The Louisiana populist., 1896-09-18
a Supreme Moment

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presented for a great play for high
politics. BY good management,
good sense, display of nerve and
prompt action there is chance to
put the Populist party on such an
elevated plain as it could not pro-
badly reach by ordinary courses in
Il lifetime of endeavor. 1t is with
in its power to obtain the second
officer in the greatest government
on earth, become a deciding factor
in both the law-making and execu-
tive branches and Immediately leap
to a front rank in the consideration
of the world. How can this glo-
rious achievement be brought
about! What must be done to eff
feet its accomplishment Listen,
and W. will tell you.
The political situation Just now
is peculiar. 1t is unexampled in
the history of the United States.
Its phases, its ramifications and its
complications are endless. And
the Populists hold the key to them
all The allied forces of reform
are now engaged in a death strug-
gle with the most formidable CON-
bination of mon that was ever Or
ganized to gain power and empire.
The latter is organized, compact
and aggressive. 1t is confident of
victory, not so much on account
of its inherent strength, though
that is very great, as because of
dissensions and apparently irrec-
oncilable antagonisms among its
opponents. If these differences
could be settled, if the discords
could be removed, and the allied
forces marshalled in solid array,
there would be an alignment for
battle royal, titanic conflict, such
as is seldom seen among the chill
dren of men. What is the weak
spot, the disturbing element. that
prevents this union of folces9 1t
is the result of tactical mistake
at the beginning of the contest.
A hlunder was made at Chicago,
recognized then as bad, but every
day since growing more and more
apparent as fatal if it cannot be
removed.
1t may as we'll be understood
now as later, that an homogeneous
addition to the Chicago ticket en-
dangers if it does not insure its
defeat. There is dead weight at
tached that threatens to sink the
ship. There is a grain of sand in
the eye that must be removed to
secure clear vision. In other
words, Sewall's withdrawal is
condition precedent to Bryan's sue
cess. The dead-wood, the broken
spars, the damaged sails and the
decrepit masts must be cut away
to enable the vessel to float. Shall
such rubbish be allowed to encum-
Der and crush a great cause? Shall
so small a thing as the qualification
of one mans ambition be allowed
to stand in the way of the aspira-
tions of millions? Shall the one
fatal error of an unexampled cam
paign not be corrected? We think
we voice the sentiments of every
true man and woman in the reform
cause, when we answer emphatical-
ly, No!
But how shall it be done, how
can it be done! The Populists hold
the key of the situation. Upon
their wisdom, their courage, their
devotion to principle, depends the
accomplishment of a grand and
glorious result. They must rise
up as one man and demand Sc
wallis removal and Watson's SUBJ
stitution in his place. If insisted
upon boldly, bravely, persistently
it will be granted. No one who
the situation can doubt
it for a moment. When the mana
gers of the allied forces. especial
Iy the commanders of the larger
wing of the army, see that ''rebel-
ion is afoot" and that Achilles re-
fuses to marshall his troops for the
fray unless his rights are granted,
here is no doubt whatever that his
demands will be acceded to. The
Populist wing of this army is in
lispensable to success. Not a state |
vest of Ohio can be won without |
hem. With them is victory ;l
them is inglorious defeat. |
And nothing stands in the way but |
,ne man, and he one who ought not |
o have been put there and who has
10 right to remain there.
Indiana is an immensely impor-