The Yale expositor., 1896-07-03


position.
The approaching election will be a
contest between the money power and
the people, and promises to be one OF
the most notable in history. Jackson's
even the slavery question with all It's
terrible consequences, pales before the
significance of the coming conflict.
While the people are divided, or at
best but poorly organized, the money
power that dominates the Government,
the courts, the press and the church,
like the old slave power, is united
without regard to party, and like that
power dominates every avenue of So
cial, business, and political life, ready
at all times to prevent a union of the
people who oppose them, by provoking
discord and tanning into flame any
little rivalries that may exist.
The situation is one that calls for
the utmost courage and discretion upon
The part of all patriotic citizens, and
neither place nor self-interest should
be permitted to influence those who
are interested in the settlement of the
question which now confronts us.
The Peoples Party apparently hold
the key to the situation, and upon the
wisdom of their action much, perhaps
all, will depend, and upon the leaders
of that party will rest the RESPONSE
bility of success this year. In looking
over the ground l find upon all sides
petty jealousies, and unwarranted at
tacks being made upon some of our
able leaders whose position in the East
has been above reproach.
l look upon the situation as one of
extreme gravity. Having been in the
front of the reform movement for over
twenty years, never having been can
didate for Office and desiring none at
the present time, | deem it my right to
utter protest against the course being
pursued, by some of these professed
leaders or assumed dictators.
During the twenty years past. l have
had no time to attack any man who
was honestly in the reform movement
not that | have agreed at all times with
my co-workers; but because there was
so much fighting to be done on the
outside that l deemed it necessary to
acquiesce or remain silent upon what
] deemed the errors either of ignorance
or design on the part of men who may
have gone wrong in their reform eff
forts. Never before has there been so
ch Nv WI n
desire to become prominent in the
Peoples Party, as there is at this
time.
The attacks upon Gen. Weaver, who
for more than two decades has stood
true to principle and has been an un-
tiring worker always, never losing
sight of the interests of the people,
spring from ignorance of his services
or base designs actuated by jealousy.
l know Gen. Weaver, have been in
timately acquainted with him for over
twenty years, have assisted twice in
nominating him as candidate for presi-
dent, and still have the most implicit
faith in his honesty and fidelity to our
principles.
The attacks upon Mr.. Taubeneck,
chairman of the National Committee,
are both unreasonable and uncalled
for. Some of them come from men
who in twenty years active work all
over the United States, l have never
before heard of.
know Taubeneck, opposed him as
chairman of the National Committee
at Omaha, and was anxious to see
John w. Breidenthal of Kansas placed
in that position. But Gen. Weaver
favored Taubeneck. l did not fight
him, but went to work earnestly to
hold up his hands and secure as many
votes as POSSIBLE for the Peoples Party
ticket For four years l have watched
the course of Taubeneck. l be!isve he
has been sensible Of the responsible
ties resting upon him; that he has eX-
ercised sound judgment in his move
ments, has been cautious and dignilied,
and at all times thoroughly honest.
He may have made mistakes, but his
loyalty to the Peoples Party or the
Omaha platform cannot be questioned.
1t would seem that there is great
deal of fear the Peoples Party is going
to abandon it's platform, and lose its
identity at the St. Louis Convention,
although ! have heard no such sugges-
ticns from any Peoples Party man.
know that some of our strong Peoples
Party advocates who were at Omaha
are terribly exercised in their minds
for fear that silver forces may join us
at st. Louis, or that silver may be made
too prominent in the party platform.
l desire to call the attention of such
people to the Omaha platform itself,
which makes the money plank,-which
is very much the same as the plank
adopted by the Silver men az Washing
ton, the leading issue.
For four years wherever our speak
ers have spoken, they have taken the