The representative., 1895-12-25
WE MUST MOVE.

DR. JOHNSON WRITES A STRONG LET
TER-WE MUST GET THE BOAT NOV
ING.
Editor Representatives:
Brother Long writes very strong let
ter. and his and Brother Don.
nellys idea, by the way, that
the initiative and referendum should
be our platform is very good. I have
inclined to that view myself some time
ago. 1T is undoubtedly the fundamental
principle of greatest Importance, looked
at from scientific standpoint. But the
dear people that have mortgaged their
thinking cap that must supply the votes.
now about them? Can they comprehend
the principle involved? How is the South
in regard to this question? Isn't 1t too
new to engage their attention?
MY only reason for selecting the money
question for our chief battle-ground in
preference to other urgent reform meas
ures is that 1t is now agitated more than
any other question. ] do not mean to
abandon the Omaha PLATFORM but only
TO confine our effort, for the present, to
the money issue as the first object to be
accomplished.
Let me illustrate what mean
Suppose | want to take a steamer with
cargo OF goods from St Paul to New
Orleans. I advertiZe for a crew to go to
New Orleans with me. But 1 find that
cannot find men enough that want to go
that far. What then? Wait till 1 can
get a full crew for New Orleans? No If
[ am a practical captain l say, am going
to touch at various places down the river,
and if l can't get a full crew for the whole
distance, ! will get crew to some other
point not so far down: say to Memphis. to
st. Louis, to Dubuque to Red Wing, even
to Hastings if / can do no better, rather
than to lay idle at the wharf at ST. Paul.
See?
NV &c fHo r
can't provide for the whole trip at once
will provide for whatever distance I can,
and take my chance to pick up crew
enough to take me further at my next
landing place. This is the practical side
of political platform making and applies
to the Peoples Party platform making.
Do not let us be idle at our starting place,
because the majority Of the people Of this
nation will not go all the way with us
to our ultimate destination. No, like the
practical steamboat captain. let our chief
object be to move ahead be our first move
ever so short, if it is only in the right
direction. If the majority of the people
are ready to go with us on the initiative
and referendum, well and good; then let
us start for that point with a full crew.
If we can get a larger crew to go with us
to the free-conage of silver to get more
money, and that way, and revive the
dying nation, let us get crew for that
several adjacent localities, to accommo-
da te more passengers and not confuse the
object of our journey, well and good l
shall not object. But as the main Objec-
tive point now for political reformers
seems to be place Of more government
money, and out of the grasp Of private
bank script, am Of the poinion that we
should ship for that haven. and make
our destination distinctly known.
Let us get started from the wharf.
brethren. The old parties tells the people
that our craft is no good, that 1t can't
move, and lots of good sensible people, in
other avocations of life. stand still and
look at our craft to see if it will move be-
fore they will veturne aboard. See?
The moment our vessel moves these
same people will scramble for room on
our ship. swim through the water to get
on, and load us down to the waters edge.
Thousands and thousands are now anx-
ious to get somewhere out Of this old par
ty hell but they have been scared away
from us by old party buster, about our
inability to float, to move, to do any,
thing.
We have preached about abstract prin-
cipes long enough. The mass OF the peo-
pie don't understand principles. They
never will. for years to come. They look
for action, motion, doing: and then they
jump. Practical generalship is what the
reform movement want now and we
must have it. The Peoples Party must
show the people hat 1t can do something,
be it ever little.
Nothing succeeds like success and Sue
cess at the polls we must have next elec-
tion or our party Organization. ana the
country will be lost.
I see that Brothers Donnelly, Long,
Probstfeld and all our leading men. real
iZe this. We must form our platform TO
suit the mass Of the voters. We must
prepare a meal that they will partake
of. We cannot force the voters to take
what they do not want. 1t is folly to try
to do So We have tried that long enough.
Leve-hea ded, practical men must take
charge of the party in the future, and
impractical men. no matter how honest
land sincere. must step back. I criticize
no one, but the cause Of humanity de-
mand now earnest, honest, common-sense
practical, political work and no foolin4.
DIR. CHRISTIAN JOHNSON.
Wi1mar, MINI.