The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1895-05-24
PoPUL1sr PLATFORM FOR 1873

The action Of the peoples party IN the
adoption of it's platform at the next
national convention will be one OF great
importance and sh ould be well con
sidered from this time until the conven-
ton is assemblies, in order that we may
all have a well defined idea OF what we
want, aud thai the position OF all those
who ask to participate therein may be
well understood. We say it is OF great
Importance. for we believe that this
party will take a position IN the cam
paign of 1896, that will either plant it
firmly IN the arena OF American politics
as one OF the great parties or be repudi-
ated by the people and sent back to be
melted over and refined as it were. So
it is Of the greatest Importance that
much care be taken in formulating the
platform OF principles. for we believe
that a party composed OF the great
middle classes, those who produce the
wealth, those who fight for their country
those who are too busy creating wealth
to be laying shrewd schemes to get the
wealth others are producing, Is essential
to the existence of this republic. He
must be dull indeed who does not OBJ
serve the many danger signals ahead oil
the old ship of state.
silver coinage phase OF it, will without
doubt ba the paramount issue in the
campaign OF 1896, and it Is interesting
to see the leaders of the two old parties
trying to define their POSITIONS; they are
not sure OF a safe place to light, and it
makes them timid about jumping. But
notwithstanding the Importance OF this
great question, there are others which
must not be lost sight of and LAID aside,
and we fear there is danger Of just such
things occurring at the next convention.
At this time there are many temptations
to those who are over anxious for party
success. A large number of free olnage
men, who haxe no sympathy whatever
with other needed reforms advocated by
the populist party are making a hard
fight to have united into one great move
ment all the free silver men, making this
the only issue. And they are seconded
by many Of the most able and conscien-
tlons men in our party. Looking at
this in one way, III fact in a common
sence way, it would seem the proper
thing to do, but when we look at it from
the side OF human weakness or prejudice
and shortsightedness we fear there is
much danger ahead OF such a course.
Would it not suggest to the careless
(of which the majority Of the voters are
made) that these other questions are to
be forever buried and are not to be again
brought before the people for ratifica.
decentralization, driving them back into
the old parties in disgust? SO far as we
are concerned we would be glad to have
all sympathisers united on this on
question and settle it at the coming
election, for we realize the danger d
dividing this vote, but us Il party meas
ure, we fear taking up free silver alone q
dangerous move, as it would destroy
the party organization. and make il
difficult to again place it i working
order.
tseems to us that the most sensible
thing for I'LL Tree silver men to do is tx
join forces With the peoples party, tn,
only party that ~ united and has beer
ever since its organization, on this ques
ton.
If they d. not endorse all Of the plat
B form they don i have to do So, as it j
doubtful il they would endorse all Sian
other platform. Here i . party with
complete ulaaniz .lion and two millio'
v1,fars behind if. 10 llatter thing can b