The Louisiana populist., 1896-01-10
REFORMS in GENERAL.
THE REASON WHY THEY HAVE
NOT SUCCEEDED LONG AGO.
NO Two Reformers Play the Same Tune.
and Every One of Them Is Trying to
Together.

The reform movement appears to be
great spectacular medley. Populists,
socialists, single-taxers, prohibitionists,
preachers. charity societies, labor
unions. purity leagues, and the saliva
tion army, are all playing, singing, toot-
Ing and pounding at once.
No two play the same tune, and every
single one of them is trying to make
more noise than all the others together.
Every one of them is playing a good
tune, ii all the others would only stop
and listen moment, and IL they could
all agree to play the same tune there
are enough players to make the grand
est chorus or the most magnificent or
chestral music ever heard on earth
since the morning stars sang together.
Harmony is all they lack-but lack
ing that they lack all of successful exc
cution.
Though every instrument be perfect
in the performance of its special part,
and all the players be masters-yet IL
jealousy, egotism, quarrels, contrari-
are INDUCED. there can be nothing but
grating discord and misery to the ears
of the audience listening for a harmoni-
Gus solution of our social and Industrial
problems.
Is there not some simple tune on
which We can all agree and relieve the
world Of all this clatter and screeching
and bowling and groaning and yelping
and growing and iooting and footing
Is there not a prac-
Iical and agreeable plan whereby each
may have his turn, or that all can play
together?
There is.
And we believe that nearly every one |
If you will agree with us, when we say
hat the Initiative and Referendum"
s the tune upon which we can all unite. |
The greatest problem of all is to get |
he government restored into the hands
# the people.
A direct vote Of the people would de-
nolish party machinery and drive the
money power out of the control of gov
Then all reforms that majority OF
he voters, regardless Of party, desire
an be adopted.
The merit Of the issue and the inteili-
ence of the people will decide the fate
I your theories impartially.
II your idea have no merit, or II the
eople be not capable of grasping it,
on will have to wait, and 1t will not
equire any longer for you to educate
he people to the desired view than it
'ould have required before they OBJ
,ined control of the government. Be
ldes that, il you educate them under
Is present system 1t would be to NO
urpose.
The silver men, for instance, would
Ike now to have direct vote of the
eople on the silver question. And no
Dubt they would win IL the question |
ere submitted directly to all the peo-
Ie on its merits regardless of party
atforms.
If 1t be good thing to have the silver ]
lestion settled thus-why not other
some of greater and some of :
SIS Importance perhaps? II
II we concede the silver men a right q
a direct hearing before the people.
ny should they not concede such a Q
caring to other reformers on other l
.estions? r
The populists would like to see a d. I
ct vote upon the land and transporta- 4
IN questions; upon the abolition of q
nsts and monopolies, etc. They be-
we that such vote would show that r
majority OF the American people IA r
e the principles of the Omaha plat r
rm. If so. then that should be the y
Hey OF government. II not, what :.
er policy the people want--the decis. n =
4 would he IL their hands.