The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-27
WHICH SHALL 1T BE?

truth that we have long seen; and that
Is that there never would have peeh "
Populist party if the Democratic party
had held faithfully TO ancient Democratic
principles now readopted, and proclaimed
in the Chicago platoon"
This paragraph is taken up by the eau
casian, Senator Buffers organ in North
Carolina, and made the text for a lengthy
editorial article. The Caucasian Cd
serves in the beginning that this Is an adj
mission that the Populist party was born
of necessity because there was no other
Marty standing for the principles o. JEFF
forson and Jackson. The Caucasian fur-
Their observes that Senator Daniel and
his associates have been long time III
finding this out. That when the Popu-
list party was formed these gentlemen
rldiculed the financial question and said
that 1t was too deep for Populists to I'M
derstand and must be left TO the great
nnanciers while the overshadowing issue
before the country was the tariff But
that now that the Populists have be-
come O formidable organization the DEM
ocrats are trying to get them to disband
and reunite with the Democratic party.
But, the Caucasian goes on, the DEM
ocra.ic party will have to go farther yet
in Populism before it can catch the Pop
ullst vote; the Chicago party took long
stride towards getting back to Demo-
cratic principles, but it only partially re-
formed.
And It adds:
While declaring in the Chicago plat
| form against monopoes in general terms.
vet Il showed either ignorance or IN
| sincerity or want OF courage by specifi-
| cally favoring that two of the greatest
| natural monopoles-two Of the three
great instruments of commensurate
| continue TO remain in the hands Of pri-
vate syndicates. How can any one OPP
pose monopolies while in favor of al
| lowing private individuals and syndicates
| to own and control the great and vital
instruments of commerce which are then-
| selves monopoles, and hence whoever
| own them own a monopoly over all the
| people and over all business? The three
| great natural monopolics-the three vital
| instruments of commemorate money.
/
| Information. When we put these natu-
! raj monopolies in the hands of private
| syndicates. then we put into their hands
| the control of the nations destiny-the
| power TO tear down some and build up
| others, the power to kill and to make
| alive. We put into their hands the pow
| or to put every line of business in the
/ country into trust at will. Trusts can
| never be rooted out until these three vital
| instruments of commerce are used as
i public functions for the public good The
| Chicago platform declared against trusts,
| it is true, but it did not declare against
| the causes that produce trusts. In fact.
| the platform is opposed to removing
| two or three causes that produce trusts.
| How can any intelligent person honestly
| oppose trusts while not IN favor of remov-
| ing the evils which are the causes Of
| trusts?
| 1t is true that the platform declared
| against the gold standard and for the
| free and unlimited coinage Of silver at l6
| TO !. This would remove, 10 certain
| extent one of the causes that produce
| trusts-it would cripple trusts-but alone
| II would not root them out. The Chi
| cago platform, TO have readopted "thc
ancient principles of Democracy" should
| have declared not only for all money TO
| be issued by the government direct with
| out the Intervention Of banks Of issue),
| but for every dollar TO be a full legal
| tender and for sufficient quantity of
| such full legal tender money TO meet the
| increasing needs of business and popu-
| lation. II should also have declared in
! favor of taking the other two natural
monopolies-the other two vital instru-
| ments Of commerce-out Of the hands of
| private syndcatos and using them as
| ntib1ic functions xrffl
in the interest of all the people. This
! must be done If we are 70 break the
rule of monopolies and TO root out that
| poisonous and deadly industrial cancer
u the body polite, called trusts.
The Peoples Party platform offers the
| real, full, and true remedy; the Chicago
| platform offers only a partial and half
| hearted remedy. Therefore, the Demo-
| cratic party must reform itself further
must get squarely back on the "ancient
| Democratic principles" before any intel
ligent Populist can return TO its ranks.
Quite so. Time and again have we
sounded the note Of warning and we
earnestly request our Democratic friends
who united with the Populists in 1896 to
read carefully and consider thoughtfuiiy
what the Caucasian says. 1t is one Of
the leading Populist organs in this coun-
try. 1t is the personal organ of Senator
Butler who was at the head of the
Populist organization in 1896 and who still
holds that position. Mr.. Butler says
plainly as language can say it. that If
the Democratic party expects to get the
Populist vote 1t must not stop at the
declaration for free silver or at any de-
claration Of the Chicago platform. but
that II must go on in its Populistic move
ment until IT shall have incorporated
into its platform all the doctrines of
Populism, fat money government own
ership OF transportation and telegraph
lines. and all the rest.
The crisis has been reached. The Dem
ocratic organization cannot stand where
It is. Thrust either go back TO Demo-
cratic principles as set forth in all ma
tional Democratic platforms prior to that
OF 1896. or 1t must go on TO Populism.
Which shall II be?
| -
PROHIBITION TESTED.
The Warren Register, published at
Front Royal. Va. says that 1t has now
| been six years since that town has had a