The Louisiana populist., 1896-11-20
Special to the PUPUL,ST
Washington, Nov. 13, 1896.


In the peculiar and marvellous
campaign just closed the Republi-
cans won by q margin so narrow
that 1T must be extremely uncom-
Portable to them, in view OF
the tremendous efforts and i'm
mense amount of money put for
ward. 1t is interesting to note
that twenty-five thousand more
votes given to Bryan, and proper
ly distributed in certain States
would have made him President of
the United States. 1t is clear that
the cause for which he stands will
gain ground steadily every day.
Therefore, the people have nothing
to do but to press forward in their
righteous cause and victory will
surely reward their efforts i'll l9OO.
Chairman Butler says that the
Peoples party has come out OF
this campaign in better shape than
any other party in the contest. He
points to the tact that thousands
upon thousands of so-called Dem
Ocrats of the regularity stripe have
voted for Bryan, or claimed to
support him, yet, who are evident
~ glad of his defeat. These gold
bugs and monOpOlists in duisguse
will, of course, at once 60 to work
and try to capture the machinery
of the party. If they tail they
will 60 to the Republican party in
the next contest. If they succeed,
a very large element of the real
silver men in the Democratic par.
ty will surely join the Peoples
party. Besides, McKinley's bare
ly won election could not have been
secured, in spite of the tremen-
dOus efforts and money put for.
ward by the Republican party,
had the patriotic rank and file OF
the Republican party who are Op-
posed to mOnOpOlies and trusts,
and who are in favor of the free
coinage of silver, not made up their
minds to stay just one more time
in the old party to which they have
long belonged, and which they
loved because the name of Lincoln
is connected with its birth. This
cl IS of Republicans will revolt
against Mckinley before 1900, as
the patriotic rank and file OF the
Democratic party have revolted
against and repudiated Cleveland.
ism. These men Will naturally
come to the Peoples party, and
thousands of them would have done
so in this campaign had the fight
against the, gold standard been
made under the Peoples party
banner. 1t is very hard for Re-
publican, however strongly he may
oppose the policy of the Republi.
can party to fight under the Dem.
Ocratic banner, however much he
may favor what it claims to stand
for. The hope of the country In
the future is in the patriotic rank
and file Of the Republican party.
1t is as certain as anything can
be in politics that these men will
line up sOlidly with the Peoples
party in 1900.
The Peoples party in this past
campaign has risen to d height of
patriotism and devotion to the
cause of good government which
has won for it the admiration, res
pect, and confidence of all good
citizens. 1t has not only acted in
q patriotic manner, but it has
shown the very shrewdest kind of
political management, because the
future of the party depends upon
how many accessiOns it can bring
to its ranks. If it had not taken
the patriotic stand in this cam.
paign that it did, it is clear that it
never could have gained recruits
from either the Democratic or Re.
publican party, but now it stands
in a commanding and enviable pO-
sitiOn. Besides, 1t has accomplish.
ed no little in the shape OF practl-
cal results in the present cam.
paign. II. has elected over TWEEN.
ty Congressman, FIVE Governors,
and has partial control of the State
government in q number of other
States. In addition to this, it
would have had the balance of
power in the electoral college in
the event of Bryan's election.
Chairman Butler says that the
party will proceed to push its or
ganization vigorously and will
keep up u constant and unceasing
campaign for the next four years.
He says that headquarters will be
kept open in Washington, and that
the National Committee and State
Committees will keep in close
touch, and face the plans of Mark
Hanna and the gold men at every