The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-05-01
A BANQUET AND A FREE TALK.

"A bA NQUET AND A FREE TALK.
In 1892 the Populists elected 346 men,
bers Of the several state legislatures, and
in 1894 they elected els, besides nearly
doubling the aggregate vote throughout
the country. Look around you and
count the men in your circle of acquain-
tances who have left the Peoples Party
since the election last fall and then
count those you know have joined the
new party, or swear they will never
again vote an old party ticket. Strike
the difference and see II Populism is dy-
ing.
We had the pleasure one night last
week Of participating in very pleasant
gathering in West st Paul.
1t seems lot of Republicans and Dem
ocrats mostly Republican,, in that To-
cality formed club some time since, to
discuss the causes of the hard times
which were pressing everyone into bank
ruptcy. They regarded the Populists as
set of lunatics, who ought to be in st.
Peters asylum; but they were terribly
pinched, and they had sense enough to
want to find out what was pinching them.
1t was remarkable evidence of intel
ligence that they had got that far. A
great many have not.
They used to meet together and talk
over things. First, they wanted to know
what money really was; what were the
effects of an abundant currency on a
people, and what the effects of an in
sufficient supply; what was the matter
with silve; was gold monometallism
right, etc. They were group of very in
telligent business and professional men,
including an editor and a banker.
Well, the more they discussed those
questions, and the deeper they probed in
to them the more positive did they be-
come that the present ruinous conditions
were the results of legislation, initiated
by moneylending class of the old
world, to enrich themselves at the cost
of the destruction to mankind. With
these conclusions came another thought:
that the greatly abused and ridiclued
Populists were not so far wrong after all.
Instead of being cranks and anarchists
they had foreseen the disastrous results
of certain policies while others were
chattering about the tariff. And SO they
sand-papered the horns of our head, and
invited us to come in, despite the smell
of sulphur, which chung to our garments,
and have friendly chat.
The meeting was held at the house of
a prominent Republican lawyer; it COM
menced with a choice banquet; and ended
with free talk--no, speech-making, but
sort Of Conversations"
We found them the reddest-hottest
set of Popu1ists we had struck in a long
time, although they would probably re-
pudiate the name as something very near
an insult. But they propose to work
with the tens of thousands of others who
feel just as they do, to reform their old
parties; and they swear, by the great
to force any more Cleveland and Sher-
man ipecac down their threats there will
be the biggest kick up that has been seen
since the firing on Fort Sumter.
This is one of the most hopeful signs
of the times. 1t shows that percentage
of the people are beginning to think for
themselves; that they refuse to be led
by the nose any longer by the writer's
for the daily press, who simply preach
what they are paid for; it proves that
the great American people, educated in
the free schools, are applying their keen
intellectually to the problems.
A pretty set Of fellows are such Great
ures to lead noble people in a conflict
with the oppressors! If they can only
draw their salaries they will be content
to see the whole world drop into the pit
The curse of God should rest upon them
and prevent them from continuing their
species. They are the Thomassens of
politics. Thomassen was the fellow who
insured 100000 of pig iron in boxes as
gold, and shipped it on an ocean steamer.
He brought to the wharf the day the
vessel was to sail box containing dyna-
mite and clock-work, so arranged that it
was to explode in mid-ocean and send a
thousand people to the bottom of the sea,
and he would then draw his insur-
ance money. But, glory be to God, the
machine exploded on the wharf ian angel
must have touched it Off, and Thomas
sen was mortally wounded; and before
dying he said he contrived the scheme to
get fine clothes for his wife, who was
very much of lady! There was your
natural aristocrat for you of the modern
type! A thousand human beings sunk
miles deep in the Atlantic and devoured
by fishes, that his lady-like wife might
shine in new bonnets, silks and dia-
monds!
1t is pity Thomassen was killed. He
ought to have come over to America and
hired out to gold-bug newspapers and
written editorials for them to advocate
policies to ruin the people.
The results cannot be doubtful. The
influence of these natural leaders will
gradually reach down into the great I'M
thinking masses below them; who, in
a few months, will be found repeating
conclusions they would never have
Thought ont for themselves. and IN thu