The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-05-26
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editor Representative.
| see by the papers that all over the
nation there are those who claim to be
Populists who are in some kind of a
trade with the Democratic party under
the name, Peoples Democratic party,
and others who wish to organize a new
party and call it the American party.
AS an humble individual in the rear
rank l am opposed to both schemes.
Such plan might catch few suckers,
but reform can never be brought about
in that way.
1t reminds me of a story an old lady
told me when l was a young man, as
an illustration of the futility of trying
to please every one. You have all heard
the story perhaps. An old man, his lit
tie boy, and jackass started on a jour-
ney. When the old man rode the dom
key, the woman he met on the way
abused him for letting the little boy
walk; when the boy rode the men
abused the boy, and when they rode
double everybody abused them both and
said it would look better if they would
carry the poor little beast. This they
tried to do, but in crossing a bridge
the donkey fell into the river and was
drowned. Thereupon the poor, mis-
guided old man exclaimed: Il tried to
please everybody, and pleased nobody,
and lost my ass in the bargain A
donkey is fusonist and vice versa
| see that some editors classify those
who oppose fusion as traitors, and mis-
guided, honest individuals who must
be treated under a different formula.
From this | take it that l am classed
among those who simply know no bet
ter than to oppose their grand and pa
triOtic plan of procedure, but l do not
wish to be cassed among the honest
fools If it constitutes man a traitor
to stand by the principles on which our
party was founded then am one Of the
biggest traitors in the outfit
/ realize as well as anyone that there
has got to be consolidation of all the
reform forces if we expect to save this
republic, but this consummation can
never be accomplished by making midi
dle-of-the-roaders and traitors synony-
nous terms
Some of those who denounce us in
such fine rhetoric are men who, when
campaigning talk to the aristocracy and
lodge at fine hOstelries, while I have
communed with the downtrodden in the
highways and byways, and made my bed
on the floor of their shanties with a
horse blanket. to protect me from the
snow as it drifted through the sod roof
OF their abode. For this reason l think
l know more in regard to the wishes of
the rank and file, whose votes you must
have to win, than the fastidious college
graduates who shoot over the mark.
Everyone understands the phrase,
You can lead horse to water, but you
can't make him drink But when
these highly cultured reformers say,
You may conduct the equine quadruped
to the aqueous fluid, but cannot compel
him to imbibe," they are getting out of
the sphere of the average citizen who
tolls for living.
1t is because l am in favor of har-
mony, consolidation and victory, that 1
am opposed to all trades with the Demo-
cratic name. And as I have said on
more than one occasion it is not on ac-
count of my i'll will for any man because
he is Democrat, or any partisan preju-
dice that influences me in N.Y. fight for
Populist principles.
1t is because 1 know from what hear
among the common people, that no mat
ter how you renovate and rejuvenate
the Democratic party, there is stigma
attached to the name which will need
more birthstone fumfgation than it can
get this side of hades to make it ac-
ceptable to two million voters which we