Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1897-10-15

be this party and find these leaders.
But it cannot fill this place while rent
with discord, while it is divided into fac
tion bent on fighting one another not
common enemy. By healing its discords
it can fill the place in the political situa-
tion that is vacant; it cannot fill this
place until it does. Some party will be
found to fill this vacant place, to make
a common and effective rallying point for
opposition to the moneyed oligarchy.
The Democratic party cannot be this
rallylng point, for it cannot unite opposi-
ton. The Populist party can ii it will;
if it will not some other party untram-
meled by prejudices and jealousies
must.
If the Populist party is to take this
vacant place, it must show its fitness to
take it by putting stop to the waste OF
strength in party quarrels. by directing
It's whole force for the advancement OF
common ends. If it cannot rise TO the
occasion this fact had better be known.
Therefore, we repeat our suggestion OF
some weeks since: Let the Populist
party meet in national convention early
next spring in some city Of the central
west, and then and there prove its fitness
to leud by showing that it is not ruled
by petty prejudices, or prove its untltness
by showing that its leaders think more
Of directing the party for their own ends
than the ends Of the country. Compro-
mise of principle we do not ask. we
would not tolerate, but an ignoring of
personal differences a sacrifice OF preju-
dices. jealousies, personal ambitions we
do demand. when such sacrifices are de.
manded to bring union and success. The
man who will not make such sacrifices
IS not worthy Of popular support. for he
thinks more OF self than country. is
lacking in patriotism. Ambition is not
unworthy; indeed no man without am
bition is worthy Of leadership or fitted
for leadership, but that ambition should
be the highest of ambitions. ambition to
serve ones country and fellow men. not
to serve self interests even to jeopardz-
ing the interests Of country and people.
The free men OF this Republic who
want to preserve it as republic, who
will not follow the Republican party and
are unwilling to trust the Democratic
party want to know and are entitled TO
know at the earliest possible moment
whether the Populist party will or will
not do that which will fit 1t to lead.
Therefore we say, bring together
next spring. If the Populist party is
then shown to be fitted for leadership let
1t take the responsibility Of leadership by
adopting a platform and nominating
candidates for president and vice presi-
dent for 1000 and by so doing force the
fighting. Thus to nominate candidates
two years and half before the day Of
election would be unusual but we are
confronted by anything but ordinary
conditions. If the Populist party is to,
win in 1900 the campaign must be long
and earnest. Success for third party
in short campaign will be impossible.
In short campaign the third party will
remain always third. One objection is
urged to such early nominations. 1t is
that the risk of the presidential candidate
failing to meet the requirements OF
leadership and showing an untitness for
office during such long and searching
campaign would be great. But the man
who cannot stand the search light of a
long campaign we do not want Tor Presl-
dent. It is better that an unfit man for
the Presidency should prove his unfitness
before election than after, prove his un-
fitness and the blunder OF his nomination