The Louisiana populist., 1897-01-22
AN APPEAL
10 the POpulists of the
United States.

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We are to be congratulated upon
the growth Of our party and the
fact that in the recent election
nearly half the voters of the Union
indorsed much of our platform.
No party ever achieved more bril-
liant success in so brief a time.
Although handicapped in late
late campaign, we emerge
from the contest stronger than
ever, Our party alone has a
voting force larger than that which
elected Lincoln and an able, etfec-
tice reform press of nearly two
thousand papers. We elected
several governors as we'll as hun
dreds of other State, county, and
town officials. We hold the bal
ance of power in the United States
Senate and have four times as
many congressman as ever before.
We united with the silver for
ces in the recent campaign, not
because we believe free coinage of
silver is the solution of the fnan-
cial problem, but because it would
better existing conditions. would
meet with the least resistance and
become the entering wedge of our
main issue, viz, full legal tender
paper money, issued and regula-
ted by the government alone.
Having proved our loyalty at the
polls, we are free to act separate
ly ON advanced lines and to en-
phasize the real issues our party
was born to advocate. We cannot
in honor lay down our arms and
cease our activity until the war
for which we enlisted has ended
in victory for our cause.
The democratic party proposes
to contine the silver fight. Two
parties cannot exist on the same
issue. The greater absorbs the
smaller. Therefore, if we remain
mere camp followers of another
party, disintegration will result;
Our party success alone forced the
democrats to adopt the Chicago
platform and nominate popocrat
for President. Converts made by
party regularity cannot be trusted
with the reforms of the future.
DEMOCRATS TRIED TO ABSORB Pop
ULISTS.
While chairman of the Chicago
branch of our executive committee
during the campaign, my contact
with the chairman Of the demo-
cratic State committees revealed
to me the fact that in many cases
they were more anxious to elect
their State tickets and absorb the
populists than they were for the
success of Bryan and the Chicago
platform, but this does not apply
to the chairman and officers Of the
National Committe.
We are not democrats and can
not be classed as such. We simp-
lily united for q single campaign.
The democratic party is but the
rear guard of our own. We do
not stand for redemption money,
but for a scientific dollar, kept
invariable by proper regulation Of
the money volume. Then why
should o high school graduate
re-enter the intermediate gradeg
Our grandest achievements are in
the future, if we inspire the peo-
pie through separate party action
with our chief issues, and hold
our forces together by taking the
lead which belongs to us in press
ing to success the reforms of the
day.
The millions of converts to sill
yer during the recent campaign
must advance. They will not re-
main where they are. We must
educate them up to the main issue,
and the time to do it is now, not
just before a Presidential election.
We must also hold the democratic
party to its present position or
compel it I'd advance.