The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-09-29
A MIGHTY QUESTION
SHALL THE PEOPLES PARTY LIVE
OR DIET
A Reply to Mai. Bowler.

in which Mr.. Bowler said:
Some of our friends seem more inter-
ested in having party than in securing
the success of the principles and cause
we advocate. For my part I want to see
the plutocrats put out of power; free COIN
age of silver 16 to l. cleaner methods in
government, national and state, and in
politics. equal rights for all and special
privileges for none; and some other things
of like nature: all part of these as we
are able to secure by getting together in a
sensible way and working for them in
practical ways. I have no time for 'sparring
for position, or for contentious within
party lines, but have lots of blows left
for the common enemy Things are bound
to come the peoples way"
Upon these statements we made-in
perfect good faith and good temper
some comments. We quoted Maj. Bow
ler's language that: Some of our friends
seem more interested in having party
than in securing success of the princi-
pies and cause we advocated" and we
stated that If we understood him correct
ly the major meant that we must not
think so much of our party but that
we must "get together; which we under
stood to mean, that we must unite with
those who, either in whole or in part
agreed with us; which meant, if 1t
meant anything, that we were to Join
with the Democrats and free silver Re-
publicans and turn Our backs upon the
Peoples Party or cease at least to take
much interest" in it.
We took the ground that no reform
could be accomplished except by a
party; that a union at the ballot-box of
those who held the same principles was
necessary; and that If we did not thus
unite in the Peoples Party we must
unite in some other party. And We
took the further ground that if all Dem
ocrats were like the reform Democrats
of Minnesota, we might be ready to do
this; but we pointed out that all over the
country the Democrats were ignoring
the Populists and in many states going
back even on free silver.
We further said that if this interpre-
tation of Maj. BoWler's meaning was not
correct our columns were open to him
for reply. We did not think that that
Invitation would be responded to by an
outrageous attack upon Ourself. There
was no necessity for bad blood. We
were discussing question OF party
policy.
And yet in this very reply the major
confirmed distinctly what we charged,
for he says:
''This relief must come. if it comes at all.
through our success at the polls in CO.
OPERATION WITH THE NEW DEMOC-
RACY AND SILVER REPUBLICANS,
who have already done so much in common
with us
If this does not mean FUSION what
does it mean?
Experience is teaching us that we can
rot cooperate on terms of equality with
Democracy, but we must, as in Iowa
adopt their name or be utterly ignored
as we have been in other states, and
simply bring our votes to them to give
them success; with no certainty that, il
successful, they will carry out the re-
forms we advocate. In the meantime
we have abandsnea and destroyed our
own party. e.
Now we have 1ta I'll feeling toward the
major. Not akhaEticle This is not
question Of REPRESENTATIVES. What
therefore, does{the major mean by say
ing that I'VE must but the lust for office
behind u.s." ffthe intimation is that
we have been a@uated by ''lust for Of
fice," We would simply say that we have
during the last three years twice sup
ported Maj. Bowler, once for congress
and once for lieutenant governor, and
during that time we have not been a can
didate for anything. If anybody has
been possessed by "a lust for office,
surely it does not seem that we are the
man.
The major then denies point blank
that any Populist in Minnesota ever pro-
posed or desired to abandon the Peo-
pies party" Let us see.
On the 18th of February last ban
quet of free silver advocates was held
at the Windsor Hotel st. Paul, to dc
honor to the memory of Abraham Lin
coin. A great many speeches were
made. S. NJ Owen spoke. His speech
was published in the Evening Press,
which at that time was, in some sense
his organ, and therefore not likely to
misrepresent him, we quoted from that
report in the REPRESENTATIVE OF
Feb. oath: and Mr. Owen has never
complained, nor has any one else fol
him, that he had not been reported cor
rectly.
In that speech he advocated dropping
the Peoples Party and uniting with free
silver men of all parties in some kind u
a new party. Here are his very words:
"Let the American people all come to-
gether as have. Let all lovers or re-
form come together. Let us forget that
we are Democrats. that we are Repub-
Hcans, that we are native or foreign born;
let us forget self and everything except
that we are American citizens l4Ef US
BE UNMINDFUL OF THE NAME THAT
is INSCRIBED UPON THE POLITICAL
BANNER WE MARCH UNDER. Let US.
If need be, BE DISLOYAL TO OUR OLD
PARTY PREJUDICES! Let us, by the
millions. do what we have done I-ere by the
scores tonight and the end is attained
LET US UNITE UNDER SOME NAME
NO MATTER WHAT 1T MAY BE.
Upon this utterance we made the fol-
lowing remarks in cur next issue:
I'VE have no desire to prosecute or abuse
Mr.. owen. and shall not; but how can we,