The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-08-05
DON'T THINK IT IS,


DON'T THINK IT IS.
..Good Politics" to Crush Our Leaders.
Editor Representative:
/ have just received and read the last
issue Of your paper, and am panied and
astounded at 80 much perfidy exhibited
by the Minnesota delegation toward our
noblest and best warrior. Mans inhu-
mainly TO man" Is only equaled by the
in gratitude OF the people toward their
best friends and champions.
In conversation with one Of the leading
delegates to the 81 Louis convention from
this csty, he said that the delegation had
acted aS1t did because 1t was good politics
% to do. and not because OF any conspir-
2cy or desire to humiliate Mr. Donnelly,
emphasizing the fact that he did not com
slider Mr.. Donnelly q politician. but
great man, a very great man In literature;
he asserted that Mr.. Donnelly had forfeited
the confidence Of the middle-of-the-road
men because he was not q pronounced adj
vocate Of independent action, and that the
pessimists did not regard him with favor
because he was known to be opposed to
the nomination Of the Democratic ticket;
further, he was not put on the resolutions
committee, because they wanted no more
oratory injected into the platform. similar
to the preamble OF the Omaha platform
but. he continued. Mr.. Donnelly is q great
man, q vrey great man, but no politician.
I agree with this delegate that my hon
ored friend whom love and esteem. and
whom love most at the time when 1t APP,
pears that his friends are feweSt IN num-
bers, is not o politician, in the sense that
he can understand, foresee and combat
the meanness and treachery Of the aver
age ward heller and petty Office seeker,
he u a statesman, accustomed to fight
giants, a Hercules. who can hold q whole
hor
to face. His clarion voice IL worth legiops
IN open battle his industry and resource
fulness ID Immense, nobody questions his
learning and ability. and the best evidence
Of his honesty and loyalty to the cause OF
the people. Is the persistent persecution Of
the pigmies among men. the petty shy
ster lawyers. and the low, all-things-to-
all-men politicians.
Mr.. Donneily Is human, and q man being
human, he Is fallible, and am inclined to
believe that his chief fault is his tolera-
ton Of all men, no matter what their pre-
vious condition or walk Of life. He thinks
too well of his fellowmen. and is too ready
to forget and forgive our weaknesses.
Thus it Is, that men Of cunning, whose
characters are not always the best man.
age to cling to him like barnacles to a ship,
threatening its destruction.
MANY hounds will eventually overcome
even the fleetest hare"
To revert to the statement of this st.
Paul delegate, that It was good politics to
insult and shelve the chiefest advocate Of
our principles I'm this state, beg to diff
fer with him; think It was very fmpolitic
and unwise to refuse to listen to thesmen
who had Joined the Peoples Party In Its
infancy because they believed that 1t was
right who had given their time and
money for what they considered sacred
cause, and who could not see how it was
possible to preserve the party after we
nod 20 md tn 20 <h<,n
of the enemy; but It was thousand times
more unwise and impoltic to insult, HUI
initiate and trample upon our chief rep
resentative. for no cause, other than that
he wanted this noble engine Of reform,
born In an hour Of great need, to be held
intact, a unit for action. an army of In
telligent and willing men, educated In
reform ideas.
II it was deemed necessary to marry
our party to Democracy, It might at least
have been done with decency, without
kicking and brutally beating the father
ton OF the party was due.
We are informed. with a flourish of
trumpets and beating OF drums, that the
next step in this policy will be the
nomination of John Lind for governor,
gentleman against whom I have no un-
kind word to say, but he Is q Republican,
and has no sympathy with our movement
save In 30 far as he favors free silver
coinage-the shadow instead Of the sub
stance OF reform. .
He has been put forth by boiling Repub-
ucane, Is to be nominated by q. lot of
heads that something In our social struc-
ture IL wrong, and that free silver coinage
will cure 1t, and then the Peoples Party,
in convention assembled, representing an
army of $1,000 voters will meet and ratify
the action Of this little handful of disgrun.
tied politicians. provided, q few Of our
own men will be allowed a place or two
on the ticket.
suppose the counsels Of the same men
who directed the course Of our delegates
to st. Louis will be followed at the state
convention, and they will consider 1t good
politics to kick out of the party the last
one Of the old war horses, and every man
who has been known as q friend Of Mr..
Donnelly, or who will still dare to refuse
to believe In this cure-all remedy, free sis'
yer coinage.
I am Populst. and in favor Of reform.
will vote for Bryan and Watson II I live
and will work as hard as my health will
permit to procure their election, hoping
that future campaigns will correct our
present folly, but want q straight ticket
for Minnesota.
I plead and beg our people throughout
this commonwealth to listen to reason, to
desist from their mad and needless plunge
~ 0CSlIuCllOlLy u pTtScTVS OuT party DEE
cause 1t is absolutely necessary so to do,
II we expect the masses to gain anything
BY this agitation. BY all means allow the
Democrats to nominate Mr.. Lind, but let
us repair the damage done by unwise men
ct st. Louis. 20 far as this Is in our power
Let us try to retain the service Of our best
fighters.
Mr.. Donnelly says he will refuse to min
gle in politics after this campaign is over,
He Is no doubt sincere in this, his wish
but he does not know himself as his
friends know him. It is impossible, for him
to stand Idly by when his country needs
men of valor, tried and true, and the fu-
ture will no doubt find him, like the past,
In the thickest Of the fight, holding aloft
the, banner OF truth and righteousness,
without hope of honor or reward in this
life. but with an immortal name, whose
lustre will not pale as long as civilization
lasts, and he will close his days of earthly
life with the conciouS> Jess In his heart that
he ha done right. thai he has not abused
the great talents with which the Creator
has endowed him. and when his body IL
laid to sleep beside his dear wife, his
spirit will be free, and, reunited with the
one soul who has always understood and
loved him. all earthly woes will be for
gotten, all sorrows and wrongs forgiven,
Hubert A. Wallraff.
st. Paul. July 81.
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