People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1897-09-17
nut the emancipation of our people

from industrial slavery.
Indeed it is said, ''let us get into the |
saddle on the silver issue, and then we |
can take up the other issues" But the |
party led by men who lack the courage
to avow their position on other great
issues than the silver question, whose
convictions on those questions are held
so subservient to the thirst for power
that they willingly stife them, in the
fear that announcement would inter
fere with dreams of self advancement,
cannot be trusted in the saddle. Men
who have not deep enough convictions
on great questions to stand or fall by
them when seeking Office, cannot be
trusted to stand unwaveringly by such
convictions after election. Such men
cannot command the confidence that
makes successful leadership, are unfit
ted to lead in the greatstruggle for the
emancipation of our people from indus
trial slavery, as untitled as were SINH
lar men to lead in the cd struggle for
emancipation emancipation from chat
tel slavery. There is chaos among
those struggling for emancipation; and
the men and party that can successful
ly lead must not cringe before this
chaos, fearing that to take the bold and
advanced positions demanded of leader
ship would lead to the wrecking of
personal and party fortunes, but must
give direction and force to the chaotic
movement
Among our producing classes who
are deprived of an equality of opportu-
nifty by Determinations in transporta
ton rates and facilities given by our
railroads to clique ridden enterprises,
trusts and combines; who are cursed
by an inequality of burdens through
an approaching dollar; who are, by
these means ground down to the pow
erty that keeps the wage Garner in
constant fear of dismissal and makes
him the slave of his employer, there is
an unrest and common wish and pur-
pose to secure release from thraldom
to the moneyed oligarchy that has
been built up since the war on their
impoverishment, but there is lacking
that direction and unison of purpose
that can alone give force to numbers,
make felt the influence of the chaotic
and unrestful forces seeking relief, and
make possible the success of the strug-
gle for emancipation from industrial
slavery, a slavery built on unjust mon
etary and transportation systems that
deprive men of the fruits of their toll.
To give directi IN to the chaotic forces
longing to be freed from the drr igery
of poverty, drudgery entailed upon
them through no fault of their own,
save it be acquiescence in injustice that
they have it in their power to remedy,
is the task that lies before the leaders
and party that would direct the move
ment for emancipation with success.
And this task the Democratic party
shuns, the leaders fearing to essay tc
lead the way out of chaos, fearing
their leadership would not be followed
and so result in the defeat of the party
But if that leadership was not mista
ken, and it would not be mistaken il
grounded, not on basis of expediency
but upon convictions as to what was
for the country's veal, not primarily fol
self and party, that leadership woulc
be followed and what was undertaken
with the unf nching purpose of serving
the country without regard to dreams
of personal or party victory would be
found the best way of promoting botf
self and party advancement.
But there are weaknesses in mem;
characters, weaknesses in party thai
make this true leadership impossible
and success under the leadership that
is offered impossible. And to these
weaknesses the leaders of the Demo
cratic party, have shown themselves tx
: be prey. Therefore it is that the
Democratic party has shown itself in
: capable of giving direction and force
to chaos and weakness, untitled fol
leadership because it's leaders seek t.
narrow down the new struggle TO
emancipation to one issue, to severinl
, one bond of the new industrial slavery
: to compromising that which is uncom
promisable,
: The Populist party has the force tx
: give direction to the chaotic elements
seeking emancipation, for it has the
! spsrlt OF true leadership, Leadership
that can be true only while directed
not for the attainment of personal o.
party victory, but for the advancement
of principle without regard to persona
) ambitions, that can only be successful
while the leaders stand ready to sacri
fee self if avowal of conviction anC
steadfastness to principle demands it
If the Populist party makes of Itself
the vehicle for promoting personal am
} bition it cannot unity the forces tina
| must be unified and directed if emanci
) patton from the slavery of poverty
, that now grinds down our producing
' classes, is to be attained. If it makes
| it's first end the promotion of the inter
ests of, country, the uplifting of oui
aggrieved and down-trodden producing
classes, and supports no leaders who
will not lend themselves to this end
it can be this unifying force. Party
successes and the advancement to posi-
) tions of honor and trust OF leaders who
prove themselves true, leaders who dc
not cripge before the dangers and res
possibilities of leadership as place
seekers do, will come with such unity
ing of the forces, now looking longing
ly for emancipation, but such successes
and such advancements must be the
incidental aim of the party. Leaders
must be put forward to serve ends Of
general and public policy not the aims
of the party twisted SO as to serve
leaders. Pursuit of the low ideal OF
party will lead to defeat, pursuit OF
the high to success.