Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-05-08
NO. 81.

and take its chances. 1t is not as well prepared
for that as it hopes to be, and the chances are
decidedly against it with the American people
if it is the aggressor. What s.left for it? Two
things. First: Force, dissension and division
amongst the reforners by imposing upon the
Peoples party platform that will drive all
thorough reformers out of the party into some
other party, and leave the reform forces divided
into two parties. If this should fail and the
people should actually unite on all emasculated
PLATFORM on platform that means nothing-a
platform that, carried into effect, would change
nothing, the money power would be willing to
let the Populists play at governing for four
years, knowing full we'll how terribly disap-
pointing the result would be, and how distracted
and enraged the common people would be, and
how the cause of reform must suffer- In the
meantime the money power could perfect all its
schemes. The people exasperated and dsap-
pointed by make believe, makeshift, and patch
work reform would swing back to the support
of their old enemies, and the latter, with the
power and authority all in their own hands,
would be in position to carry out what they
have long plotted This is the way the money
power figures it out, and inside the lines of the
Peoples party, so-called leaders are helping
them i'll their figuring. 1t is a dangerous
game, and we believe an outraged people will
call for showdown long before the game is
played through. Woe to those who in that hour
are caught with poor hand.
The plot deepens inside our lines For smooth
work commend us to the fellows who are trying
to emasculate the Populst platform, and use the
Populist voting force at various points to help
save few crumbs to old party place hunters
We got a letter from Washington this week
We get regular letter from Washington, but
whether this was meant for the regular letter or
not we cannot say; but the latter did not come.
This letter-the one that came-was written ON
type writer, and manifolded, was unsigned,
and had nothing by which we could tell if it
was the bureau letter or not. 1t was slick
very slick 1t has doubtless been sent to many
Populist papers, ,and was we'll calculated to catch
them and secure publication before they would
see the nigger in the woodpile.
This letter began by telling what Tillman of
South Carolina had said and what he would do.
In the middle of the letter it tells how imposs-
ible it would be for Tillman to lead off the
Democratic masses of the South unless it would
be for something labelled Democratic" 1t
further tells the public it would all be useless
anyway because the Democrats have control of
the returning boards, and would count the
Democrats in. Then in the latter part of the
letter the writer shifts ground and tells us that
'Only when there is absolute MITIGATION of
All. ANTI TI-DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION is there the
GHOST of chance to DEFEAT the "ORGAN-
lied DEMOCRACY" Here's your nigeer
and black rascal he is, too but not so black
but what many so-called Populist leaders are
ready to eat, drink and sleep with him. What
does it mean? 1t means that lot of time-serv-
ing Populist leadersin the South are proposingto
FUsEwith the Republican party, the chief hench-
man of the money power; also half the con-
gressmen, while the Pops who help make the
scheme work are to have the other places as
reward for their part of the dirty business.
That's what honest Populists of the South are
fighting with all their might. And desperate
fight it is. Why should they fight? If "Get
There is what we are after, and we can drop
principles to join the Silverites to secure con-
gresHnen and presidential electors, that other
wise they tell us could not get, would it be
any worse to throw away our principles and
Join the Republicans and get several congress-
men and electors that we otherwise wouldn't
get? Wouldn't we be nearer VICTORY in
such deal? We are after VICTORY, and
what's the use anyway of allowing principle to
obstruct things when 'feler" wants office?
OF course, we know from experience, that when
these politicians get in on ''Get There" plat
form, they will just tumble over each other to
~. >1o)5 IL