Mexico weekly ledger., 1897-12-16

traitors overheard, who had almost
destroyed the organization, for which
our fathers fought 25 years to build uI
for US, and came out squarely and IN.
equivocally for the free and unlimited
coinage of silver and gold at the ratio
of 16 to for right, justice and hui
manity-practicable fusion in Missouri
was accomplished. But few of the
Popullsts who returned to Democracy
last year came for offices, and it is an
insult to some of our very best friends
and citizens, to assume that in order
to hold the Populist vote, we have to
let one or two of their number have
places on the Democratic State ticket
and that we r compelled IN advance,
in order to secure their support, to
buy them or to promise them some.
thing.
s'If still Populists they are not DEM
ocrats. Populists and Democrats
agree at many of the more important
points, but differ widely at others. No
honest PopuIist could be bought by
the promise of a Democratic nomina-
ton. No man who honestly believes
in Democratic principles-who is for
principle above ofice-could consist
emily accept a nomination on the Pop
ulist State ticket. Such a proceeding
would certainly invite embarrassing
comment and inevitable disaster.
When Populists and Democrats unite,
the caption of the State ticket must
indicate it, and it could not be called
either a Populist or a Democratic tick
ct.
"Again: None of the Democratic
candidates for the gubernatorial NOM
nation would be willing, in order to
effect a fusion, to surrender the DEM
ocratic nomination for this position, if
assured it was in his grasp, to a Pop
ulist brother; neither would any of
the Democratic candidates for Lieu
tenant Governor, Secretary of State,
Auditor, Treasurer, Attorney General,
School Commissioner, Railroad Com
or Supreme Judge. Then
why should we ag1tate an issue, which
on its very face, promises only to
or embarrass? What is the
use then in spending our time, which
should be devoted to intelligent or
to doubtful experiments
and in scattering seeds of discord? 1t
a fact, which will admit of nc argu-
ment or denial, that no Democrat will
at our State Convention ar
assured nomination, for the sake of
harmony and Populist votes, to the
Then at a critical moment
the Populists will find they have been
deceived. They will say they were
assured of certain things; that they
had been buncoed. They will have a
right to feel that they have peen out
ragged. 1t will be passed down the
line and trouble in every district in
he state will follow. 1t will then be
put a few months before election-too
ate to correct the evil done. The
Middle of-the- Readers will enjoy
he situation and they will say 4 told
you so.' We cannot afford to be dis
honest; we cannot afford to trifle with
,ur friends. II there is to be a mis-
understanding, and n is sure to fol-
ow, since this question has been
prung, it is well to meet it now, and
lot defer it until it Is too late to cor
ect 1t.
"Fusion, OF the state ticket, is out
# the question, because it is imprac-
because it cannot be brought
bout; it is not possible; is not emit
led to serious consideration, and it is
lot receiving it from Democrats, Pop
llists or silver Republicans generally.
Tor one of Jul Missouri politicians,
fter having made a canvass of the
tate and secured instructions sufi-
lent to guarantee him a Democratic
omination, to surrender his nominal
in a state where nomination
,eans election, 1t would be an exhibit
on of self-sacrifice and party devo-
on unparalleled in the history OF
Iissouri politics.
"Nith Bryan, who is our admiration
nd glory, as our standard bearer,
nd with the Chicago platform in 1900,
ie Populists and silver Republicans
i'll remain with us, and there is no
,ason why they should not have a
ir representation upon our electoral
cket, and in event Of national sue