The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1896-06-12
TIE POPS ARE The PEOPLE.
THE GREATEST WESTERN NEWS
PAPER TURNS PoPULIsT.
IS A SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURE
Since the Recent Elections in Oregon
Which Were Gloriously Popu1istic,
the Party Has Been Making
Gains Everywhere.

ray =
Mountain News has to say Of the popu-
list party and it has never been much Of
q %populist paper, but simply an advo-
cate of silver:
"From the day of Cleveland's second
nomination, the News has subjected
every ether national issue to the resto-
ration OF b%imetalism. 1t ADVOCATED the
election of Weaver and Field, it rallied
a magnificent majority in Colorado to
their support. 1T nodded the opinion OF
surrounding states until it lmperiously
demanded loyalty to silver from all
their officials. 1t has conducted the sill
yer contest SO intelligently, persistently
and devotedly that it may now without
arrogance or egotism claim a fair share
OF the credit for the wonderful strides
the cause has made during the past
ninety days.
''In 1898, being convinced that unless
the populist party was strengthened in
the country, particularly in the south,
the democratic party would fall under
Cleveland's complete dominion, 1T for
mally espoused the popullst cause and
since then, except upon occasions and.
when measures forced it into indepen-
dence, it has done what it could to ener-
gize and hberalize the party OF it's choice.
It has never regretted the step. Rather
today it r%ejoices that it has been allied
with the cause OF true populism, for 1T Is
the cause of the PLAIN people, and has
shown itself to be their worthy mouth
piece and champion.
"During the past month the News has
received many letters from old time
democratic friends and readers, asking
whether it should not, know that the
Chicago convention will declare for free
silver and establish itself the champion
OF the cause, return to the democratic
fold and take it's place once more at the
head OF it's valiant columns. The News
answers these questions with an en-
phatlc but kindly mo" and briefly gives
lUS roASOuS IOr Un0 answer.
Gin the first place, if silver were the
only vital issue to be settled. the peo-
ple's party will remain a necessary
factor until the fight Is finally won and
the monster mOnometalism laid away
at rest forever. Let it be accepted that
the Chicago convention will declare for
silver in the fullest and plainest terms
and nominate one whose loyalty to
silver is beyond all question of doubt.
Yet, he may not be elected. and if he
should not be, how wonld the disaster
affect the relation of the party to silver
IN tho future? 1t ls more than probable
that the eastern division would again
dictate its policy. The democratic gold
standard press and leaders would point
silver democrats to their prophesies OF
disaster and c~oniure them to abandon
their money heresies and unite under
the "sound money" banner for victory
in the future. Would they respond?
The news firmly believes that enough OF
OF them to turn the party back to the
gold men would; for one good defeat un-
der tho silver banner would be likely to
knock the late born zeal of a great pro
portion for the white metal into smith.
Greens. They would probable take 9
new track for the pie counter and leave
those who champion the cause from con
v,ction to seek new allies and .c::ors1
their ranks under new leaders and witt
a new name.
III the popullst party should disbant
now. and the democratic party, heater
upon it's silver platform and under il
silver leaders should thereafter squar,
It's financial creed with the teaching O
Wall street, there would be no organize.
party to carry on the fight for silve
left in the country and the struggl
would practically end. It is for thi
reason, if no other, that the people
party must continue active in the field
and strengthen it's organization at ever
point. 1t is the anchor to wind
ward to which the silver cause is crap
pied and it must not be abandoned I'm
less populists and other SILVER men ar
satisfied to risk the future monetar,
policy Of the country upon the issue {
this one single campaign. independently
Of silver however, there are othe
needed reforms OF which the people
party is the selfappointed champlou
and Tor them as we'll as silver It's auto
mony must be preserved.
THE unselfish patriotism Of tn
peoples party will be abundantly man