The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-01-09
DONNELLY'S VIEWS.
PLANKS WHICH SHOULD BE IN
THE PLATFORM.
Waiting Policy Believed to Be
the Best.
Chicago Times.)

He believes in the waiting policy in many
instances He writes:
| II am Of the opinion that the fewer
| planks we have in our platform the larger
| will be our following. 1t is better to wiz
| on one important proposition than to bt
| defeated ON so. The object of those united
! in the Peoples party is to reform certain
| abuses which threaten to destroy liberty
and the nation. We must go at the work
In reasonable, practical manner. Let us
| agree upon one, two three planks and
present them to the people. In the mean
| time we can, individuals, in local
| groups work for other reforms The theory
! which has a fair chance to succeed in one
| section would be utterly hopeless in anoth-
| er The fact that we agree to make our
| main fight a few points does not pre-
clude us from continuing the work of edu-
cation upon score of others. We simply
| do not put all our eggs in the basket We
keep some for another setting
so long as we are out of power we can
effect no reforms of any kind. If we win
| on two or three issues the discussion will
| go on. and we may advance to the solution
| of other questions. The first thing is to get
all those who think alike on the land,
| transportation and financial planks of the
Omaha platform to unite and take possess
sion OF the government. After that all
reasonable reforms are possible
Il find many resemblance between the
difficulties which confront to our
platform and those which the Republican
party had to encounter in the campaign
of 1860. The 9th of July, 1859, Abraham
Lincoln wrote Schuyler ColfaX: My main
object in such converse ton would be to
hedge against divisions in the Republican
ranks generally, and particularly for the
contest of 1860. The point of danger is
the temptation in different localities to
platform for something which will be
popular just there, but which, neverthe-
less, will be a firebrand elsewhere, and es-
pecially in a national convention. AS in
stances, the movement against foreigners
in Massachusetts; in New HamShre to
make obedience to the fugitive slave law
punishable crime; in Ohio to repeal
the fugitive slave law, and squatter SOW
ereignty in Kansas. In these days there is
explosive matter enough to blow up half
a dozen national conventions if it gets into
them, and what gets very ripe outside of
conventions is very likely TO find its way
into them. What is desirable, if possible
is that in every local convocd ton of Re-
prblicans point should be made to avoid
everything which will disturb Republicans
elsewhere. Massachusetts Republicans
should have looked beyond their noses, and
they could not have failed to see that tilt
ing against foreigners would ruin us in
the whole Northwest. New Hampshire and
Ohio should forbear fitting against the fugi-
tive slave law in such a way as to utterly
overwhelm us in Illinois, with the change
OF enmlty to the constitution itself. Kan
sas in her confidence that she can be saved
to freedom ION squatter sovereignty ought
not to forget that to prevent the spread
and naturaliZa ton of slavery is national
concern, and must be attended to by the
nation. In word, in every locality we
should look beyond our noses and at least
say nothing On points where it is likely we
shall disagree
To this MIR. Co,fax replied
Nothing is more evident than that
there is an ampler number of voters in the
Northern states opposed to the extension
and aSSressionS of slavery and to Demo-
cratic misrule to triumphantly elect pres
ident of the United States. But it is
equally evident that making up this ma
jority are men of all shades and gradations
of opinion, for the conservative who will
scarcely defend his principles for fear of
Importing peace to the bold radical who
strikes stalwart blows regardless OF policy
or popularity How this mass of mind
shall be consolidated into a victorious pha-
lanx in 1860 is the great problem, 1 think
OF our eventful times. And he could ac-
compsh It is wOrthier of fame than Ma
poleon or Victor Emanuel
But the task was accomplished and Mr.
Lincoln had much to do with the work
and the Republican party triumphed. We
have the same problem before us, and l
hope We will be given equal wisdom for it's
solution.
1T is not a sacrifice Of principle to use
good sense i'm adapting means to ends. Let
us move against the enemy in 1896 with as
lew DOSSihlp-li1<Q in
| the Nickshurg campaign, when his baggage
consisted of an extra collar and tooth
| brush.
There are few propositions which,
standing alone, would, l think, meet the
approval of a vast majority of the voters
Of this country. They are:
Il. That the paper cur rency of the cOun-
try should he issued directly to the people,
and corporat ions individuals should
be permitted to interpose themselves be-
tween the government and those who con-
stitute the government, and levy tribute
upon every dollar. in the shape of high
rates of interest to bankers, without the
payment of which the peoples money could
get to the people.
g. That the supply of money thus COM
ing from the national government should
be adequate for all the business wants of
the country, and abundant that fur
,lished to any civilized nation in the world
80. AS an incident to this abundant sup
w
gold and silver, on equal terms, as long as
either is used money. and at the ratio
existing before silver was demonetiZed.
~. We demand that all agricultural lands
owned by aliens shall be condemned, under
the right of eminent domain a reasonable
price paid therefor, and given in tracts of
40 acres each homesteads to actual set
tiers. No foreigner should be permitted
to interdict the inhabitants of country
from access to their own soil
Now personally. 1 am in favor of many
other ENTHUSIASTICALLY government
ownership of the means of transpOrta ton
and communca ton; but if the placing of
this in platform is going to drive away
those who are not prepared for it, and
without whose votes we cannot succeed
then am wiling that 1T should be held in
allegiance for a time. The world is not 60
ing to come to an end in 1897 Wise action
in 1860 gave the Republican party power
substantially for Sc years If the Peoples
party wins in 1885, and has half that lease
of life there will be ample room for con-
gress to discuss and settle a hundred other
questions, and every reform that ought to
win will win"
'TGNATIUS DONNELLY."
Hastings, Mimi, Dec. %, 1894.
Women on the Street Cars.
"Women may be the fairer SEX" testify
remarked a Thirteenth street trolley car
"a