Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-04-22
SITS ON THE FENCE
the Peoples Party WithouI an
Issue or Principle
CHA .AcTER or IT'S LEADERS
Show. by Comparison with Great Mea,
7s@ Cone-P.inciplss Of Right ana
Equity in the Republican Parry.

tsoIToR HERAID-Whst claim has he
peoples party" to commend II 10 The
voters OF this country, Does il IN any
peculiar sense possess the elements
which bring about genuine reforms,
and If 50. wherein? Are Its proiessed
principles and political metne dis higher,
purer, holier and more just than those
of the republican partly For instance,
IN THAT respect can the people lock tor
better things from il than from the re
publican party? Wherein, To say MOTH
ing or II being . stool-psgeoa for demo-
crscy, has IT anythlng-but us name
10 commend 1t 10 the support OF the
people, Any party To be servlceable TO
the country must be well-born, and in
telligenee and morality are as absolute
Is essential tn the true success OF A
party - To that of an individual. Look
up the pedigree of the founders and
fathers OF the alleged peoples party
and see how q Donneliy, n Pener,
Weaver or Sockloss Simpson compare
with q Fremont, n Lincoln, sumner,
Grant, a Garfield. The comparison
Is odious-it seems like an insult to the
dead. And the republican party does
not have to look back 10 past records,
and to the long line of noble men, dead
whom the opponents OF progress vllil-
ned while they lived, but whose mem
DRY they now profess to revere. The
republican leaders Of the present are as
full OF the spirit OF patriotism, human
ity and progress as we're the noble dead
wnose nantes they wear IN honor.
Comparison Truly Odious.
In every element of craftsmanship,
manhood and nobility, they tower i'm
measurably above that quartet OF snIde
reformers. Donnelly, tie political
quack; PETER, the bogus patriot;
Weaver, the iumplng-jsck. and the
'socklessn tufioon from Kansas. Is it
possible that these and their few fol-
lowers are 1.-The people," and that Wis
dom shall die with them? Who can
doubt what the verdict Of history will
be IS to the comparative merits of the
two sets of leaders We have been con-
trasting? Look ct the representatives
and principles and methods of the So
called peoples party, and see If 1t has
anything TO commend 1t but It's name,
which is fast becoming as sounding
brass and . linking cymbal. Dema
gogues alone seek to build party on
the ignorance and prejudice of the
people. The republican party makes
no appeal to prejudice or passion. 1t
is not ever looking over its shoulder at
the past. 1t can look to the past with
pride; 10 the present with composure,
and to the future with confidence and
courage. Democracy stands at the tail
end OF the Car OF progress and secs
nothing until it has passed it. The re-
publican party points to record OF
grand achievements. What pledge or
promise OF good works do We have
from the peoples party" What OF
transcendent, public or private benefit
has it accomplished whereas in Kan.
sas, Nebraska, Minnesota and South
Dakota legislatures-it had the power!
just nothing. And while arrogatlng to
itself special immaculateness ard
purity in political methods, wherein
are its methods better than those of
any other party. or anything Ike as
frank, and manly. and true as those of
the republican party.