The advocate., 1897-11-17
NO MORE FUSION.


party cannot afford to make many blum
ders. II ever the Peoples party needed
cool heads to direct It's movements, 1t is
now. It is useless to shut our eyes to
actual facts. The People's party Is split
into fragments over the question Of fu-
sion. It is not over a question Of prin-
ciple; it is simply question of policy.
Fusionists and middle-of-the-roaders
alike believe in the great underlying
principles Of the Omaha and st. Louis
platforms. On the question Of Demo-
cratic fusion they are divided and the
bitterness is daily growing. If our West
ern Populists could be made to cOmpre-
hend the intensity of feeling on this sub
ject that exists among their Southern
and Eastern brethren they would call a
halt in their fusion policy. Fusion helps
few men into Office, but 1t never yet
advanced a great moral principle. 1t
degrades whatever il touches. Napoleon
Bonaparte never lost battle until he
fused with royalty; from that moment
his doom was sealed A few years ago
we had a Greenback party that bid fair
\ to sweep the nation. Here in Maine we
swept the State two years in succession.
Then came the fusion abOminatiOn, aud
the Democratic party, which had beea at
deaths door, was revived by the new,
fresh blood which was poured into is
veins. The GreenbaCk party, however,
was killed. The moment that deathly
work was accomplished the Democracy
sunk back into its former corrupt and
rotten condition. Reform was dead; bit
Democratic pie-hunters flourished.
A similar condition OF affairs exists
today A year or more ago the Democ-
Tacy was at deaths door. Then came
fasi0n with the young giant of Populism.
Behold the result! Democracy is to-day
staggering in it's old slaVery-day style
and telling the Populists to "gO TO The
niggers, where they belong" The Peo-
ple's party, which was almost ready to
grasp the reins Of power is shiVered and
broken. Tammany Hall Is again on top,
and Perry Belmont, agent Of the Roths-
childs, telegraphs his congratulations to
the country!
This is what has become Of fusion. If
the policy is continued, few more men
will obtain an Office, but the cause of
reform will be shrouded in death.
Is it too late to stop this awful sacri-
flee Of principle? Not If the advice of
ex-senator PETER is followed. The men
who have labored for years and sacri
feed their all for a noble cause must
step to the front and demand in thunder
tones that this fusion business must
cease. The men who are actual reform
ers must get together under one banner.
There may be few less Congressman
elected for year or two, but the cause
of reform will be the gamer. The Peo-
pies party has never been benefited in
the slightest degree by any man who has
been elected to Congress by fusion
vote. It never will be benefited in this
way; on the contrary, it will be steadily
weakened. Such men from the moment
of their election become Democrats to all
intents and purposes. The State of Kan
sas furnishes more than one living Illus
tration of the truth of this statement.
This thing has gone on until our peo-
pie all over the country are in ferment.
When clouds are sufficiently charged
with electricity it requires but slight
shock to produce the lightning's flash.
There is trouble ahead unless halt is
called.
How can this matter be settled and
this reform go on? will answer Fol
low the advice of ex-senator PETER. He
is the one man in the entire West that
sees the situation with the broad vision
of a statesman. PETER towers above the
pie-hunting mediocrities by whom he is
surrounded, and who can appreciate
neither his genius nor his patriotism.
Let the true reformers get together as
soon as possible and map out a line of
action. If it is deemed necessary to adopt
new marty name then let 1t be done.