The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1897-04-15
AN ADDRESS
From the Populist Senators and
congressman on the Situation
and the Duty Of the Hour
NO ENTANGLING ALLIANCES


Method Till the Peoples Delegates Meet
In Convention-No One IL Wise Enough
to Know Now, What 1t VIII Bs Best to
Do when Conve entions Asse mbls.
The following wise and timely ad-
dress has just been issued by joint
caucus Of the Peoples Party Senators
and Congressman in Washington.
To THK PEOPLES PARTY OF THE Ma
TIoN:
Never in the history of our party
| has there been such cause for hope on
| the part of tho sc who are seeking re-
forms along financial and industrial
lines as at the present time. Our
progress, considering the opposition
the party has met, has been marked;
and nOtwithing we have not realized
our full expectations, yet now We be-
gin to see potent evidences of the good
work which we have done. with the
most encouraging signs of the future.
The Peoples Party has won the con-
fidence and respect of all intelligent
and liberty-loving citizens of our
| country. Its record of unselfish devO-
| tiOn to the interest of the plain people
is in striking contrast to that of the
| two old parties that for thirty years
have overlooked the interest of the
masses in their competition for favors
| at the hands of the money power, cor
pOratiOns, and trusts.
The unselfish devotion to principle
exemplified by the Peoples Party in
the campaign of 1896 is without a par
allel in the history of political parties.
The robust integrity of the party en-
abled it to rise to meet the occasion,
| when subjected to the severest test to
which loyalty to truth can ever be put.
The Peoples Party recognized the
voice and hand of the plain people in
the Chicago convention. The plat
form enunciated, and the chief candi-
date nominated evidenced beyond
question that the masses of the Demo-
cratic party in spite of the hitherto
dOmi mating element of that party had
at last put forward one partially sue
cessful effort in their own behalf
Therefore, without abating, our dis
trust of the leadership of that party in
the past, we extend the right hand of
| fellowship to those voters who must in
the end ind their abiding place in our
household.
| This action on the part of the PeO-
Piles Party was in no sense an en-
dOrsement of the past record of the
Democratic party. But it was an act
of fidelity to our own platform and
teaching, part of which found ut
terance in the Chicago platform, and
nearly, if not quite all, in the person
of William J. Bryan, the candidate
there nominated for President.
To the Peoples Party is due the
credit for the bolt in the Republican
convention at st. Louis, and for the
revolt in the Democratic party that
rescued the Chicago convention from
the clutches of the bOndh0lding and
banking combine.
Politicians bow before the powers
that can make or unmake them.
The teachings of the Peoples Party
press and speakers on the money ques-
tion had taken such deep root among
the masses of the voters of the country
that the politicians of these sections
who had misled the people could no
longer retain their offices and give
support to parties that upheld the gold
standard. Those politicians that were
forced unwillingly to accept our prin-
ciples in the campaign of 1896 are
probably no more honest now than
they were when they supported Har-
rison and Cleveland in 1872; and should
the Peoples Party relax its efforts,
and cease to apply the whip and spur
to these politicians by attracting the
voters to our party, there is nothing
in their past conduct to warrant the
their old party again, though the gold
combine should regain its control.
The patriotic stand taken by the
POpullst Party in the last campaign,
has added to its power to command
{ the situation in the present and fu-
ture. Had our party in the late cam
paign displayed no higher patriotism
than the old parties, and sought mere
ly party ends, and not proved itself
: equal to any party sacrifice in order to
: advance the welfare of the people, we
8 would not hold the confidence of the
{ masses and stand as the bulwark OF
the people against the intrigues of
, the old political leaders, who for thirty
. years have betrayed the people and
controlled their parties in the inter-
ests of the banks, monopOlies and
trusts.
:. Had Mr.. Bryan been elected Presi-
dent with a Congress in sympathy
with him, the money question would
have been speedily settled, and with
8 forty or more trusted leaders of OuI
r party in Congress and the State gov.
q ernmeDt of several States in Oul
hands, the transportation question ant
other vital issues presented by oul
platform would have at once become
the storm center of political discus
+ sion, and the Peoples Party woult
" soon acquire second if not first place
Q in politics of our country. Viewing
: the duty of the present in the light o
i past experience, the demand for up
q holding our organization and pushing
e. the work of education is more impera
|, tive now than at any time in the past
We have Governors in five States
). eight Senators, and twenty-three Con
n gressmen, and the election in 1898 will
il Undoubtedly give us the balance o
n power in the House as we now have
. in the Senate. The opportunity is be
= fore US to accomplish these results an
!, more.
We, your Representatives at Wash
ington, are striving to push fOrwar
10 the cause Of the party, and to strength
10 en- and build it up, and we appeal t
W our reform papers to join US in thi
a effort.
N There must be concerted action an
,e an avoidance of all entangling all
4 ances to insure success.
TO We regret and deprecate the dispt
Ia sitiOn of some to have the party {
= this time to declare what it will or wi
a. not do in the future as to the be-
~ - methods for strengthening our part
q. and advancing its principles. No OF
~ can at this time forecast with certaini
es what would be the proper course fl
{, our party to pursue in convention q
to sembled three years hence. Therefor
in there is but one safe course, it seems
|al us, for every true Populist to purs1
!" %" this time: namely, to do all In b
70 power to impress our principles upt
the country and to bring recruits in
the party, aud stand ready when Il
en- peoples Representatives meet in CO
ed vention to do what then seems wise
and best to accomplish the ends +