Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1897-10-15
Discomfort WITH
REPUBL|CAN|SM! !!

If dear dollar calculated to put in the
hand of the creditor classes an ever
increasing share Of the wealth produced
by the industrial classes, If transporta-
ton system operated so as to wreck
industries that will not pay tribute to the
speculative cliques or in which the
cliques have no interest and so as to
build up industries in which the cliques
are interested into trusts and monopolies,
if tariff system designed to protect such
trusts in their exactions, not protect
consumers and independent producers,
can bring prosperity, then the Republi-
can party will bring prosperity, for it is
for such things the Republican party
stands. And the party that can bring
prosperity to the people will itself pros
per.
But such policies, policies calculated to
enrich the few at the expense OF the
many, policies calculated to centralize
the wealth produced by the industrious
in the hands of the speculative cliques
cannot bring prosperity. So the Repub.
lican party must fail, fail signally when
normal crop conditions in the outside
world return, and then IT, ere will be dis
gust with the Republican party, men
will resolve on change. resolve on
onferring powe. on party that will
serve their interests. They will hesitate,
as they should, to confer power upon a
party that has failed them IN the past.
party in which many OF the leaders
show disagreeable proof Of bending the
party to selfish ends. not readiness to
bend themselves to the ends Of the peo-
plea disposition to have the people
serve the party rather than the party the
people. Such is the disposition we find
among too many of the leaders Of the
Democratic party-a disposition to make
the interests of the country secondary to
the interests Of party.
The Democratic party is indeed regard.
ed as a means to an end but to too many
Democratic leaders that end is the ad-
vancement of party and leaders. A party
led by men ready to sacrifice principles
for success is not to be trusted, neither is
a party led by men who draw back from
advocating policies through fear OF
alternating some political support.
Support won by honesty OF conviction,
by answering regard for principle, by
steadfast pursuit Of policies demanded by
the public veal is worth having and will
bring success Support won by a
trafcking in principle, by an ign1Hg
or trampling upon great policies OF first
interest to our people, can better be done
without Yet we find the Democratic
party IN many places, and many Demo-
cratic leaders ready to win support by a
sitting if not sacrifice of principle. And
leaders thus showing themselves, show
themselves not only unworthy Of leader
ship, but unified for successful leader
ship.
Such is the political situation. There
is vacant place. The people will turn
from the Republican party for i: will not
bring prosperity, II great part Of those
opposed to the Republican party will not
turn again to the Democratic party where
they have turned before in vain; they will
turn to new prrty, insist on party
that will serve the people, upon leaders
who will seek not primarily to advance
their own ends but the ends Of the people
who honor them. The leaders who will
not serve such ends must and will be
thrust aside. The Populist party should