Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1895-04-24
DANGER is AHEAD.
WE MUST NOT ABANDON OUR
PLATFORM.
The Next Peoples Party Convention Must
BE Controlled BY POpulists-A POpu-
list Is Known by His Endorsement of
POPulist Principles.

In all the discussion that has been
going on with regard to the relation
that should exist between the Peoples
party and the new silver party, there is
one important phase of the matter
which, so far as we know, has not
been touched. 1t is the question as to
who will control the national conven-
ton of the Peoples party in 1896? If
Mr.. Taubeneck's policy" is indorsed
we understand that the fight is to be
made on the currency question alone
If he has not said so in so many words,
there can be no other inference from
what he does say. Now suppose we do
this. Suppose that all the Populist
papers would take up the fight on this
line. The object would be to unite all
who oppose the money power. On this
basis every man who favored free coin
age Of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1, and
opposed banks of issue and interest
bearing bonds, would be eligible to cleo
ton as a delegate to the national con-
vention. This would let down the
bars for nearly every democrat in the
west and south, and many republicans
in the same sections. No better plan
could be conceived for the purpose of
turning the Peoples party over to the
politicians of the two old parties, and
permitting them to control the conven-
tion, make the platform to suit them.
or break the convention up in a row.
If it is urged that this will not be the
case, we ask how are you going to
help 1t? The politicians will take every
advantage they see open. With such
an arrangement Bland and Bryan and
the whole tribe of demagogues could
come in. How could they be kept out?
1t Is understood that we are going to
make the fight along those lines and
that is what they are fighting for At
the very outset we start with the avow-
ed object of trimming the platform.
What for? To satisfy men who are
not now in the party. Gen. Weaver
admits that the next national conven-
ton will be factional" That is it will
follow in the footsteps of the two old
parties and formulate it's platform, not
from the standpoint of principles, but
so as to catch the voter 'gwine and
comm" This is Mr.. Taubeneck's
policy, and the policy of the politicians.
1t never emanated from the people, nor
will it be indorsed by them. 1t is the
policy which prompted the French
revolutionists to unite in deposing the
king, and afterwards to turn and de-
stroy each other. making what is
known as the reign Of terror"
The Peoples party as at present
composed is practically a unit on the
platform. We believe that a majority
of the voters in the United States are
in favor OF the position we take on f.
nance, land and transportation. But
they are cropping in the the dark All
they want is little more light. They
are thirsting for knowledge. So far as
the old parties are concerned, they are
demoraliZed. Now is our golden op-
portunity. Now is the time to spread |
the true gospel of reform. Why should |
we hesitate now, and only take up |
questions which the two old parties will |
likely cover in some way that will de- |
iude the voters again? Why not throw |
our anti-monopoly banner to the breeze |
and announce to the world that we are |
opposed to all monopolies and will |
Tight 1t out on this line il it takes a |
thousand years? The election of Of /
hcers is not always victory. 1t brings
with 1t responsibilities and the redemp-
ton Of pledges. To meet the expecta-
tons Of the people we must be able
not only to unite before election, but to
stay united afterward. The Fifty
bird congress is valuable object les
ION in support of the truth Of this
statement. The party was united at the
DOLLS, but divided in congress. 1t had
he responsibility, but with a large
majority in congress it failed to carry
'ut its pledges. The success of the
democratic party in 1892, was its
Waterloo. To command the respect of
he voters in this country party must
be consistent. 1t is not so when it
:hanges It's platform to suit the poll
dclans' whims. The Peoples party