The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-08-19
THE PASSING OF THE PoPUL1sTs

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THE PASSING OF THE POPULISTs
The recent state elections in Tennes
see and Alabama, in which the Demo
Gratis were victorious, presents conclu
slve evidence that the decline and fal
OF the Populst party has set in. II
each Of these states there was fusion
between the Republicans and Popu-
lists, and in each, considering the fall
ing off In the aggregate vote, as COM
pared with 1892, the Democrats rolled
up large majorities. The Populists,
who were doing most of the boasdng,
predicted long lead in each Of these
states, and in Tennessee, where the Rc-
publican party is vigorous and well or
ganiztd the combination would nm.
doutlledly have run the Democracy
close If the Populists were anything
like as strong as they were in 1892, but
the result shows an easy victory for
the Democrats. In Alabama, where
the Populists composed the bulk of |
Kolb's followers in 1894. as they did in
1892, there was large falling off in
his strength this year.
In the career of this latest of the
third parties, history is repeating itself
The life of all Of them has been short,
and their exit has been as sudden as
their advent. 1t is law of their being
that they must increase in geomc,-
rlcal ratio IN order to maintain them,
selves at all. They must grow by leaps t
and bounds II they are to assert them 4
selves, and when any slower rate of
expansion Is reached, the beginning of
he end Is In sight. The moment the "
stationary condition Is attained, death is
$ at hand This has been the exper- u
ence Of all the political parties which, :,
Ike the Populist. appealed to a class, nj
md which played upon the passions Il
nd prejudiees Of single element of m
he community. Such parties, when ~
hey are powerful enough to elect any
ody. almost invariably elect men who "
the worst CT the vices and IA
bsurdities of the organization to al
hich they belong. and thus they 80 -
Witty bring upon their party the o,.
iblic detestation and contempt. ii,
Although the Populist party rolled bu
more votes In 1892 than any other,
the minor organizations ever did
a presidential election, 1t is extreme
unlikely to live as long as the
'eenback party That organization
ok part in three presidential can
sses, those of 1876. 1880 and 1884; the
pulists will hardly. at the outside, Y
xe part in more than two There is pro
chance, indeed. that their career will ton
even shorter than this, for many OF ~
'ir leaders have been advocating a for
lnge of organization, the alteration nav
base, and the adoption Of a frol
name, and the transformation may "ie
effected before the campaign of 1896. h,
fate cannot be propltiated in this Che
y A change OF name is easily be
ught about, but this. at the present AZ
9, can not involve any important ne,
nge in principles or purposes. The mon
d OF the Populist party already tern
IS in all the distinctive political expi
aries, lunacies and iniquities of the urvs
and these can hardly be Increased lns
material degrees in the next two dore
s Neither the principles nor the Fran
onnel OF the Popullst party. or leoh
tever other name that organization M ~ ,
bear. will be essentially different mod,
Sss from what they are now. ana The
have fallen emphatlcally under OF u
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