Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1896-04-17
WHAT We MUST DO TO WIN.

1t is firmly believed by bimetalllsts,
and as generally feared by gold-mono-
metallists, that those believing in BIZ
metallism form great majority of our
people and that if all bimetallists could
be brought to unite on common plat
form common candidate they would
sweep the the country. 1t is therefore
our first and most important task to
unite our forces, SO that the votes cast by
those believing that the restoration OF
prosperity Is bound up with the restor-
alton of bimetallism be not scattered and
our voting strength not vested.
The gold-monometallists have taken
we'll to heart the old maxim "Divide and
Rule" and it is on their faith in their abll-
ity to divide the forces Of those insisting
on the restoration of bimetallism by IN
dependent actionon the part of the United
States and without waiting for the con-
sent or corporation OF any foreign power,
into different and warning factions. that
they pin their hepes Of victory next No
vember. Ever since silver was demone-
tized in 1873 the gold contractionlsts have
succeeded in dividing, and thus nullify-
ing, the voting strength ofsthose demand
ing the restoration of silver to its place
as money. By dividing the forces Of
their opponents. they have succeeded
since 1876, when, as it became known
that the Mint Aot-of February, 1873, had
dropped the silver dollar from the list Of
coins, the demand for the restoration of
silver became general. in preventing the
reopening OF our ,mints to the free cola-
age of silver. And what they have sue
ceeded in doing in the past they expect
TO succeed 10 doing in the .futnre.
Though numerically weak, the gold
contractionisls have had, and have. the
strength that is born Of unity of action
and purpose and which is trresistable
when directed againss.a divided opposl-
tion. By dividing the biuaetallists
against themselves the goldmonometal
lists have been enabled to hold the bal
ance of power aud to dictate the financial
policy of the country. Our peoOle have
time and and again elected representa-
tives pledged TO work tor the rcstor-
alton OF bimetallism, but lacking orgaL.
Mation, without leadership. unable to
agree on common plan of action among
each other and consequently working at
cross purposes, their efforts have been fu.
tile. In 1878 presidential veto and finally
defeated free coinage, and
agssn in 1890 compromise was the weap-
on successfully used by thu gold-mono-
metallists TO combat those working for
the reconciliation Of silver.
The chosen representatives of the
people failing year after year to carry
out their pledges, the people have natur-
ally come to distrust the political leaders.
And taking advantage Of this. the gold
are doing all in their
power to foment such jealousies and mu-
tual distrust among the bimetallists who
have hitherto acted with the different
parties as to make the union of their
forces impossible. By harboring mutual
distrusts and iealousies, the bimetallists,
among all parties, are playing into the
hands of the gold contractionlsts.
Those Of all parties who believe that
the restoration of silver to its place as
money. can alone bring prosperity to our
classes. must put aside mutual
dislikes and petty jealousles, cease to
work at cross purposes and unite their
forces. Unless they do so their efforts
will be fruitless. If the money cliques
can succeed In keeping bimetallists who
have hitherto acted with Republican or
Democratic or Populist parties apart, and
at loggerheads with each other, their
plan of campaign so persistently and sue
cessfully followed of "Divide and Rule"
will again be crowned with success.
divide and Rule" is the subtle plan
of compaign of the gold-monometallists.
can only successfully COM
bat 1t by taking well to heart and acting
on the old rallying cry of the patriots of
1876, "United We Stand, Divided We !