The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-11-24
SUCCESS IN FUSION.

SUCCESS IN FUSION.
The latest elections demonstrated very
clearly that the National or Gold Stand
ard Democracy and the middle of the road
Popullsts are weak and, however, consci-
entlous they may be in the advocacy Of
principles, the people do not regard either
as necessary or practical. This is emf
nently practical age. and the people, act
ing collectively9 as individuals acting
singly, adopt those means within nom
prohibited lines which will most speedily
and surely reach the1 end sought to be ac-
complished. Nonressentials are waived in
order to secure the requisite strength to
overcome the Obstacles in the path that
must be trod Carlyle says: There are
quarrels IN which even Satan, bringing
help, were not unwelcome" The middle Of
the road Populists Undoubtedly have high
ideals and work with an unselfishness and
patriotism that appeal to the best in
stincts of men. but there is too much of
the theoretical in their demands Again
we quote the mighty philosopher who said
Great truly is lthet actual: is the thing
that has rescued itself from the bottomless
deeps OF theory and possibility. and stands
there as defnita, indisputable fact,
whereby men do work and live" Now,
here is the free coinage Of silver, the issue
OF paper money by the general government
the opposition to trusts and monopolies
and the determination to destroy them, in
come tax. lower taxation; all these great
issues have been adopted by the new De.
mocracy. This is the actual the thing that
stands out as a fact. and for which multi
tudes of men do work and will work and
live
For these reasons, and by inclination we
are In favor Of fusion. That is to say, we
are in favor Of cooperating with all men
by whatever political name known, who
will cooperate with us to secure those re-
forms In government that we deem most
important, and even though we are obliged
to leave out one or more favorite theories
or to surrender a part of what we believe
Is important, but not the most important,
In arranging terms of cooperation with
those who differ with us on some points,
but agree with us on others that are in
line with the reforms that we seek. Right
is right and truth is eternal but when
their advocates are met with a superior
force, it is no compromise to make a COM
pact with other bodies that will come to
our assistance in fighting for a part Of
the eight and portion Of the truth thas
are involved in the whole proposition. II
we cannot capture the citadel. let storm
the outworks and take and hold them.
Establishing ourselves firmly there, we
shall later find means to advance and
finally take the citadel. With three re-
form Larties in the field they will cancel
one another and produce zero. United they
will cancel the opposition and produce re-
form, establish a peoples government
whose object Is to do the greatest amount
of good to the greatest number; to equa-
lie the burdens of taxation. promote equa-
lily and give every citizen free opportunity
to work out his own prosperity and hap
piness.
With the union Of all the opposition to
the Republican party in Minnesota at the
next election, there is at least q fighting
chance Of winning. Without such union
efforts however SQlf-SacrffCfnR and
earnest. will be in vain In the Seventh
congressional district the Populists and
Democrats voting for the same candidate
for congress, he being an acceptable and
strong candidate can elect. Separated and
divided Mr.. Eddy or other nominee of his
party will be returned. We are satisfied
that majority Of the people of this dis
trict would prefer congressman ho4ling
Numerically opposing views to his, and II
they given the chance Will demonstrate
it. This can be done by fusion and not
otherwise, in our opinion.
The foregoing is an editorial from
Geo. N. Lamphere's Moorhead Weekly
News of Nov. 1S1 We publish 1t not for
endorsement but for examination and
discussion. We publish the full text De-
cause on all these, questions of party
policy and party principles we believe
in an open field and fair debate and be-
cause Mr.. Lamphere has here stated
very fully the arguments usually made
for fusion. Had we quoted only such
sentences as seemed to us especially
significant Bro Lamphere might have
felt that we garbled his language and
misrepresented hiss meaning. Mr.. Lam
phere will be known to most of our
readers as an old soldier, long time
Republican, recent accession to the
Populist forces, highly respected citi-
zen of Moorhead and a talked of pos
sibility for congressional honors in the
patriotic Seventh. Personally he Is
friend of ours and we regret that in our
opinion he is unconsciously and there
fore honestly biased. Yes, biased, as is
plainly shown by his words. by incin-
alton we are in favor of fusion. .
In the Seventh congressional district the
Populists and Democrats voting for the
same candidate for congress, he being
an acceptable and strong candidate, can
elect. This can be done by fusion and
not otherwise, in our opinion"
1t is not always so mitch what a man