The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-06-27


/ upholding he principles upon which the
Popuhst party was founded.
PETER says: Il had hoped that there
| might be some amalgamation of Demo
| Gratis, Populists, silver men and al
others in new declaration of princi-
pies, and if need be, new name. But
the time for that has gone by and all
that remains for the Populist party is
TO maintain its integrity by nominal
ing its own candidates on It's own plat
FORM"
This has been the cause Of much
abuse from the POpulists. They assert
that PETER is talking nonsense. Mr..
Harris, a Populist aspirant for COVER
nor, says that PETER should leave
| Washington, come back to Kansas and
get in touch with the people. This is
very disrespectful and not very bril-
| liant remark Senator PETER is talk
| ing very sound sense. For the Popu-
lists this year to indorse the Demo-
cratic nominee would simply be the
end. dissolution and collapse, all COM
bined, Of the POpuliSt party. The DEM
ocrats would swallow it. PETER real
ICES that months political events will
bring this very result around, which
he now recommends. Part of the Pop
ulist party would break into the Demo
cratic party and be absorbed, as much
more OF the Populist party would fall
back into the Republican party, and
what remained with PETER would tot
ter and fall from weakness.
The national Democratic party will
declare for free silver in some form
and a number of other traditional
tenets for which the Populist party has
no use whatever. They will nominate
a man whom the PopulistS can indorse
or let alone, as they wish. That NOM
inee will be a Democrat, not a boiling
Republican or POpulist 1t Is out Of
all reason to expect the Democratic
party TO play second fiddle to the POpu-
list party for the one tenet of free sill
yer, which the Populists have not until
recently advocated.
It is equally nonsense to believe that
the POpuIists will indorSe the low tariff
and anti-pension ideas of the Demo
Gratis. There can be nothing more than
formal fusion, for fusion in reality can
not take place. 1t has none of the
reciprocal factors in it 1t simply
means the swallowing of the POpulist
party.
What PETER believes is this. He be-
lieves that Major Mckinley will be
elected. He says so much. He be-
lieves further that Major Mckinley
will not be able to bring prosperity TO
this country In 1898, if such be the
case. the followers of Mckinley and
the Republican party will be wavering. |
If at that time the PopuliSt party still |
stands in its integrity, it will have an
immense vote. 1t may not win much. |
If Mckinley should fail to give the |
prosperity promised THOUSANDS of Re
publicans will stick fast TO their party |
in 1898 believing that he has not had |
sufficient time to work economic re-
forms. But if two more years passes
and the country is just where it is tod
day or worse, PETER believes that the |
people OF the United States will change |
completely over.
In other words it is PETERS belief |
that the political revolution in this
country viii come in 1900, not in 1896.
And it is because of that belief that he
wants the Populist party to keep itself
separate and distinct from the Demo
cratic party, for allying with which it
must become a part thereof.
1t should be said that PETERS talk
will not help him in getting office or
help some Populists into private snaps,
but from his standpoint of argument it
IS sound reasoning.
However, few Populists will see it.
They are bent on throwing themselves
INTO the nav of the Democratic party.
The Republicans are not, as they be
ieve, frightened at this in the least
The Republicans rather enjoy the pros
)ect, for it means the total humiliation
If one division Of the army of the
enemy and a masSing Of the opposition
which renders the fight more certain,
eaSier and more satisfactory through
lIr