
Icsnuot in letter Of reasonable
length. have merely limited, yct
may say, in disconnected way, a
some OF my thoughts with ie'er
sf.- tN ltat u