The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1897-08-20
Strong Editorial
From the Pen of Dewitt c. Jones on
the Attitude of The "Middle Of The
Readers"

rOau IOpullSJ Ill OnlO lIllo ldiij III
point of morality, is but little above
that of the highwayman. Both
have selfish objects in view.
No sane man can suppose that
Coxey, the buffoon and political
clown, can be elected governor of
this state. Ofthat there is not the
smallest expectation. But every
vote he receives will be loss of
one to the Democratic party and
the gain of half vote TO the Re-
publican party.
While it is true that the Demo
cratic party does not in all respects
quite agree with the most radical
Populists, yet in all essential fun
damental principles they are not
far apart. Acting together last
year, they cast more votes for Will
lam j. Bryan f,r president than
any other defeated candidate for
that office ever received, or any
successful one, except Mr.. McKin-
ley.
1t is not to be wondered that
such party as the Populists arose.
The Democratic party had
fallen into the control of Wall
street politicians, their agents and
attorneys. 1t was little better
than the Republican party that
had forgotten Lincoln, Sumner
and Greedy. Both these old parties,
since the death of Lincoln have
been controlled by monopolists,
Wall street financiers and corp IRA
lions, until last year when the De-
mocracy re-asserted its independ-
ence, and began a new career on
principles laid down in the Declar-
ation of our National Independ-
ence, and proclaimed by Jefferson,
Jackson and the earlier patriots.
whose names are revered in every
American home. But even last
year there were few egotists in
the Populist party who refused to
vote for Mr.. Bryan, but they were
very few.
This year these same men who
refused to vote for Mr.. Bryan de-
ternlined to secede from the Popu-
list party If il attempted to ratify
the platform and nominations of
the Democratic party in Ohio.
These few cranky men were with
out Influence, as we'll as without
numbers. The character of the
men in every part of the state who
favored an independent Populist
ticket will not compare with that
Of the men who opposed it. Meth
er do they compare in point Of
numbers. But they put themselves
in communication with Mark Han
ma and others who would help
them. Agents were sent all over
Ohio, Offering to pay expenses Of
delegates who would attend the
Columbus convention, if they would
favor an independent ticket and
platform.
Finding il impossible in many Of
the counties to induce Populists to
attend the convention, it is said by
the oldest and most reliable Popu-
lists that most of the middle Of the
readers who attended this conven-
tiop were Republicans and had
never been seen before at a Popu-
list gathering. One-fourth of the
counties of the state were not re-
presented in the convention.
While the platform of the con
vention denounces monopolies,
trusts and robber corporations, the
object of the men who voted for it
and to nominate CoXey, the
mountebank, for governor, did SO
chiefly in hope of defeating the De-
mocratic party. There is no doubt
that the delegates who opposed the
ratification of the Democratic state
ticket were more than one-half Of
them Republicans, and We're in the
service of Mark Hanna and on his
pay rolls.
This must be evident to all who
are not wilfully blind. The honest
and clear-headed Populists of Ohio
will prefer TO vote the Democratic
ticket so long as the Democratic
party remain true to the Chicago
platform, rather than to throw
their votes away upon such polite.
al clowns as Coxey, and thereby
assist in election of such men as
Mark Hanna. How can "A Popu-
list who Is honest so cast his vote
as to assist the man he has CRITICS.
ed without limit, and with just
cause?