The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-03-27
THE TRUE COURSE.
LET POPULISTS STAND TO.
GETHER.
Very Sensible Remarks, By the
Great Reform Paper of Indiana,
The Nonconformist.

IOfm1SU. IL is an able ADDRESS, terSely
and forcibly written. It deals exclu-
sively with the money question and
its statement thereof comedies at
every point with the Populist view of
the subject. In fact no Populist could
have formulated the issue better;as it
goes it will doubtless meet the ap-
proval of Populist voters. The avowed
object of the signers of this address is
to form an entirely new party, with
the money question as the sole issue.
They appeal to all to agree with them
to leave their old parties and rally
around the standard which they have
erected. II we understand the gen.
tlemen correctly this new party is for
one campaign only. All who join it
are allowed mental reservation as to
all other questions and have simply
formed temporary alliance to fight
one battle. II it is won, the money
question is to be settled and the new
party is to break ranks, each member
returning to his old organization.
This, to say the least, is something
novel in American politics. 1t is the
first time the experiment of nation
al party, with only one issue and for
one campaign only, was ever attempt
ed in this untry. No matter how
great the question, no party has here
tofore ventured before the people
with an isolated issue. Even the
slavery question, the biggest ever
brought forward, was not found suffi-
cient of itself to uphold great ma
tional party. In the very nature of
things political party must have
questions for legislation. There is
usually predominant issue, one that
takes precedence Of all others; but in
variably the people insist that party
shall define itself on more than one
question. This is a big country, con-
sisting of fortyfour states and sever
al territories stretching from ocean
to ocean, and embracing a wide
variety Of soil, climate and industries.
What, therefore, may be burning is
sue in one state or group of states,
may not be SO burning in other. A
political party in the United States
must cover greatly diversified terri
tory and it is questionable, in fact
highly improbable, that a national
party can be organized and pushed to
victory on any one issue, however
great.
Aside from these general considera-
tions, there are practical difficulties
in the way. II all the other parties
would kindly consent to take the 9TH
er side of the question, the matter
would be simplited. But will they?
With one party in the field advocating
equal coinage rights for gold and sill
yer and government issue Of money,
and all the others or, still better, the
others united in one for the single
gold basis and bank issues, on this
to do something. But at present
there are already two parties holding
precisely the same views on the mon
ey question. One is the Populist, and
| the other is this inchoat organization
of the bimetallic league. Now sup
| pose the Democratic party takes the
same position as to that question:
And every one know that the Demo
cratic party in opposition is ever
ready to take any position on any
question which promises the most
votes. 1t is more than probable that
the next Democratic platform will
contain a declaration on the money
question fully as radical as that put
forth by the Bimetallic League. 1t is
certain that they are not going to put
anything in their platform on the
money question that will make it i'm
possible for their free silver voters tC
remain with them. The Republican.
will not be asleep. Already there are
plain indications that they will be or
hand with proposals to hold their free
silver contingent in line. With all
the parties bidding for the free silve
and government issue of money VOTE
next year, the one plank platform will
not look near SO alluring as it doe
today.
The duty of the Populsts in tn.
premises is plain. They should trea
all these new movements courteously
abstain from abusing or questioning
the motives of the originators bu
not bulge an inch. Their platform
has just as satisfactory declaration
on the money question as that of th
bimetallic league, and much more
They appeal to class of voters tina
! the other does not reach. MOreOve
the Populist is national party witt
an organization in every state an
territory in the Union. It has it's off
GERS, it's committees and two million
of counted voters. Moreover, it has
numerous and extensively circulated
press.
So far the proposed new party con
sists of its address aud it's platform
1t has no organization whatever an
the extent of it's following cannot b
ascertained until a vote Is cast
Moreover, it has no press. So far a
we know there is not single newspa
per in the United States which ha
announced itself as an organ of tn
proposed party. It would, therefore
be the height of folly for Populists t
desert their we'll ascertained and wei
instruced organization to run off afte
party which only exists on paper an
which has nothing to offer that is no
already in the Populist propaganda
Let US wait and see. The Populis
party will be for year an army OF OF
servation. 1t will keep an eye on tn
field while keeping it's ranks closed VI
It will be glad of alliances offensiv
and defensive against the commo
enemy, it will welcome any movemen
!, that is making its. way, but it mus
decline to break ranks at the sound
an unfamiliar bugle-can. Event
happen rapidly. We will have th
situation before US much more clea
ly a year from now than it is toda!.
? Let us hasten slowly. The disturb
, ances going on now, the upheavals
: the old parties, the Bryan manifest
| the League address, the restlessnes