Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1894-05-09
THE SILVER CONVENTION,

In another column we publish the
proceedings of the silver convention
recently held at Des Moines, Iowa 1t
will be seen that this is pretty COOL
peoples party doctrine. We like our
free silver friends, and would like
them better if some of item would
stop trying TO swing the Peoples
party for tail TO the free silver dog.
While our free silver friends have a
pretty fair idea of the money question
and are compelled to use Populist
argument-even the fiat money theory
to support their position, we think
1T would be the part of wisdom for
them TO come over bodily to the onlv
free silver party there is. We are
glad to note that present indications
point that way. Quite number of
their ablest advocates have already
declared themselves PopuiIsts and
others are coming While we are
perfectly willing to ioin hands
with the free silver men, il is lust as
well TO inform them that we believe it
is only a step in the right direction
and we can assist them only so far as
is consistent with the principles en-
bodice in the Omaha platform.
a free silver Republican who
believes in high tariff.
In national banks, in fostering trusts
and charging the powers of corpora
lions, need expect no assistance from
The Populist Party. The same with a
democrat who believes the slme way.
If the free silver men want the aid
and assistance of Populist votes the
proper way to secure it is Tor them to
vote for Populist. There has been
no lodging or wabbling on the spindle
among the Populists on the free silver
question. The Populists have nothing
TO gain by compromising single prin-
ciple' in putting into congress re-
publican or Democrat VINO will vote
with them only on the silver question
and against them on every other issue.
We doubt, even in those districts
where they have no semb!ance of
show for success, if it is the wise
thing to do to put out no candidate
and vote for a free silver man, be he
democrat or republican. If this bat
tie is ever won at all it will be won
substantially on the lines laid down
IN the Omaha platform. Free silver,
SO far as principle is involved, is
only sop. Notwithstanding what
we have said there are considerations
of policy which we can not afford
to ignore. We do not mean the
policy which would give us
temporary advantage at the political
pie counter, but one which assists us
along the lines of education and by
this means helps us to success.
Our silver friends are assisting us in
educating the people up to compre
hen>ion of perfect currency. A dis
cussion of the 81 yer question is a dis
cussion of the whole monetary ones.
ton. 1t was by the assistance of sill.
yer men that we got our case in court.
As long as the Populists maintain
their party organization intact they
need have no fears of the prominence,
given The silver question. But let
them draw the line there. Let no
Populist votes be given republican or
democratic candidates. We are march.
ing under free silver banner 1t is
one OF our principles, embodied in
our platform. If our silver
friends are in earnest let them
marshal themselves under orr
banner and fight in our lines. If any,
body goes bushwhacking let it be
them. Efforts will no doubt be made
to organize free silver party with
that question as single plank. Don't
trust 1t. 1t is too narrow to stand
upon. Nothing but disaster can fol-
low disorganization, and for Populists
to go into any such move as that means
disorganization. The resolutions of
the silver convention are good. That
is Peoples party doctrine. But the
methods which mean In republican
districts be a republican; in demo
cratic districts be democrat; in Pom
ulist districts be Populist, but above
all be for free silver" is policy fit only
for pc itical demagogues.
WHATEVER the outcome of Coxev's