The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-09-22
tive, referendum, platform or "preju-
dices''
He is a daisy to lead a suffering peo-
pie to prosperity. l. D.



We are glad to note the independent
action of our party in Ohio and Iowa
and that some Of our Minnesota Popu-
lists heretofore suspected of Democratic
leanings stand by the party action in
those states. When Populists fancy
that they disagree much wrangling and
bitterness of feeling might be avoided
il disputants would first be certain that
they fully understand each other. The
fusion question has been prolific in
party dissention and this has been
caused in the main by the varied def
nitions or meanings given to fusion"
by those who have used the word. 1t
is likely that the great majority of
Populists have obtained their definition
of fusion from it's practical demonstra-
ton and results Of last fall. Fusion
as thus exemplified and revealed is gen.
orally unsatisfactory to genuine Popu-
lists. Very few Populists now endorse
the party action of last year as meas
ured by it's results. Their general dis
approval of that unfortunate union has
lead many to denounce fusion and de-
clare for cooperation. Again the use
Of language has and will lead to con-
fusion and disagreement.
Genuine Populists have had in mind
such united action On the part of the
Populists and Democrats as should lead
to the enactment of the principles of
Popuism into law. Democrats favor
ing cooperation have had in mind very
different laws. When the credulOus
Populist has in his enthusiasm and
animation suggested that with the re-
form element once in Office all Popu-
list reforms would come the Democrat
has INDUCED in a sort of hybrid smile,
a cross between the smile of sick cat
chump. In Colorado the Democrats
have repudiated Populism. In New
York they have refused to endorse the
Chicago platform, in Maryland German
still runs the machine and they have
gone back onto Cleveland's money
plank of 1892 The Democratic party
of the entire East and South will take
the same action. The Eastern and
Southern Democrats constitute two
thirds of the Democratic party. A
Democratic victory means another reign
of Eastern and Southern Democratic
politicians, because they would be in
the majority in congress.
Let us get down to plain logic now
and see where we are at. These Eastern
and Southern Democrats are just as
much the tools of Wall street rs are
the Republicans and when it comes to
law making they vote straight with
the Republicans for plutCcratic meas
ures and against anything that is Popu-
listic. Congress divides on measures
and not on party lines. The congress-
ional record shows this and every Pop
ulist knows it,
The results of fusion or cooperation
with Democrats and silver Republicans
must then result in an Increase of con-
gresham from these parties whose
natural inclinations would lead them
to oppose Populism and go with their
old loves
When white and black are mixed the
white suffers the greater change. When
glucose and sugar are united we have
nasty compound. When Populists and
Democrats fuse expect plutocratic
venal congress- 1t was independent,
anti fusion, aggressive Populism, call it
middle of the road Populism if you
choose, that built up the Peoples party
from one million votes in 1892 to two
million votes in 1894. 1t was fusion
or cooperation that disintegrated, con-
fused, embroiled, entangled and scat
tered our party in 1896.
When a Populist has thoroughly alb
sorbed the idea that Democracy is an
Eastern and Southern product regard
less of what we call it's western mani
festations, he is then in a position to
settle intelligently the question of fusion
or cooperation. When our fusion
friends fully realize that while the
Democratic jackass is braying out West
for free silver, income tax, and anti"
monopoly laws the business end Of the
beast is geographically located down
East and South, and is a menace to The
life of our republic they will perhaps
then stop monkeying with the jack.
E. A. T.