The Louisiana populist., 1897-02-12


We forced the Democrats to cham
picn silver, but we stand ready to
defend it when necessary.
II have received hundreds of
letters, coming from nearly every
State in the Union, representing
every faction of the party and in
Guiding nearly every leader and
the sentiment sustains my appeal.
Your letter bears the distinction of
being the only one opposed to it
and the Rocky Mountain News the
the only paper SO far as received.
While l DO not ascribe to you the
intent, nevertheless your plan of
having an identical issue with the
Democrats would result IN union
Of the Populistic lamb and the
Tammany tiger, but with the for
mer inside the latter. While it
was possible to unite during a
fighting campaign, it is not wise
to continue the union during an
educational one.
"1our plan would force us to
follow the Democrats under their
banner, when we should lead them
under our own. Your plan would
humiliate our brave people, while
mine would inspire and en1oble
them You favor retaining a sub
ordinate plank as an issue. LA
vor making the main one, which
includes yours, the issue. You
favor d plan that would factionize
the party ald divide the West and
South. | favor a plan that would
unite all factions and lead to VIC
tory. You favor q plan that would
suppress our main plank. Itavor
a plan that would open them to
when the people want
to talk about them. You favor a
plan that would add thousands of
adherents to another party. | ia
vor one that would add thousands
OF adherents to our own.
"tusion for a campaign may be
polite, but permanent fusion on
ldentical issues means absorption
md dls!ntegration for our party. !
Dlslntegration from the same cause |
hl''ed the Greenback party. Why |
should we invite a similar fate2
''lou favor an issue that may |
be abandoned by tho Democrats |
through some form of compromise. |
favor plan ,hat will not be af- |
fected by these changes. You fa-
1or a plan that would enable the
Democrats to absorb the Populists
Ind pave a way for the union of
he two wings Of Democracy. leav-
ng the future of reform 4 forIorn
nope. | favor a plan that would
:orce the Democrats to advance
o our position rather than to re-
'ede from theirs. You favor al
olan that would wreck and ruin all |
ne reform papers of the land. |
avor a plan that would preserve
nd prosper them. Should other
Iuestlons absorb the attention of
he people, or should an interna-
lonal agreement be reached by
he Republicans, it would leayc
he silver forces stranded without
n issue and afford them an excuse
or backsliding. rhc issues | fa-
or are the ones that will CONN. md
/ no attention of tho people during
he next four years. Why attempt
0 force one issue when the people
1ill discuss the others!
This move on the part of tho
'opulists will place our party IS.
he head of the column of reform,
Nth the Democrats protecting the
ear. Our defense of the green
acks wll@add thousands OF voters
D our ranks.
'The radicals of today are the
conservatives of tomorrow. If we
tlucAte the people between cleo
ons on scientific money, metal
loney will become the conscrva-
We measure of the future until
10 lnvariable paper dollar shall
nally take it's turn and become the
loney Of all nations. The next
attic may be fought on scientific
rlnclples VS., metal money.
There will be an informal, un-
[hclal conference in Memphis,
enn., on Feb. 90. 1t will be at
'nded by leaders Of the party
ON every section of the county.
believe tho resolutions adopted
that time will be SO emphatical-
: in favor of independent action
to lead official sentiment by our
ltlonal committee. In calling q