The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-01-09
They Seem to Hang Loosely ON Some
Voters.

vOterSs
| To the Editor:
Why are men less loyal to their convic-
| lions of right today than they were in the
| days of Wings and Democrats? Then, one
| could forecast the result of an election with
| almost unerring certainty; now, the wisest
politician is entirely at sea. Why did they
espouse the cause of the People party?
Was it from principle, in the belief that the
principles Of this party are just what will
| bring relief and prosperity to the country?
| If so, why do we not find them there now,
| battling as earnestly as then for success?
| don't know how the conduct of certain
| blatant individuals may impress others,
but it is humilating to contemplate the
| rapidity with which a certain class will
| change from Populist to Republican, then
! to the Democrats. 1t simply develops the
| fact that they have no well-grounded rea-
| sons for voting anyhow; that they change,
hop from one to the other simply to stand
| In with what promises to be the winning
party. The antics of this class may be
very APPLY illustrated by the action of one
w. P. Murray, who was sent to Caracas
Venezuela, when w. H. Seward was at the
head Of the cabinet, his mission being to
cable certain claims against that govern
| ment. At this time Venezuela was making
as swift a record in revolutions Near
aqua has since done. 1t is related that
there would be a fresh revolution and
new provisional government on tap every
"a hours; but w. p. Murray, like our vot-
ers was not to be daunted by this. No
| sooner would he be advised of the latest
change In government than he would make
Decline for the new incumbent and
sure him of the loyal support of the people
or the United States, and William Pitt
Murray in particular. Well, after going
through this farce about six times one
week. and right the heels of another
change, he cabled his friend as follows:
The city has succumbed again, but no
damned government can change faster than
can This seems to tell the story. These
fellows appear to take supreme delight in
hopping over to a new party at every cleo
ton, and, like Murray, assuring that par
ty of their loyalty
Now. Mr.. Editor I have been of the
opinion that the Peoples party advocates
We're there from principle; from a deep
ana conscientious conviction that grevious
wrongs against the people had been COM
mltted by both the old parties and conse-
quently a triumph at the polls by our party
was absolutely necessary in order to cor
rect them. L believed that the man who
had the courage and honesty to tear him
self away from life long affiliations with
either party and once cast his lot with us,
would there remain and fight it's battles,
through fair weather and foul, to a fin
lsh But recent developments compel me
to modify that opinion. I discover that
the teacher has done imperfect work. The
SCHOOLS must be opened during the next
two years all along the line and if the
people cannot be made to see that the
principles for which we contend are Just
what should obtain 10 bring us desired
prosperity, then in less than 10 years
will any monarchy or even despotsm of
Europe be preferable to this once glorious
republic, founded, as the New Common
wealth elegantly puts it, "amid tears, pray
ers, and blood" Liberty is safe so long
as great preponderance of the people
are welded to the right; but it seems that
the liberty loving many have, through
false teachings. been effectually controlled
by the vicious few. Here. Mr. Editor we
detect our greatest danger. The last cleo
ton proved this. Our success clearly de-
ponds upon two things, intelligence and
honesty. Intelligence enough to compre-
bend our true condition. and the cure; and
honesty enough to apply the remedy, by
swearing off all allegiance to the party
that produced the universal misery of to-
day. Can this be done? With the bank
ers, mlll1onaires. corporations, the aris-
tocracy in general, there is no shadow of
hope. These we must constantly fight
and powerful enemy we have for they
hold the fat purses; and as above stated
If there is not honesty enough in the peo-
pie outside of the classes enumerated to
assert and manfuly battle for their rights
then what can we do? We have in a
thousand ways shown the untold advan-
tage to the country in the ascendency of
the Peoples party principles. The people
did not understand this or they are not
honest. 1t is or ought to be as clear to
the average mind as the simplest theorem
of geometry, that the decentralization of
silver was a crime against the people;
and that a high tariff benefits but two
classes-the manufacturers and producers
of raw material. This lis too automatic to
justify attempt at proof. Then let me
ask, "Why will the legion of toilers con-
tinue to be fooled with the idea that pro-
lection helps them?" Can't they see an
inch ahead? Can't they see that taxing
them does not make them rich? Can't
they see that the s70,OOO,O0O paid for imports
is just so much more for the consumer to
pay? Can't they that England would
not buy single farm product raised in
this country if she could get it elsewhere?
But the fools that should have been dis
franchised long years ago will continue to
play the fool till Shylock owns them body
boots and breeches
E. w. B. HARVEY