Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1894-10-25
To Candle Popuiists.

To Candid Popuiists.
There are populists who pretend
TO believe that the mass OF the re.
publican party is corrupt: that its
leaders hnve MI been bribed by
some mysterious power to wrong
the people, and that its speakers and
editors and members generally are
trying to deceive their neighbnrs
with II view to getting their vote by
false claims. 1t is II waste OF time
to argue with such men. Life is
too short to be squandered on men
Of that class. But there are thou
sands of others who are honest and
fair minded, who were honest when
they were republicans and are hon
est now; men who joined the pop
ulis,s because they thought the sue
cess oi their principles would benefit
the country, but who have been
somewhat disappointed and who
want to nc. from this time forward
with that party, regardless of its
name, that is most likely to bring
general prosperity to all the people.
Many Of these me, are now wen.
dering whether, after all, they made
u mistake in going 10 the populists.
They want to know the truth and
do what il best.
We want to ask this latter class
canlidly what advantage has been
derived or what ca,, he expected by
having II populist representative in
! Washington instead Of u republi
can? MIR. Kyle has been there three
years. Does any man in mis- state
imagine that he is in amy better
condition today than lie would have
been ii ii republican had been there
instead Of Mr.. Kyle? Has anyone
noticed any particular difference be-
tween MIR. Kyle and a democrat in
these three wears? Has Le voted
against the democrats in amy impor-
tant matter? Is he anything but IL
democrat now? Let us see. Ii.
made n speech ut Aberdeen sume
days y AMI the News, in IL four
column review OF il. says that with
the exception OF n few remarks in
favor Ui the free coinage of silver,
the, the senator was absolutely silent
ON all the 50 called cardinal princi.
! pies Of populism. lie had not one
word 10 say concerning the govern.
ment ownership of railroads., the ma
tlonalizatiun Of the liquor traffic, the
sub-treasury or composite dollar
scheme, the land or transportation
question, the labor problem, ia,
money, the initiative and Ieferen.
dun, or my one IF the populis,
principles" The News adds lha. il
was ~ democratic sperch, pure and
simple. precisely such a speech n.
his audience had heard scores q
times from democratic orators: thai
there was not Il bit Of populism i,
it, and tint every point he made i,
in the new democratic camping,
text book"
The men to whom we are nov
writing were Onc republicans. The,
acted with that party because the,
Thought ii better than the demo
cratic party, they went TO the pop
ulist party because they thought j
was going to he better than either o
the others. We ask them now, j,
all candor, what has been gained b,
electing Mr.. Kyle to the senate
What eau you expect or hope t,
gain by electing two populist repre-
scntatives from South Dakota thi
fall? Ii they are to become demo
Gratis to all intents and purpose
after they ore elected and II yo,
now think that democratic princi
pies are better than republican prin
cip'es, why would it not DE bette
to vote straight for what you expec
to get?
J, 10 the farmers OF South Dakot
honestly believe the present taril
law il better Tor them than the Nc
Kinley law? Are they glad to hay
the tariff taken off wool and to al
low 100000 O pounds of foreigI
wool to come in here free to com
pete with theirs? Can Senator XVI
aor anyone else make them bcliev
that is to their interest? Do the
believe it to their interest to hav
! the cost Of their sugar increased
cents a pound? These are two {
. the most important changes tina
. were made in the tariff. Senate
J Kyle not only voted for the entir
bill G mtaining these provisions, bu
lie helped put them there. He SUI
ported them both separately, wheI
they were uh.ier consideration i
, committee Of the whole, aud eve
made a speech in favor Of free WOO
II there had been n republican i
die senate in the place Of NJ. XVI
il would have been almost insesibl,
il not quite. 10 incorporate either :
these features in The new tariff bill
or even to pass the bill At all.
We ask candid, fair-minded pol
ulists 10 take these things into carr
fali cOnsidt rati0n and to decide II
shemssives whether il would not b
iNtt~f TOR them and Or the penpl
atJaEae II elect two republican cor
gressnlen this fall, and 4 legislator
that will send 4 republican 70 Ii