The representative., 1895-12-25
oUR VIReINIA CORRESPONDENT.

uR VIRGINIA correspondent.
f REPLIES TO A FRIEND FROM KAN
SAS-"UNITED WE STAND. DIvID-.
ED WE FALL
4 Editor Representatives:
W None are so blind as they who will not
see. 1t would be amusing to read the
earnest. intense appeals of those who
Ss fought and bled and would apparently ole
4 in the last ditch in defense of all of the
u Omaha platform, and who insist on THE
whole Of Oregon or none" as the battle
cry for 1896, were it not Of such serious
import to the American people.
In view of the nature of the great con-
flict strong arguments have been advanced
4 by many able, practical men, recommend
ing a union of all who are opposed to the
biighting curse of gold mono-metallism for
its overthrow on the financial issue alone.
These arguments are not refuted, nor are
they even referred to by many OF the zeal
Gus upholderS of all that is set forth in that
platform. We asail not the men nor the
measures which they hold to be important,
but practical results, victory not defeat;
& the onward march, not retreat. Practical
politics. not "irridescent dreams" should
be our purpose.
Mr.. Swtzer, of Kansas, takes exceptions
to my appeal for a union of hearts and of
lines Of the enemy, in my paper in THE
Representative Nov. 2Oth. He meets not
single point I made. but glorifies the
declarations at Omaha almost as Mos
lem would the words of his prophet
1t was once so with the Ocala platform.
the conditions of which broke the Farmers
Alliance, yet who is so visionary as now to
even propose as a national issue the gold
! sub treasury scheme then endorsed and
backed by as eloquent and as honest men,
and add < imnraCtica1. men
could be.
If Brother Switzer were to clear an acre
of standing timber he would take tree by
tree. one at time; or clearing field OF
rock he would not break his back by overs
lifting at the start. Most men now voters,
have been lined up as protectionists, or
free traders; some have never outgrOwn
the party work even now, after all grada-
tions in party platforms declaring for
incidental protection accidental pro-
lection" and tariff for revenue only"
and finally to the declaration that "prO-
lection is robbery.
Most Americans of mature age now liv-
ing, have warmly espoused one side or the
other, and some have failed to see the deep
game of our common enemy, the financial
robbers: to keep the people divided upon
minor issues mot union issues as the type
setter made me say. Even those able
men representing the Peoples Party in
Congress-Hon. Jerry Simpson and Sena-
tor Allen-took it upon themselves in the
last Congress to ventiate the principles of
their earlier political days, disregarding
the fact that their present political affilia>
tlOnS were with men who had abandoned
both the high tariff and low tariff parties,
because they were untrue to the people
upon a question of vastly greater import
ance.
So notwithstanding the earnest convic-
ticns upon the great fiscal subject Of the
tariff, Of most middle-aged Americans, the
Peoples Party. wisely left out that great
bone of contention from their platform,
and the eruption has been purely sporadic
since then, with only one effect, to weaken
the party work of those who drag into it,
Now, then. Mr.. Switzer like a few hon,
est, earnest men, convinced that all they
ask for is good for all Of us, and they ask
what Is the sense, the use, the propriety in
leaving the fold of Omaha ETC., ETC. "The
force of the remark lies in the application
ont as Jack Bunsby said. In the first
place, 1t is just what our enemies want.
1t is what they secured at Ocala, to break
Ihe Alliance and, as am informed (and
from high sources), just what through
paid agents they secured at Omaha: that
ls, declarations which were repugnant at
the time to millions of Americans who
earnestly favored financial reform. and
which antagonized needlessly, great and
powerful interests
Is that politics? Is it wise? There was
very able body of men at Omaha. who
tried hard to prevent this diversion of the
enemy, by wiser counsels, but they failed
They were now seeking to make it odiOus
and offensive to right-minded people and
viii pursue the same tactics in securing a
platform as will create disaffection in the
ranks of the people.
Why need antagonize the vast railway
and telegraph interests at such juncture?
Indeed while some of the great city banks
are with the Oppressors, we know that
very many of the country national banks
are too closely identified with the people
to side with the gold-standard; and some
or the ableSt advocates Of bimetallism are
city bankers. The national banks cannot
be interfered with until their charters ex.
pire.l The people can then declare their
will. Indeed, in declaring for financial re.
form, and the retention by government of
the power of issuing all paper money. we
go as far as prudence permits; and it is
certainly unwise to antagonize that pow
erful interest.
All reforms cannot be inaugurated at
once. -s.. ..-...
None can be, until the giant evil of the
age-gold mOnometalism-is overthrown.
One gigantic evil has not even been
touched by these ardent and worthy re-
formers-our patent laws and the abuses
@ which have grown up under them
Another is the vast abuse of our pension
laws (This say as one who bore his full
= part on the Union side in the civil war.
and not as Confederate.) 1t Is public
scandal that so many unworthy ones are
y leeching our depleted treasury while the
great masses Of producers are struggling
for a bare livelihood. The field for reform
is broad enough for all, but the exercise of
Judgment and wisdom is now the one thing
needed. First, overthrow the monster evil
which blocks all reform. That which with
willy foresight controls the source of our
great journals and debauches our public
men. ]. W. PORTER
Charlottesville, Va.
.r.-f,.. SOME SUGGESTIONS.