Evening star., 1897-01-12
Middle-of-the-Road Populists Look
ing to the Future.
NO MORE DEMOCRAFIC ALLIANCES
Bateman, the New England Leader,
Says Free Silver is a "Humbug.'
A GREATER NOV EN- EN- T
pecial Dispatch 70 The Evening Star.

peal just issued by George f. Washburn
Of the peoples party national executive
committee caused a sensation In political
circles here and has been an animated
topic of discussion
Since the national election L. C. Bateman,
who was the ropuist candidate for gov
ernor of Maine. has been in communica-
ton with such radical populists as Igna-
titus Donnelly, Paul VanDervort Gen. Bur-
kett of Mississippi. Representative Hurd
of Alabama, Milton Park of Texas and
others. Mr.. Bateman is the recognized
leader of the middle-of-the-road populists
in New England. The Star correspondent
called at Mr.. Batemans office this after
noon and asked him if he had seen Mr..
Washburn's circular letter.
Agrees With waxhburn.
Yes replied Mr.. Bateman. 81 have
just carefully read the manifesto issued by
Mr.. Washburn to the populists of the
country, and 1 heartily agree with it as
far as IL goes. II there is anything that l
would criticise it is that 1t does not go
far enough Mr.. Washburn is true popu-
list, but his position chairman of the
eastern wing of the executive committee
makes him conservative and cautious al
most TO tmIdity. i agree with him as to
the necessity of independent action in the
future, but when he says that the demo-
cratic party mist be held to its present.
position, or COmpelle0 10 advance, ne
doesn't realize the full meaning of his
talk. If the democratic party should really
advance. as he suggests, it would mean
the death of the peoples party just
surely as the present unholy connection
with that party would. To talk about the
democracy being reform party is too
ridiculous for serious consideration. The
position that they took in the Chicago
convention was inspired simply by visions
of the loaves and fishes. Does any sane
man really believe that the support given
Dir. Bryan by such men as German and
tfse leaders of Tammany Hall from
patriotic motives. Had Mr.. Bryan won
with such men in the lead, should not
have got even free coinage, much less any
other reform. The democrats saw the
offices were slipping from their grasp and
they simply stole portion of our plat
form in order to save themselves. Their
action served to put US in a hole and re-
tard the cause of actual reform. From
that alliance We must now cut loose.
As Dead ns julius Caesnr.---.
II voted for Mr.. Bryan In the ST. Louis
convention and gave him such support
through the campaign the law permit
ted. simply because it was the best thing
that could be done under the circum-
stances. II not because 1 had the
slightest confidence in the democratic
party or even in Mr.. Bryan. But the peo-
PIE had gone crazy over him and to have
refused an Endorsement would have dis
fupted US far more than the course that
we took / was confident that cam
paign would do up the so-called reform
democrats and Mr.. Bryan at the same
time. That confidence was not misplaced
Mr.. Bryan Is dead politically as Julius
Caesar. He has been vastly overrated both
as an orator and a reformer. His studied
nsolence toward the peoples party and the
utter contempt with which he treated Tom
Watson. Its chosen representative. has
completely disgusted the populsts from
one end OF this country to the other. His
recent utter collapse as a public lecturer
only emphasizes his waning popularity. In
TACT the American people have taken his
measure. and ii Is a matter Of su-
preme indifference with them what views
he may entertain public questions.
L can conceive Of no possible circum-
stances under which he can ever again re-
eeive the support of the -populists, far
as the two wings of the democracy are
concerned. i have no doubt that they will
unite long before another general election.
In this state they have already come to-
gether in Portland. and that this example
will be followed in every town is now a
fixed fact 1 believe that the triumph of
the free silver crowd at Chicago was a put
up job TO prevent the populists from win
ming this year. Had the gold crowd
there would then have been two gold
parties, and with Senator Teller as a candi-
date we would have swept the country. But
these things are now ancient history.
You ask me what of the future. 1 will
tell you From one end of the country to
the other the populists are demanding a
reorganization OF cur forces and that
henceforth We have nothing whatever to
fuse with that party it forever prevents
from gaining any converts from the
pubhcans. We shall keep straight in the
nliddle-of-the-road IN the future. The
democrats may adopt anything they please
for a platform; il will not influence US in
the slightest degree. We are forever done
with them
Free Coinage n Humbug.
Neither do We want anything more OF
Mr.. Bryan or his issue. Free coinage is
hurIbus at best. 1t would not add 81 extra
per capita TO our circulating medium. 1t
is extremely doubtful If it ever goes into
our platform again. Reforms always go
farther t.lan .Eeir agitators first demanded
The French revolution commenced with a
simple question OF royal etiquette: il ended
with the decapitation OF $3.50 of the best
and nobiest heads of France. The anti
slavery agitation began with the simple
demand Tor non-extension into the terri
tories. ended with the complete destruction
OF the whole system
The silver question was only the enter
ihg weage OF the great monetary reform de-
mandei by the peoples party. We shall
row demand the utter destruction of the
whole metal redemption system A scien-
thc paper currency based upon the entire
Seaith OF the country and redeemable only
In ta:;es and debts will be our war cry in
the iture. Government ownership Of rail-
Ioads teiesraphs and telephones will be
inscribed upon our banners We ask no
quarter and shall grant none. Weak
kneed pie hunters can 20 TO the demo
tiduS party Where tney belong.
Leaders Denounced.
This battle has just commenced We
shall fight it TO the bitter end and We shall
win Even such men as George Fred Will
hams sees the coming storm and he hedges
He hardly mentions free silver. but ytr
t1AHS indorses all populists' demands His
plaee Is In our party, and there he must
esShtuaIy land The people are in no mood
70 Dother with any more Bryans with their
1ead issues. He who hesitates fs Iosf and
5rEah mas gone down to rise no more
me mission of the peoples party has
just commenced and IL will attain a plori-
Gus fruition The men who had the nerve
10 stand up for populist principles in the
late campaign will be our leaders i'm the
1uture Butler, Allen, Taubeneck and
b simpson have proved TO be black -nea rteI
traitors. one and all. They can never axain
lead and betray our forces New leaeaers
Nih arise to lead the hosts of reform, and
IA that bright galaxy no name will shine
MIN Min greater luster than that of glorious
Tom Watson"