The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1893-12-21

to battle with only one plank of their
platform? Who is authorized to do
this, or even. say it? The document
which officially presents the principles
OF the Peoples party was promulgated
at Omaha, and must remain the party
law until revised or changed by the as
semblage of equal dignity and author
ity. That convention when it meets
will represent the more than million
of votes cast for Weaver and the more
than million since converted. Mean
time all talk of absorption into the
wing of some other party with the sole
shibboleth of free silver" is an idle
dream. Free silver coinage, it is true,
is Il part of the Populist propaganda
but not the most important part nor
the objective point. They propose to
remain true to that principle as to all
others, but decline to throw over the
bulk of the cargo of their ship for the
purpose of saving remnant.
There must be no mistake about
this. No man or set of men is author
lied to speak authoritatively for the
Peoples party. They will speak in
their own behalf and in their own way
"hCli tIlC lIopS1 ililit NohCS. ~hChh
time they have an ark of the covenant
which they intend to sacredly guard
and defend to the last. What shall be
put in the next platform and how much
condenslng or re-arranglng shall be
done, is of course a matter for discus
sion and consultation. But it may as
well be understood now as later that
the men in this movement will not con-
seat to allow their organization to be-
come one-ldea party, nor will they
allow new engineer to come aboard
and switch the train to another track.
All are welcome to walk or ride with
us, but it must be as brothers and
equals, not dictators. There are other
questions besides that of silver that
press for settlement and which the
great organization now growing SO
rapidly is pledged to settle right.
They will be glad to have all either
wholly or partly in sympathy with
them to join hands in the great coming
battles. But they will not consent to
disband and fall in again shorn of all
their prestige and nearly all their de-
fensive armor. They 10 not propose
to throw away all the costly work of
these years which has brought them
In sight OF the Detachable Mountains
still far away, indeed, but yet known
to overlook the Promised Land.
A great political revolution is inn
pending. AS i: nears to view the
splendor of sunlight may be seen glis-
tening on the long lines of the Popu-
list host. It is no time for breaking
but for closing ranks. Keep steady
stand firm. LII the war chariot of old
there were no supernumerarles; the
driver, the fighter, and no more. We
| want no supernumeraries now-no men
! with selfish schemes to retard our
progress through the ranks of an al
ready too formidable foe to be paraded
hereafter in the triumphal chariot as
the heroes of a contest which they only
helped to retard. We are in no idle
game. We fight not as men beating the
air. We are driving the red battle-car
and not gilded coach with room
enough On the footboard for holiday
chiefs-of-staff This class must get Off
the caissons, as horses accustomed to
| the flash of steel, the roll of drums,
the waving of banners, and the peal OF
cannon, have been known to start and
shy at unfamiliar objects. Noncon.
formist.
| Dying. Betrayed and Deserted.
The poor old Democratic party is to-
day in the agonies of its death struggle
1t is in the throes of its expiring parox-
ysm and will very soon pass from the
world forever. 1t is not passing Sc
renely to the great beyond, but is dy.
ing in agony and distress. It goes
| without hope of resurrection, without
hope for the future. 1t is dying HUI.
inflated and disgraced, surrounded
by hopeless despair. Expressions ii
sorrow are few vet an occasional
mourner shows an anxiety tina,
amounts almost to grief. Chagrin ano
| modification, at the manner of its exc
cution, is plainly written on the faces
of its former friends. For its las,
breath is being cAoked out of the poor
old thing by its trusted leader and
godfather, Cleveland. As its once
powerful frame lies helpless and par
alyzed before Us We can only say, re
quiescat ia pace. Those who once
lived only to love and admire it vii
turn from 1t with disgust. 1t coult
no longer subsist on Ignorance ant
reverence for imbecile leaders. 1t
promises to the toiIing millions hav,
not been fulfilled When it is deas
buried they who were its friends vii
not mourn. They will detest it
name, denounce its history. and de
clare that its existence had alread,
been prolonged beyond It's days OF use
fitness. For it has ceased to hav,
honor and integrity. 1t is only
skeleton. Il mere shadow. Over il
grave no monument will be erecte,
for it viii sink beneath the risin,
wave of popular intelligence.-Chi
cage Express.
| Who Is Hoke smith:
Kansas City Cor: The cause OF the peremI
1 90, ~4au Tr~@~ w. 4