The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-01
A DIFFERENCE.

heretofore the argument has been
very effective to the people in most
states that they must steer clear of
Populism if they would avoid inevi-
table wreck. The Peoples party has
espoused so many theories that are OBJ
noxious to good government and in
compatible with sound industrial devel-
opment that it has acquired a worse
reputation than it deserves. 1t has put
at the front in so many cases it's most
violent and reckless representatives
that they have given tone and char
acter to it in the public mind When
any one talks of a possible Populist
state administration, the average man
at once thinks of what Waite did in
Colorado, and Pennoyer in Oregon, and
Llewelling in Kansas. His immediate
and spontaneous petition is: From such
men as these, good Lord, deliver u.s.
The strength of this argument and the
reliance placed upon it were both ap-
parent ipathe recent campaign in Min
neSota. There is no reason to doubt
but for the silent fear in the minds of
many voters inclined to favor him that
it would hurt the reputation Of Mime
sofa at the East and abroad to elect
Populist governor. The most was
made of that plea. and it unquestiona-
bly, influenced enough voters to secure
for Mr.. Clough the narrow majority by
which he was elected. Mr.. Lind's per-
sonal high character and his many ad-
mirable qualities enabled him to make
a wonderful run. but that could not
quite overweight this lurking fear that
Peoples party victory is equivalent
to building wall around state which
outside capital cannot or will not pass.
There has been too little discrimina-
tion between individuals. The tenden-
cy of Populists to push to the front
their most violent and unreasonable
representatives. to thrust into their
platforms the doctrines which cast
odium upon Mr.. Bryan, and to choose
for office men like the one whom they
have just elected chief justice Of Kan
sas, who holds the most dangerous and
erratic notions about capital, has OBJ
scured the fact that a Populist may
be a worthy citizen and competent
and valuable officer This distinction
is bound to be made sooner or later,
and with it will come the Peoples par
tvs chance Of obtaining power. unless
it is rent in twain by dissensions be-
tween the moderate and the violent
wings.
Already the people at the East are
coming to understand that there is
Populism and Populism. The New
York Evening Post, in a recent article,
says: "Some surprise is expressed at
the East that, while Nebraska as well
as Kansas, was carried by the Popu-
lists, the former state does not suffer
anything like the discredit which at
taches to the latter for it's performance.
The reason is that there is an immense
difference between the two brands of
Populisn." 1t goes on to say, which
is true, that the leader of the Populist
party in Nebraska for many years has
been Gov. Holcomb, who is a man of
spotless character, Il jurist of high re-
pute and one whose record is full of
advocacy of popular right against cor
porate privilege, without stepping over
the line that separates reform from
revolution. Gov. Holcomb had the sup
port of the reform element of the Re-
publican party in Nebraska when he
first separated from it, and has re-
tanned it by the excellence of his ad-
ministration. He has saved his state
from the odium that fell deservedly
upon Colorado, and has opened the
eyes OF Eastern people to the possibil-
tiles of the Peoples party under good
leadership.
On the other hand the Populists of
Kansas have given way to the most
crack Drained and revolutionary of
their members. The state was fairly
overrun in the last campaign by ora
tors who yelled and shouted and went
through all kinds of political ghost
dances without pretense of reason or
appearance Of sanity. Judge Doster,
whom they have chosen to their SUI
prene court, is on record as declaring
that the right of the user of property In
that property Itself is pafamount to