People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1897-01-22
AN APPEAL
70 The Populists of The United
Stafesa

States
We are to be Congratulated upon
the growth Of our party and the fact
that in the recent election nearly half
the voters of the Union Endorsed
much OF our platform. No party
eyer achieved more brilliant success
in so brief time. Although handi-
capped in the late campaign, we
emerge from the contest stronger
than ever. Our party alone has
voting force larger than that which
elected Lincoln and an able, effective
reform press Of nearly two thousand
papers. We elected several governors
as we'll as hundreds Of other State,
county, and town officials. We hold
the balance of power in the United
States senate and have four times as
many congressman as ever before.
We united with the silver forces in
the recent campaign,-not because
We believe free coinage OF sill yer is
the solution of the financial problem,
but because it would better existing
conditions, would meet with the least
resistance and bscome the Anterino
wedge for our main issue, viz, full
legal tender paper money, issued and
regulated by the government alone.
Having proved our loyalty at the
polls, We are free to act separately
on advanced lines and to emph8sizs
the real issues our party was born TO
advocate. We cannot in honor lay
down our arms and cease our activity
until the war for which we enlisted
had ended in victory for our cause.
The Democratic party proposes to
continue the silver fight. Two parties
cannot exist on the same Issues. The
greater absorbs the smaller. There
fore, if we remain mere camp follow.
ers Of another party, disintegration
will result. Our party success alone
forced the Democrats to adopt the
Chicago platform and. nominate g
PopOcrat for President. Converts
made by psrty regularity cannot be
trusted with the reforms Of the future.
DEMOCRATS TRIED TO ABSORB THE
PoPUMsTs.
While chairman Of the Chicago
branch OF our executive oommittee
during the campaign, my contract
with the ehairmen Of the Democratic
stste committees revealed to me the
fact that in many cases they we're
moro anxious to elect their State
tickets and absorb the Popuists than
they were for the success Of Bryan
aud the Chicago platform, but thie
Goes not apply 10 the chairman and
officers Of the National Commi;tee
We are not Democrats and cannot
be clsased as such. We eimply united
for single campaign. The Demo
cratic party is but the rear guard OF
our own. We do not stand for re.
demption money, but for scientific
dollar, kept invariable by proper re-
gulation Of the money volume, Then
Why should high school graduate
rs-anter the intermediate erode? Our
ggander achievements are in the
future, if We inspire the people
through separate party action with
our chief Issues, and hold our forces
together by taking the lead which be.
longs to us in pressing to success the
reforms Of the day.
Ths millions Of converts to silver
during the recent campaign muss ID.
vance. They viii not remain wAere
they are. We must educate them
up to the main Issue, and the 4ime TO
do it is now, not just before a p1eei-
Dental election. VS. mast also held
the Democratic party to It's present
position or compel it to advance.
SEPARATE PARTY ACTION PROPOSED.
History teaches that 50 achieve
conservative results, arsdioal position
must be- taken. The substitution OF
our main plank for subordinate ore,
as the fighting issue of the next four
years, is in line with the best senti.
ment Of our party and requires no
change of front, no abandonment OF
principle, no new platform. The
main army merely moves US to oc-
Oupy the position held by the skirnish
line.
President Cleveland supplies us
with fresh incentive for renewed
effort, in his official demand for the
retirement Of tho greenbscks and the
ina,,a and nnntrnl Of nannr rnnrnrr