The San Francisco call., 1896-08-04
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
ON TERMS OF UNION.
THE NEW DEMOCRACY AND THE PEOPLES
PARTY MAY FORM AN HONORABLE
ATJIlNCE

4
THE NEW DEMOCRACY AND THE PEOPLES
PARTY MAY FORM AN HONORABLE
| ALLIANCE.
| To the Editor of the San Francisco Cdu-SIR:
! 1t is safe TO say that there is no subject OF
| greater interest in the political world to-day
than the probability of a practical ana non
] orable union or alliance of the reform eie-
| ments in the new Democratic party and the
| Peoples party. Most men are ready to con-
| cede that such union will insure the defeat
| OF Mckinley and the election of Bryan. is IL
| practical to secure an honest, fair-worklng
| ana honorable union or alliance of the forces!
1t depends upon two simple things. namely
an earnest purpose on the part OF Democracy
and the wisdom OF its leadership.
must be apparent that the time has come
in California for some plain speech IN regard
to the essential terms of such union. IL is
| nv present purpose to state the terms on
which such alliance may become an accom-
| plished fact, as / understand the situatlon'
| and venture to say that do not speak ior
| myself alone. As first consideration IL Is
| necessary to clear away certain mlsapprene1-
sions which seem to TO- oecIpy SslI .nf pmind.
At the Chicago Democratic convention more
| than a third of the Democratic party leit II,
| and practically went over to the Repupncan
party on the silver issue. The gains OF TIE
Poptllists at the Oregon election, in spite OF
! General Weavers baneful influence IN iaYor
OF almost unconditional fusion OIL silver alone, g.
| and the greater gains In all by-elections In
| Colorado, Iowa, Georgia and some other s.stes M
east of the Mississippi, clearly snow more tnsn f
| general elections in the States IN 1884. Inc
| loss of Democracy and the gain OF the Peopies
! party really make the Populists numericainy
stronger all the silver states south ot 1ti sne
| Ohio and the Potomac and west OF the MISSES
| sippi than the present new silver OF brysn
| Democracy. At all events, Bryan democracy
| has no claims to superiority over the FeoPies
party, either in NUMBERS, intelligence, devo-
| tion to principle, unity OF purpose, party iel
vor or patriotism. They may fairly be raIeo
UP to date, since Bryan was nominated at
| Chicago, however, the patroniz1ng ana over,
| bearing manner OF the Democratic Leaders ah9
| news papers toward Popuists exceeds thSt oI
q big burly brother toward boy In SNORT
| clothes, and in fact reminds one OF Dig Duly
as he swaggers and lords 1t over an lnoIIenslve
! and timid little man. This offensive manner
took on its worst form at st. Louis, Where
| Bry anized Populist office-seekers OF tne
| Weaver type, and silyerltes OF ali types, I'M
| pudently attempted to force the nomination
| of both Bryan and Sewall by the PopullsL Ma
| tional Convention and. the consequent olsln-
tegration and final destruction OF the Peopies,s
| party. 1t failed ignominiously., Two-thiras
| of that great convention scornfully repuolateu
| the brazen proposal and arose as one man,
without concert Of acton OF Inc Inc nnIpoipsted
! Watson for the Vice Presidency before per-
| mitting Weaver and his Bryan1te eonfederates
| to place Bryan before the convention as q Sau-
didate for The Presidency. Notice was thereby
served on Bryanite Populists. bullying Demo
Gratis and sneering sIlverites. which even the
variest dullard should understand, that tney
matter how unwillingly, they must learn 10
treat with Populists as allies ana equais, ana
not as helpless boys or pusilanimous vassals.
Assuming nov that California Democrats as
we'll as Democrats in all the possible silver
States have come to look at the s1tuauon unoeI
the Iranquiliizing influence OF sober second
th0nQht 1 desire to IrOrQ or TWO on the
| first great obstacle to a complete and nearly
union of our forces. refer to the nomination
of Banker Sewall as their candidate Tor the
Vice Presidency and the Populist nomination
of Watson for the same office. 1t is Claimed
that the prior nomination OF Sewall by the
Democrats Will render 1t practically almost
impossible to ask him to decline the nomina-
tiol, and that Mr.. Bryan himself is not willing
to accept the Populist nomination If Mr.. Sew
all is rejected by the Populfsts. But P0pullSts
could not support National banker for that
office fication, and intelligent
Democrats are aware OF 1t; and more serl-
objecti on to Mr.. Sewall is that the Popui1sts
having nominated Mr.. Bryan for the Presi-
dency, they could not nominate the whole OF
the Democratic ticket without being classed
and counted as Democrats at the polls, thus
voting themselves out of existence as the Peo-
pies party; and the only way In which Popu-
lists can maintain their organization as party
is to nominate Populist Tor the y1ce-Presi-
dancy and vote tor him as Populist and have
their votes cast and counted as Populist votes.
But why should it be virtue IN Democrats
for Popullst votes to present two candidates
while it is criminal presumption in Populists
to name candidate for the second and infe-
rior office? By supporting Bryan and Watson
both parties maintain their identity and the
Democrats get the lions share; by voting for
Bryan and Sewall Populists cease to exist as
party and are counted as Democrats. If an al
lance is ever made on honorable terms Mr..
Sewall must not be candidate.
But have already devoted too much space
to Mr.. Sewall. l am in possession of fnforma-
ton from the highest sources that Mr.. Sewau
will decline to be eandi date and that Watson
will be placed on the Democratic ticket in his
place, so that there may be complete union
| dates If this should fail it will be impossible
10 hold the soutn to the compact, and
Colonel Norton and Tom Watson will be their
candidates, which will render the election OF
Bryan and Sewal absolutely Impossible. In
that case Mckinley will be elected and the re-
sponsibiiity will rest upon the presumptuous
and overbearing Democracy.
In California lair division of the Presi-
Dental electors based on the last official vote
and the admitted losses of Democracy and
ulIsts to at least four of the nine Presidential
electors and three of the seven Cong gressmen.
In the State Legislature the rule must be that
In districts where Democrats are stronger than
Populists, the Democratic candidate will re-
ceive the joint vote of both parties, but the
reverse will be the rule when Populfsts poll
the larger vote. An open and honorable alli-
ance on this basis Will secure successful and
practical union of these political forces and
the result will be certain victory for the
allies in all parts of the State. To this alliance
look forward as foregone conclusion, and
believe that it can be consumm ated and carried
out so impartialy and honorably that in due
time the alias will gradually coalesce in one
The opportunity is here. The duty is impera-
tive. The rewards are certain.