The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-07-31

THE UNITY OF ALL REFORM FORCES
FOR THE GREAT STRUGGLE OF 1885,
AS DISCUSSED BY SECRETARY L. NJ
AVER OF THE STATE PEOPLES PAR
TY LEAGUE.
To the Representative:
A close observation and study of the
tendency Of political matters convinces
me that the time is much nearer to hand
for the contamination of our reform
measures than the people at large have
an idea of or hardly dare to hope for.
There is rapidly growing tendency to-
ward the cementing together of all ele-
ments of reform.
Scarcely a man can be found who is
intelligent enough to think for himself,
and who is not a monopolist or a monop-
olist hireling who will not acknowl-
edge the dangers to or the destruction of
our freedom by the soulless monopolistic
rule now in control of our Republic
Turn whichever way we will we find our
selves encompassed and at the sweet will
of corporations, monopolies and trusts
A few scheming men have 50 Influenced
and controlled legislation for the past
thirty years that they practically own
the great natural resources that were I'M
questionably designed by wise creator
for the benefit of the whole world. The
air we breathe is the only great element
not cornered. Man has not yet found
way to corrall that, but there is no tel
ling what he will do if his career of greed
is not checked.
The forerunners and agitators of re-
form have been hard at work for many
years, warning the people of the dangers
ahead. At last there is an awakening
The headlong speed has been slightly
checked; but the great struggle to stop
and overthrow the monster, is before U.S.
There is power enough in sight now, to do
it, but it is divided and scattered. All
that is required is the gathering together
of our forces, and united action. All the
many elements OF reform recognize the
same cause of our distress and are prac-
tical1y aiming for the same result, but
heretofore have been unable to agree on
the methods of relief. Our differences
are not great. Our Prohibition friends
practically agree with us of the Peoples
Party on all but the liquor question, and
the difference on that is only in a degree
I know 1 express the sentiments and
wishes of great majority of the conser-
vative leaders of the Peoples Party by
saying that the time Is opportune and
nearly at hand when the contention over
the cures will practically cease, and a
united stand be taken by all reform ele-
| ments to take this government out Of
| the hands of these men who are now de-
stroying our liberties. The greatest diff
ficulty that stands in the way of such a
union, Is not so much the contention
over the methods of relief as it is what
might be called Party Idolatry." Peo-
pie are welded to their old parties and
hiplx or oh
thing divine about them, and look for
those old organizations to bring about
the reforms they are convinced must
come.
It will take a little time for many of
them to be convinced that no reform Of
any magnitude can or will be brought
about by any old party. Let them search
all history, if they will, and they cannot
find a single instance where an old party
has brought about any reform Of mag
| nitude. It has always required new par
ties with new leaders to consummate the
peoples demands. Old politicians and
leaders must be thrust aside. It Is as
hard for an old political trickster to re-
form as 1t is for a drunkard or gambler,
and but few Of either have made any
impression on the worlds history. Our
Republican and Democratic friends of
| reform will see and understand it in a
short time. An example, which should
be lesson to every thinking man, is
the contention now going on, on the sill
yer question, inside both old party lines
| The determined and desperate efforts of
| the gold monopoly to control those par
| ties through the power and influence Of
| the administration at Washington, on
| the one hand, and the principle leaders Of
| the Republican party on the other, to-
gether with the Associated Press and the
subsidized daily press, all aided and die
tated to by the powers that be in Wall
street and Lombard street, shows a dan
gerous condition.
know that thousands Of conservative
and intelligent men Of both old parties
are now ready to join an independent
movement, and 1 firmly believe that be-
fore long there will be a general STAN
pede. AS Peoples Party man, and one
Of the advance guard in the movement
for reform, believe it our duty to stand
firm as party organization advocating
our great principles, but holding out a
readiness to meet our friends in confer
ence at any time on neutral grounds I
have no fear but that in such a confer
ence true Peoples Party principles will
predominant and the result in time will
bring a full victory
The agitation of the money question at
this time is one Of the best things that
could occur for the preservation of our
Republic. That is a good plank to dis
cuss, and awaken an interest among the