The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-12-11
VERY IMPORTANT.

THE STATEN ISLAND COFERENCE
COMMUNICATION THE REFORM
FORCES CAN BE GOT TOGETHER.
Hon. Ignatius Donnelly.
A copy of your paper, The. Representa-
tive" containing "Suggestion" from your
pen, as to how union OF reform forces
can be accomplished, came duly to hand.
Your plan is very unique. and if it can
be made successful, it will be new
thing under the SUM- in party building.
In the olden time, the issues which brought
into existence the Federalist party were
merely the gathering together of the ma
tional political energy OF the nation, prac-
tically without opposition, but when the
confederation of the Is colonies became an
accomplished fact, the party, as Fedora
list party closed it's doors in 1916, and the
Democratic and Wing parties, with new
issues and measures, arose from out of its
ruins
1t is a strange coincidence that every
forty years a new successful party has
arisen in this country Questions upon
which the people were divided, relating to
the Missouri Compromise and other mat
tiers that finally came to a head later gave
rise to two distinct parties-Democratic
and Wing. During the interim, between
1916 and 1856, several smaller parties came
into existence, each demanding some dis
tinct refom in government. Such rs the
Abolition, or Liberty party, in 1910, and
the "Amercan'' or Knownothing party.
There were also disaffected men both in
the Democratic party, as we'll as amongst
the Wings. commonly known as "Woolly-
heads and "barn-burners; but when the
proverbial forty yearS-which Miss Will
lard characterizes as the periodical heart
beat Of the nation came, the scenes
changed, and out of these fragmentary ele-
ments of the greater and lesser parties
new. party arose called the Republican
party. This was fit name for the new
party as discussions had arisen between
the north and south regarding slavery
which pressagcd at that time the destruc-
ton of the Republic.
Now these events are all old to you.
but I have a point to make, growing out
of them, and that is, that nearly the same
environments surround us today, except
that the issues. which are becoming 50
pregnant at this time forty years later,
are somewhat different from those which
disturbed the peace of the nation at that
time but the occasion for a new party is
as much demanded now as then.
The Reformer is now abroad in the land!
His name is upon every tongue it is in the
literature of the nation! Over three thou
sand newspapers are singing his praise
and a greater number are deporlng ms
coming. This all betokens something!
Even the better members of the old par
ties are often dubbed as reformers.
I sum it up in this way: Pure Democra-
rv means 1.-The people rule" but does not
determine the form or quality of that rule
Republicanism gives us the form OF the
rule, but in later years the form OF the
rule has become badly shattered, and now
what we want-and must haye-ls reform
in the rule!
Now in order to secure this reform in
the rule we must have great national
Reform Party"
The Populists have filled up the measure
oil
that they have awakened the people to
sense of their imminent danger OF being
swallowed up by the great money power
The Prohibitionists have awakened the
country to full realization Of the en-
ormous corrupting influence of the liquor
traffic in politics, saying nothing about it's
demoraizing and damning influence upon
the citizen and the home! The Socialists
have brought out many startling things
regarding the unequal dlstr1butlon or
wealth, and the fearful land grabs
which have been made upon our public
lands, by railroad corporations, foreign
syndicates and INSCRIPTIONS land specu-
latOrs. Now, all these are great cognate
questions. and require but one reform par
ty to correct them. Then why SO many
little parties! The Popullsts and Frohlbl-
tionists are practically as one upon all the
great important questions of our time eX-
cept as to the method Of exterminating the
LIQUOR traffic, for beverage purposes. Inc
proposition of state control without pront,
as urged by the Populists, destroys all
saloons, but still continues the tral1lc Tor
beverage purposes. This, the Prohlbltlon-
lists say they they will not endure.
Now, what are we to do? Shall we re-
main apart and allow our enemies, in
Guiding the liquor traffic, to swallow US
up? You propose to destroy the saloon,
but preserve the traffic; the Prohibtionists
propose to destroy both the saloon and the
traffic! l submit to your candid Judgment
which is the most consistent; You or the
Prohibitionists? Without the utter de-
struction of this mighty vampire, no pure
politics can reign and hold sway long in
this country.
You havn't but few hundred men in
YOUR party who in any way favor the con-
tinuance of the liquor traffic in any form
and should they leave. what splendld
compensation you would have in the near
" three hundred thousand stalwart pro-
hibition reformers which you would at
once add to your ranks! Friend Donnelly;
7 want YOU to think Of these things. The
great moral support Of the W. I. L. u,
in that event. would all be on your slde!
am satisfied that q plank, reading some
thing like this. would unite all our forces:
"Resolved That we favor Cor demand)
the abolition of the liquor traffic for bev-
erage purposes, and its sale for all other
purposes, by duly appointed agents of the
state
This would settle lNe Whole question: re-
cardng the liquor traffic, and the Prohibio
ton Party would have to retire from the
field What do you say to this? Shall
we keen apart for another decade and let
destruction go on, or shall we unite and Sc
cure splendid victory before the close Of
the century!
| beg of you not to disregard these ear
nest suggestions on account OF the humble
source from which they come. If the great
Syrian commander had refused to listen
to the instructions of the plain, humble old
Prophet. he could not have been healed of
his malady.
When | see the reformers all willing to
sacrifice some of their opinions about
means and methods to carry out their pet
notions. then success is not far distant.
AS the old English song goes:
IF you want the best article,
You must pay the best price
One blast from your silver trumpet
along the line of the union of all the re-
form forces would flash like the light
nings across the continent.
With great respect | am yours truly
EDWARD EVANS.
North Panawanda, n. Y, Nov. 8.