The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-03-24
The Plain Peoples Party.

voters are beginning TO seriously consider
what they CAD do next fall to prevent tie
annual waste of their votes, which has been
going on for twenty years, with the unVary-
ing prospect which sares the farmer in the
face who knows he is planting bad seed, or
good seed in barren soil. Voting on old
republican lines in the county every one
knows isn't worth losing day to attend the
election, unless it is to meet old friends and
have chat with them about the weather.
and other popular subjects ofthat kind.
Their honest democratic neighbors are in
pretty much the same frame of mind. They,
too, are sick of going up to the polls and
voting in perfunctory way for ring made
ticket, pledged TO follow the diciation OF
certain ring masters who manipulate the
party to promote the interest of the court
house clique' Of the county, or the BATH
more ring of the State. These men too
would like to feel they were casting a vote
that bore some affinity to the vote of free
men "a vote that would have an influence in
shaping the public interest of the county
aud State.
A good many of these voters have put in
a protest vote against the conditions existing
in their old parties, by voting for candi-
dates of the prohibition party. Voting for
this party is not claimed by its leaders to be
anything more, or expected ever to be any
thing more, than protest agains: existing
abuses. All the rejecting portion of the
party have ceased to hope, if they ever
entertained such hope, that the prohibi-
,icn party can ever gain strength sufficient
to elect ca ndidate. 1t has served good
purpose in the reform movement, and has
materially aided in helping the dIsintegra-
ton of old parties which has been going on
for the past few years So those who are
anxious to have their votes count for some
thing practical, will not look 10 the prohi-
bition party, which is in lis scar and yellow
leaf, as political party.
The party of the future is undoubtedly
the Populist party. They are advancing
and championing the principles of thor
ough reform in our government which every
man who has to earn his daily bread by his
daily toll in every line of useful industry, is
anxious to see reduced to practice, 10 be
ensralted in our body polite in place Of the
boss rule and corporation iosered class
privileges which have become the para
Df uOvprnmpnt [.
State and National.
The great republican daily papers which
have been the heralds of the party managers
proclaimed as soon as the result of the cleo
ton was known, that the people had decreed
change of policy in the government from
which there could be no appeal That party
had staked its future existence on what il
styled the policy of protection. That was a
kind of tariff protection which had meyer
been proclaimed in this country by any
party before Harrison's first Presidential
campaign. 1t was embodied in the
mckinley bill, and in that concrete form
was submitted to the American people il
1892 for their decision. That verdict wal
so emphatcally against it that the most o
It's advocates did not consider it worth while
entering a complaint against the verdict
Of the polls.
Without question, the mckinley bilP
was the only definite policy the republican
party had that they dared to definitely pro-
claim. They made straddling pretense tc
have financial policy which favored the
reconciliation of silver, but when driven to
show their hand in the last Congress, il
turns out that the only financial policy the
party has is the national bank, English gold
ring policy. The election showed too plainly
that the people are decidedly opposed to
that as the future money of this country,
This policy involves the rule Of corporations
generally. This the party high priests
never dared to- openly acknowledge, but
contented themselves with quietly thwarting
every measure that was the least distasteful
10 corporations. In the presence of this
view, which is an honest face to face view Of
the republican party and its trusted organs,
the most Jealous disciples of the party must
see there is no future for the party as it has
been organized for the last twenty years
and which eliminated last fall. 1t can
never make Roadway as a national party
again, and when an old party ceases to be
able TO hold national organization it is
virtually dead. 1t has ceased to have an
existence in several Of the southern States
II is retrea,Ing defeated and beaten past
hope of recovery in the far west and north
west. lis millionaire and corporation
leaders are Fastening to join their million
aire and national bank, corporation and class
privilege brethren of the democratic party,
and rally round Cleveland, where they are
preparing for a last desperate stand against
the reconciliation of silver, and in favor of
the single gold standard. Tariff reform"
is lost sight of in this desperate stand In the
interest of the gold ring and money
monopoly.
Mr.. Cleveland is the chosen leader of the
MONOPOLY government millionaire class, and
he appears to be in thorough accord with
them. 1t is plain that the" plain people,
who compose the bulk of the democrat party,
will have to seek new leaders, if they hope
10 see the principles which Jefferson pro-
nulsated established as The fundamental
principles of American government. And
the "plain people" of the republican party
where can they turn for a haven to escape
from the wreck of their beloved party which