The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-02-26
JOIN OR DIE-NUMBER THREE.
(By Thos. G.. Hodgson.)

(By ThOs. G. HodgsOn)
The reformer is by nature opposed to
compromises. He wants no halfway
measures. He proposes to have all or
nothing. Nevertheless compromises have
their uses. They serve to bridge over
transitional periods in human affairs. In
war it is possible to force upon con-
quered people all the reforms the conquer
ors may dictate. Not so in peace. HUI
man nature in the mass is opposed to sud-
den and violent changes in public policy.
When agitation has made reasonable
Roadway you will find those who believe
In practical politics Offering compro-
misses. The radical opposes vehemently.
So does the conservative" better named
fossil" But the majority will generally
go with the "compromisers." In the period
of slavery agitation Henry Clay was the
great pacificator. But his measures were
only temporary. Compromises never set
tie anything. They are often overthrow
by the parties they were intended to ben
eft Clay's compromises have their eX-
act counter part IN the silver agitation of
these times, and the parallel is most strik-
ing. The Bland bill and the Sherman
law were compromises and both were
overthrown by the Money power, even as
the Missouri compromise and the compro-
mise Of 1850 were overthrown by the
slave power When compromising bar
riers are torn away It is time to look out
for new and startling developments.
The silver issue is before us. 1t must
be settled first. We cannot get other i'm
portant and needed reforms to the front
while the silver issue is upon us. Re-
formers may advocate a dozen great re-
forms, but political parties can never do
80 and succeed. Human nature IS against
them. So is human history. In subsid-
ing the other great issues of the Omaha
platform and massing on the silver issue
the Peoples Party will compromise moth
ing and will show unwanted wisdom-a
wisdom almost too good to hope for.
Here is the situation. Thousands-al-
most milliOns-of Republicans and Dem
ocrats believe in silver at 16 to free and
unlimited. All Populists agree on that.
Why then do not the free silver Republic
ans and Democrats join the Populists?
Because they are opposed to government
ownership or the 2 per cent loan basis or
to one and all of the reforms set forth in
the Omaha platform, except the free sill
yer one. Besides, they are stuffed with
prejudices against the Peoples party.
Many Of them believe we are a conglom-
GRAFTON OF socialism, amarchism, hoodlum-
ism, tramplSm and mObism. They prefer
to remain in their own parties rather than
to join us, even though we are right and
their parties wrong ON the silver issue
Now, what shall we do? We can force
them to stay with their parties and beat
us or we can extend the right hand of
fellowship and say, "If you will not join
us we will join you in d:sinterested
and patriotic attempt to wrest the power
from the po1d-huQ " The associations of
a long and heated campaign will entire
ly disabuse their minds about the fright
full elements in the Peoples Party, and if
victorious many of them will discover the
inadeQuacy of both gold and silver to sup
ply the needs of the country. Many of
them now see it.
1t seems to me that union IN the present
crisis is worth almost any sacrifice We
have but to unite all the friends of silver
and march under a leadership to sure and
certain victory. No cause ever had