The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-11-18
WHAT is OUR TRUE POLICY?

We have received the following let
ter from Capt. Nelson, Of this City
an honest and reliable gentleman.
For his opinion we have great re-
spect:
Editor Representative:
In The REPRESENTATIVE of Nov.
4, you say ''let them have full swing"
By this you explain that you hope the
free silver Senate will give Mckinley
and the Republican house full swing,
that the country has spoken. etc.
Pardon me for criticizing the above.
Ny excuse is the Peoples Party is
made up of men Of we'll defined prin-
ciples. they have faithfully studied
and know they are right, that the
country if governed by them would
have prosperity that would come to
stay. Such principles are good enough
to live and work hard for as long as
We have life. The country has not
spoken, as you say; it is corporations,
trusts and com bines: in short the
money power of this nation has COM
bined with the Republican party and
by intimidation and use OF money
and elected Mckinley and the lower
house. Their arguments have been
knock down arguments. They said
il you don't vote for Mckinley we will
foreclose your mortgage, call in cur
loans, shut down our mills, close our
shops, take all the money out of the
up the gold. In short their whole
stock of arguments consisted in
threats of calamity they would bring
upon the people il they did not vote
for McKinly and protection. Their
arguments were no less genteel nor
much less brutal than the robber who
presents a revolver at your head and
commands you to stand and deliver:
and l would as soon turn In and help
the rObber with gun as one who had
secured legislation under pretence OF
the good OF the people, and then turn
round and threaten to destroy them
by means of their power under the
law. No; Thousand times no; don't
advise the Senate to aid them to faS t.
en- upon us their English system of
finance, so we can never shake it off.
l believe if we give them full sway in
four years more they will intrench
themselves behind such laws that
that will become SO powerful that it
will be useless for the people to eyer
attempt to free themselves from the
clutch of the money power with the
UdllOk. AcU Vic OCudCC pun Ou
all their financial and tariff bills and
speeches in explanation Of true prin-
ciples will go into print to be read
and educate the people. No general
ever won victory il when he lost a
battle he aided the enemy to take ad-
vantage OF a strong position he came
in possession Of No; we must fight
them at every point, take advantage
OF every position that comes within
our reach, If we do this, explaining to
the people the cause and our position:
it will become generally known, the
people will be thoroughly educated,
and in 1898 we will change the no use
to our side and in 1900 we will elect a
President with ease. "Never give one
inch" is my motto. A. II. NELSON,
1913 Taylor St., Minneapolis.
We cannot help but admire the
Captains grit and pluck in the fore.
going article; but it is question Of
good judgment and sound common
sense, not courage, that is before us as
to the best policy for the Peoples Par
ty to follow, during the next four
years.
We do not recommend that any
member Of our party should desert his
principles, or should vote for what he
thinks is wrong. But we cannot help
but think that the Republicans would
like nothing better than to be able to
say to the people, in two years or in
four years:-"We would have re-
formed all the evils from which you
suffer, and would have given you de-
gree Of magnificent prosperity,-but
the Populists and Democrats would
not permit us, and hence, you are
steeped to the lips in misery. We ask
you now to overwhelm and drive them
out of power forever, and give US full
swing, and We will save the country"
Certainly such claim would be