The Louisiana populist., 1897-01-22
DTES AND COMMENT.
What the People Are Thinking, Saying
and Doing.

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Some Of our populist papers who
fought the idea before the election, il
the early part of the campaign, are
now declaring for a fcur-years' cam,
palgn on the issue Of free silver alone.
We hope they will think better of it
when the smoke of battle clears
away" and they get cooled down. In
'ur humble opinion it is mistake to
make even the currency question in its
entirety the sole ISSUE Other ques-
ions OF almost equal import are press
ing Tor settlement. 1t is by pressing
'nese that We strengthen our lines. II
our issues are practical and desirable,
an assortment will not weaken us.
"hlle the logic of the situation may
make the money question paramount
with free silver at the front, we rnust
larry with US other issues to strength
en our position. We have tried bat
Tie on single issue. We have lost.
NOW let US take up the other impor-
tant and necessary reforms and press
them forward. There is much that is
humlllating in the oft repeated charge
mat Hanna is responsible for republic
all success and defeat of free silver,
II this be true, then surely American
citizenship Is at discount. If 1t is
not true, the cause Of financial reform
Is weakened by making the charge.
We are loath to believe that one man
owns and controls a majority OF citi-
sens in this country 1t must be re-
membered that Mark Hanna had be-
mind him the brains of some of the
shrewdest business men in the country.
He had unlimited means that were con-
trlbuted by corporations and wealthy
individuals. He was supplanted by
shreWd men and skilful politicians at
every point 1t was all this aggregated
torce that defeated the cause of free
silver. 1t is true that Hanna was both
an unscrupulous and shrewd manager,
out without such strong support as he
nad defeat for the republicans would
nave been overwhelming. No one man
possesses the power over the people
That Mark Hanna is said to have, and
We but belittle cur own manhood when
several millions of us admit that we
we're outdone by one man.
At the National Farmers (:) con-
gress recently held at Indianapolis.
Ind, ex-President Harrison delivered
lengthy address. He spoke OF the
custom of men of particular avoca-
ton associating themselves together
with commendation.
"The times are full Of such associa-
ions" he said, "and I think they
should be encouraged" General Har-
rison said: Don't fight as one that
beateth the air. I have no patience
whatever with those people who are al
ways fighting the air. II you have
something to antagonize, out with it;
specify 1t. make your attack directly,
It must be so If 1t is to be effective. II
here are abuses Of any kind in legis-
alton or In the business Of the country,
ct us fix the public eye upon them un.
III we have exposed the evils and then
We can trust the country to make it
light. It is mischievous to denounce
classes, and this thing and that; and ii
here are trusts, let us know 1t, and
bring legislation to bear upon them
ind court DEGREES to bear upon them
Ind then we have accomplished some
hing"
The farmers have not been backward
in their demands for the past ten OF
:wenty years, but the only response
hey seem to get is the charge that they
ire repudiators and anarchists. What
he farmers must do is TO emphasize
heir demands at the ballot box.
During his lifetime Mr.. Window
:wice secretary of the treasury, used
he following well chosen words re.
garding railroads, and which apply to
other certain corporate powers: "The
channels Of thought telegraph and
telephone) and the channels OF COM
merce thus owned and controlled by q
lew men, what is to restrain corporate
power, or to fix limit to it's exactions
upon the people? What is there to
hinder these men from depressing OF
Initiating the value Of all kinds of prop
erty to suit their caprice or avarice,
and thereby gathering into their own
Golfers the wealth Of the nation? Where
is the limit to such power as this?
What shall be said Of the spirit OF a
free people who will submit without
protest to be thus bound hand and
foot?"
The position taken by the populists
on this subject is the most impregna.
Bile of all their platform. 1t should be
agitated on every occasion. The peo-
ple should be told that it is no new and
untried experiment, but one that has
been successfully demonstrated by
three-fourths Of the civilized nations of
the earth. Let the question OF public
ownership be given the prominence its
merit deserves and our lines will no