The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-15
WATSON ON THE CAMPAIGN.
Are for Him-Kceps san Upper
Lip.

Are for Htm-hceps StiR Upper
Lip.
From the Peoples Party Paper
When the national convention OF the
peoples party adjourned, after the nom
ination of Mr. Watson as a set-om to that
of Mr.. Bryan, there was an interval of
several days in which is was difficult to
see whose triumph it was. Had the dem
Ocrats absorbed the populists. or had the
peoples party halted democracy when it
was just half way over the fence? Would
the populst nominee be able 70 hold the
rank and file OF his party as against the
fusionists, or would he be swept off his
feet by the tide which rolled 50 strongly
at st. Louis? As the third week passes
away. it becomes quite clear that the
populist nominee has not been swept
away, and that his position grows
stronger daily. Feeling that the rank and
file of his party would look to him to
maintain the populst organization In this
hour Of its danger, Mr.. Watson plainly
and promptly stated that he was In the
fight to stay. This statement carried en-
enlargement with II, and removed all
doubt upon that point from the pOpulist
mind.
Two millions OF men, who felt sore and
indignant al the policy which sought to
engulf their party, hailed with JOY the
signal which rallied them to their colors.
They heard with delight the words of
their chosen standard bearer in this ma
tional fight bidding them be of good cheer
bidding them TO gather around their own
colors, bidding them remember the faith
which the west had plighted to the south,
bidding them to beware Of the leadership
of those who asked the populists to sacrt-
fice the peoples party.
So great was this aroused loyalty and
ff ia Ina
party, that the Alabama election excited
no attention, and no comment. All men
knew that the same old dishonest meth
DDS had achieved the same old dishonest
the popullst We're simply nerved to greater
zeal.
So well settled was the populist mind,
that Chairman Jones insulting words
were almost unregarded. Ninety-nine out
of every one hundred populists had re-
solved to abide, in good faith, the st.
Louis compromise. They considered Il
a contract. They meant to keep it. Bryan
and Watson they intended to support
loyalty and zealously-leaving II 20 the
democratic managers to reject the olive
branch, if they should be so mad.
Every poDulst realizes that in this CO
alition of the silver forces, Mr. Bryan
stands for organized democracy; and Mr..
Watson for organized populism. They
say that they have not demanded the dis
ibandment of the democratic party as
such demand should be made of them.
They say that II the democratic managers
are candid and honest, they should not
weaken the cause Of free silver by de-
manding the death Of the only party which
was its champion in 1893 when democrats
and republicans We're closing the minis.
In short, the populists have caught on
to the situation, swiftly and fully. They
see that two plans are offered them by
which they can help Mr.. Bryan, and free
silver.
The Chicago democratic plan requires
that the peoples party have no national
ticket in the field, and that every populist
stulify himself by voting for Mr.. Sewall
or Maine. The st. Louis populist plan
gives every populist vote to Mr. Bryan,
but at the same time keeps a populist in
the national ticket and thereby preserves
the party from annihilation. How can any
true populist hesitate between these two
alternatives.
policy, that as fast as the rank and file
OF our party can make itself heard and
felt the democratic-fusion plan Whose
secret motto, death TO populismD is
showed aside.
In Florida the St. Louis ticket was in
dorsed; also in Georgia, Louisiana, Mis-
souri, and Texas. In Nebraska, itself,
the home of Mr. Bryan, the populists have
thus far demanded Watson as Bryan's
running mate In Kansas, the leaders"
have apparently traded off the electoral
vote to Sewall, In return for the state
house OtlCerS II remains 10 De seen
whether the people Of Kansas will ratify
the trade. In Iowa, Cen Weaver's state.
tho populists declined fusion offers and
put out a straight Bryan and Watson
ticket Indiana, Wyoming and Wiscon-
sin have done likewise.
AS a matter of fact, the great fusion"
movement has thus far carried but four
states, while straight populism has car
ried thirteen, and Is fighting its opponents
to a standstil in the others.
If the rank and file can be heard from
in all the conventions, we are in no doubt |
as to results. And the rank and file viii
probably be heard from
Mr.. Watson has asked the national COM
mittee to send him to the west He be-
lieves that he should appeal to those peo-
pie face to face, In this crisis. The west
sent her Weavers and her Simpsons and
her Mary Ellens to the south in 1890 ask
Ing that the south break away from old
party ties, and meet the west in a new
Organization whose aim should be to unite
west and south in political brotherhood
The south responded, and the congress-
man from Georgia, who took his life in