New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-26
WHAT OF POPULISM ?
WILL IT GROW OR DECLINE?
POPtLIsM DOES NOT COMMEND ITSELF TO TIL
SOBER JUDGMENT OF THE NATION AND
DOOMED.

SOBER JUDGMENT OF THE NATION AND
is DOOMED.
CFrom The Weekly Tribune
In last weeks Tribune I wrote an article on
the recent elections in their relations 10 the
Democratic party and the duty Of the Repuph-
can party after it's signal triumph. In this arti-
Gle ] desire to say something as to the result
of that election upon the party which styles
itself Populsi.
Two years ago the Populists. with great
flourish Of trumpcts. claimed everything ana ac-
tually carried a few States. Thereafter. all over
the country they made enormous claims as ~
their future prosperity. ] met them. overlooking
as they were with all the enthusiasm Of new
converts in Oregon at the election last spring.
They were active. defiant boastful. They ciamed
not only Oregon but the rest Of the world Tney
were headed by Governor Pennoyer. renegade
from the Democratic party who really believed
that he was going t. capture the pace OF United
States Senator through the aid of his newly
found friends. He is a ready canpa'gner Inc
people nocked out in enormous numbers to listen
10 him. No man was ever more confident of
success.
had been in that campaign only few days
when | discovered that the P0puist party Is hoth-
ing more nor less than the old Greenback party
with a new name. one of their leaders. SCION
Chase OF Maine, stated the exact fact when ne
said: THE two parties are as near aIike as TWO
peas: when a person has the one he has
seen the other" Mr.. Chase, having been Lead
ing Greenba cker. ana now leading Popuhst'
may be considered good authority upon this
point.
Experience with the old Greenback party IN
Michigan between 1873 and 1884, enabled me TO
identify the craze on the Pacific Coast No
more curious disease ever afflicted the members
of the human race. 1t has its origin in what It's
victims call "a conviction" that the fnancial
business of the world has heretofore been map-
aged without business sense. Its followers con-
ceive the notion that the business OF the world
depends entirely upon the amount OF circulating
medium in existence. They attempt to trace all
the calamities of this void to what they call
"a lack Of circulating medium" They assume
that money is and always has been. the creature
of law: and then they assume that a govern
roent properly managed should always furnish
the people with all the money they desire. They
cling with great tenacity to The notion that the
fiat Of the government not only creates value,
but makes good money out Of anything which 1t
shall attempt They scout as an exploded deiu-
sion the idea that real money must he based
upon something of actual value or which repre-
sents in some way human toll Ii their position
be true then Of course what has been supposed
10 be the wisdom of the past becomes its folly.
Other notions Of the Populist party grow out
Of this wonderful rover which they think every
government possesses. They would have the
Government own ana control all the railroads
and the telegraph and telephone lines. When
one innuires where the Government : to get the
money with which TO pay for these enormous in
t4resis they will tell YOU. IN - many words,
"Iet the Government issue tho money" They
would put no limit upon the amount when cold
In tina, way be supplied; and they have - con-
Germ as to whether such money would possess
value or not Why should they have? They
assume that the value is 10 be found in the de-
cree If the Nation: and no one can put any limi;
T. The number Of DEGREES that can be made
Populists look upon the idea that property
should be acquired only through toll and frugal
fly as exploded. They get their hold upon the
masses By constantly abusing people VINO nave
acquired means in this world and whom they de-
nounce as "money-bags." Their whole stockton
trade consists in the shrcwdness with which they
attempt To make every person believe that he y
being robbed" by the moneyed men They as
sumo that the laws have all been enacted for the
benefit Of the money power, and that no legisla-
ton is ever enacted for the benefit Of the people
They have all been eager t. borrow money and
have been ready and willing t. give mortgages
10 secure the payment Of such borrowed money
, The moment the money has been secured and
gone into their enterprises, then no language IS
severe enough to condemn the men who have
loaned them the money and no epthets are vile
enough t. heap upon people who insist upon col
lecting the debt when due. The whole effort OF
their platform speakers and their party journals
is centred upon an attempt to array the people
who have little or nothing against those who
have something.
When the people in Oregon came to look their
notions squefeiy in the face and To understand
lust what these people were driving at they re-
pudiated them at the polls in overwhelming
majority
On my return from Oregon | visited the State
Of Minnesota ana present a. the Republican
Convention at ST Paul ON the same day the
PopuLst convention met in the city Of Mime
apolis The POpulists headed by that pohtlcdl
tramp Ignatius Donnelly. were yelping at the
TOD Of their voices and claiming everything
General" Coxey told me personally that ne was
present at their convention. and never In his lie
had seen a more wonderfu-lo1k!ng BODY OF men
He assured me- with great confidence tina; Mime
sofa was about 10 be carried by an overwhelming
majority for the Populist party.
The recent elections have put end to all
these high hopes The d Democratic party has been
WEST I4TH 81