Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-02-26
A TRIPLE ALLIANCE.
HOW 1T MAY BE MAINTAINED
TILL 1900.
Congressman Newlands Says That Finan-
cial Reform Should BE the Rallying
Cry-Beyond That There Should he
Perfect TOleratiOn.

| tTOlH INeNdud, III oH'ci hhi6h' " SS
man:
The triple alliance between the DEM
ocratic, Populist and Silver parties al
The last election was defeated; and as
the Importance of the maintenance OF
this alliance is conceded by all, 1t Is
we'll to review the mistakes which were
made in the last campaign, and to marx
out policy which will effect COM
plete union of the silver forces in the
future. The practical withdrawal OF
he gold Democrats from the Democrat
ic party makes it absolutely essential
that it should seek new allies; and these
can be gained only in the ranks OF the
Populist and Silver parties. l think
1t is universally conceded that the loss
of the recent campaign was largely
due to the numerous issues presented
by the Democratic party in their plat
form. Their policy should have been
to present as few issues as possible;
for multiplicity of issues tend at all
times to create division of strength;
and this was particularly the case
where an attempt was being made to
| solidify into one great political organ
| iZation three parties which, agreeing
on the silver question, differed either
moderately or radically on all other
questions. 1t may be assumed that no
absolutely radical party can ever win
In this country. If we look over the
CT nf 1oc CT frrru
find the work of reform is always slow
and tedious. Men may agree as to the
Importance of one reform, but differ
as to others. 1t is, therefore, unwise,
as rule, for a great political party to
press anything except the crucial re-
form, and to leave other reforms to
the gradual process of formation that
comes from long continued discussion
by organizations specially devoted to
them. 1t is unnecessary to criticize the
Is sufficient to say that it had too many
planks. | remember well the wise say
ing of prominent Ohioan prior to the
meeting of the Democratic convention,
who remarked in response to my plea
for unification of the issues, that he
desired plank, and not platform.
1t is probable that the three forces
which acted as allies in the last cam
paign will gradually form into one
great political party with common
name. But the process of amalgama-
ton and consolidation must necessarily
be slow one involving, as it must,
absolute tolerance of difference OF
opinion on all questions outside of the
silver question. We are all convinced
that monetary reform includes within
it all other reforms, and that without
accomplishing it no other reform can
be successfully carried out, and it would
be we'll to confine our creed to the es-
sential issue. The silver forces are
now confronted with a situation of
great difficulty. They have before them
a period of two years before the house
of representatives can be changed and
four years before the executive depart
ment can be changed, and the question
is, how can they act in such way as
to inspire the absolute confidence and
respect of the country?
l think the prevailing opinion among
the leading men in all these parties is
that there should be prompt, patriotic
and cheerful acquiescence in the YER
dict of the people at the last election.
They have given the Republican party
a contract for prosperity. If it comes
we will all share 1t and be benefited.
| If it does not the country will know
that some other doctor than the Repub-
lican party is required for complete
cure.
The true policy, therefore, seems to
be to allow the Republican party to
frame it's tariff bill as soon as it can
and to permit it to pass it without OBJ
struction, granting to the various mem
bers of the silver forces complete liber-
ty of conscience and of action as to
their votes upon this measure. The
time has gone by for making tariff
schedules a matter of party issue. ALI
parties practically agree that we must
have a tariff. All agree that tariff
necessarily implies some degree of pro-
lection to American producers, and that
the protection differs only in degree.
Even the low tariff man, who believes
in free raw materials, really favors
protection, for free raw materials
means the exemption of the manufac-
turer from taxation of certain materi-
ais that enter into his production; and
this very exemption is in itself pro-
lection.
If we are to contend over the tariff
question, complete unification of the
silver forces is almost impossible, for
they consist of Democrats (mainly in
favor of low tariff, though even in the
Democratic party there are a great
many protectionists); the Silver party
composed mainly of protectionists)
and the Populist party, which has not
as yet declared itself upon the tariff
but which may be regarded as in favor
of moderate protection.
Nnless, therefore, we agree upon per.
feet federation .as to difference of view
on the tariff, and allow individual free
dom of action; it will be very difficul
IN unity these forces into one great