The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-06-13
NO FUSION,
NO TRADES.
How Far Can We Cooperate With
the Disaffected,

has received, IN some way, the impress
sion that 81 d." favors "fusion" on
congressional and legislative tickets
This is a mistake. We have never
advocated anything of the kind.
"Fusion" is combination of one
party, with a distinctive set of prin-
ciples, with another party with to.
tally different and hostile set of prn.
cipleS. 1t is sacrifice of opinions
and beliefs for the sake of plunder
We are utterly opposed to anything Of that
kind.
We have taken the ground that
where the Peoples Party was in a
hopeless minority, in congressional
district, but majority of the voters
of that district were for free-silver,
then it would be wise, and in accord
ance with the recommendation OF
the free-silver conference at Des
MOines, Ia, to encourage republicans and
democrats to break loose from their old
parties, and unite with US in a non
partisan, free silver, congressional
convention; and thus elect a man who
would vote, in Congress, to restore sill.
yer to its old place, and put up the price
Of echeat, and lessen the difficulty OF
paying the mortgages. We believed
that this would be better than to send
back Tawney, McCleary, ETC., to once
more represent Wall Street and mis-
represent Minnesota.
We want practical craftsmanship
results: in the shape of good laws and
improved conditions for the people
The republicans and democrats make
a fetish of their arties;-they worship
them as the South Sea Islanders wor.
ship their hideous, wooden gods. We
don't want to fall into the same un-
reasoning fanaticism. The People s
Party is nothing to US save as means
to an end,-the correcting of abuses.
We must look through it to the suffer
ing people behind it. The man who
would make an axe and then use it as
an idol, to kneel before, would be ac-
counted fool. The curse of our
country is similar idolatry of organ
izations. We admire the axe, if it
hews down the forests of error, but we
are not going to make deity of it.
That is the act of an undevelOped.
barbarian, idiotic people.
The demonetiZation of silver has re-
duced the value of all property, real
and personal, one-third; and CORE
spondingly increased the burden Of all
debts; and proportionately added to
the power of the money-lenders. We
must change that if the republic is to
live and the people to prosper:-and
to do that we should be ready to unite
not with any political ''party, for
that would be "fusion;" but with any
body of citizens, as citizens,-for thai
would not be ''fusion.' The people
have as good right to come together,
in their primal capacity, as human be-
ings, without regard to old partisan
Affiliations, as they have to act to-
gether in building grain house or
starting farmers store. The Pluto
Gratis have united, without regard to
any differences, political or religious,
to plunder the producers. 1t will be a
great shame and disgrace if the pro-
ducers cannot get together to defend
themselves.
There are good, honest men who will
look at these things differently; and
we respect their feelings; and the old
parties will encourage them; and then
unite at the ballot box to beat us;
and laugh at us, for fools.
And so we repeat:
l. Wherever you have a ghost of a
show of winning, on strict Populistic
lines, by all means, go ahead and do SO:
and we are with you to the end.
2. But wherever you are sure you
cannot win, and that a tool of Wall
Street is likely to win, then,-while not
yielding an iota of your principles,
and "fusing" with no political party,
ring the alarm bell, and call all men
together. as you would if your house
was on fire. 1t is on fire. The flames
of s-government are eating it up;
they are eating you up; and your wife
and your children, and all your poster
ity; they will eat you off the face of
the earth and destroy mankind. Ring
the bell! Cry ''Fire!" Fire." "Fire!"
And when the neighbors come run
ming, with their buckets, don't refuse
any mans help, because of the color of
his skin: or the nature of his religion;
or because he was foolish enough to
vote for Cleveland or Harrison two
years ago. Put out the fire first, and
we can go to squabbling over these
things hereafter. We must put out
the fire, or it will put us out. 1t is
fight for the planet.
But. says some one, "our Omaha
platform will Suffer.'
Is it going to hurt the Omaha plat
form, which declared for free silver,
40 to l''-to put seven free-silvcr "l6
to u members in Congress from Min
nesota? Is it going to hurt the Peo-
pies Party to 'lick' the republicans
and democrats in every Congressional
district in this state? We think not.
Remember the state ticket will be
Populist, out and out: a tremendous
campaign will be conducted for it,
We are talking only of Congressional
candidates. Shall we send free-silver
men to Congress, if it is within the
possibilities to do so? That is the
question.
But remember:-we are only giving
our views and advice; we have no de-
sire to dictate to any one. Think
IL.