Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-24
Socialism 70 Tho Fors.

While the YopOcfltlc cViiihi.'SN' -
conventions are declaring over ana
over again that there can be no COM
promise; man must believe in every
plank of the Chicago platform or get
| out of the party; while this ~ being
done n clearer idea of just what was
signifled by that platform is becoming
more common. Nor is it being dis
seminated by the mouth of the plat
FORMS opponents but by some Of those
who have shown themselves to be
among its staunchest friends This IS
gratifying. Some of the good men VINO
became inveigled by Popocracy COM
planned that the Republicans said too
harsh things about their party last fan.
They thought ii unfair that their creed
should be termed revolutionary and
sceialistic. They declared there was no
such spirit connected with it. that Mr..
Alteeld was a nice man. that the party
from the humblest private to the high
est COMMANDER WAS cuHSelFdii' eeHo"S a
for anyone.
Well, an outsider might say they were
not competent to determine this ques-
ton whether Organism be form or
that which included a form of social
ism, nor the Republican critics for both
would be prejudiced observers. An out :
slider might say this with show Of
reason. though we are not aware that
anyone did. Accordingly it is crafty
ing to get expert opinions from those
competent to speak with authority and
the fact that they do confirm the
charge of socialism and revolutionary
doctrines is all the more conclusive in
that these authorities are friendly to
Popocracy in which they have been and
are today conspicuous factors.
One of these is Eugene V. Debs. He
is a radical but he is a Popocrat when
he votes and the accredited leader OF
many who have allied themselves with
Popocracy. He says:
"The free silver movement has spent
its force. II will never again be so iiE-
portant as an issue. The socialist!e
movement, represented by the social
Democracy of America, will cut into
the free silver ranks and leave that
party practically powerless for the
future. The principle of free silver is
oil tla limos of niati=fn a 1art~A
proportion of the vote cast for Bryan at
the last campaign came from socialists.
They voted for him because he came
nearest to representing their views. AT
the next campaign socialism VIII be a
great issue before the people. 1t is moro
advanced in the line of progression and
the silver people viii find their cause
merged in this.
But some one may say we attach too
much weight to crank. We ,1eeuid
scarcely avoid it when speaking of "A
aggregation of cranks, but let us turn
to q Popocrat. than whom none has
higher standing in the country. Hon.
Charles a. Towne, one of the brainiest
men in that party. who represented a
Republican district in the National
House with exceptional ability. We
need not look for such radical utter
ances from him as issued from Mr..
pebs but we have in what he says I'M
questionable evidence of his belief in
revolutionary and socialistic ideas.
Uncompromising free silver man that
he is he recognizes that to be only one
of the radical propositions, revolution
airy measures to accomplish which the
gigantic larceny of the Democratic
party was perpctrated last year. But
here is what Mr.. Towne actually says:
1T would be useless to deny that So
| cial and Industrial evolution is shap-
| ing for political treatment other ques-
| tons that will successfully ripen for
settlement after the monetary reforma-
underlying principles on which their
| wise settlement depends are such as
| naturally to place their achievement in
| the same hands. Many of these prin-
ciplcs have been long advocated by
| that great advance guard, the Populist
party. 1t does not seem to me too much
to expect that the silver Republicans.
the silver Democrats and the Populsts
may in 1900 be welded into one strong
and serviceable instrument for the po-
litical regeneration of the country"