The Louisiana populist., 1897-02-05
LIVING POPULlSM.
TOM WATSON MAKES A FEW
REMARKS.
1t Has Called the Masses Into Such
Life and Strength as They Have Not
Had for y Generation.

'Hein III tHe Deudll Ol DelleI govern
ment.
AS a school teacher, no political par
ty ever made swifter headway than
ours. We have educated the masses as
last as we could reach them, wherever
people would listen converts were
made. And no man ever returned to
either of the old parties after having
become populist in principle.
1t is true that our cause has suffered
much damage at the hands of eXtrem-
lists. Radical ranters who burlesqued
populism rather than illustrated it have
prejudiced thousands against us. The
fre-eaterS who maka war upon pr!
vate ownership OF property and who
seem POSSESSED by an insane desire to
level everything in sight, alarm and
disgust many a citizen whose heart
ind whose vote would be with US If he
understood us just as We are.
q During the recent campaign populist
doctrines stood better chance to get
fair hearing than ever before. When
'he democratic party adopted our plat
'crm at Chicago, we at once gained the
var of an immense audience which, up
o that hour, had been hopelessly hos
lie to us. And now that the campaign
IS over, the moral victory which popu-
ism Won at Chicago is still ours. No
democrat can ever hereafter be heard
10 abuse or ridicule creed which his
,arty formally embraced.
Not only has popu!ism done magnifl-
,ont work as an educator, but it has
achieved yet more signal triumph as
liberator of the human mind from
he slavery Of party domination.
1t has smashed party ties right and
eft. 1t has broken the idols of the
narket-place in a manner beautiful to
,ehold 1t has well-nigh abolished the
,arty lash. 1t has utterly abolished So
.ial ostracism for political opinions
;ake No citizen any longer hesitates
10 take sides with any party he likes,
,r to vote for any candidate he prefers.
The day of political persecution is over
even in the southland populism did
t.
Not only has our reform movement
educated and liberalized the masses,
but 1t leavened both the old parties
until they themselves throb with the
restless movement of the people Never
before did two campaign managers
work harder to satisfy the minds of
he common people than did Jones and
Hanna. Never before did fact, argu-
ment and illustration count for so
| much in an election. Never before was
30 much economic literature printed,
distributed and read.
A few years ago what did the cam
'aign literature consist Of? Lies. most
". The democrats would get out a
SANDER or two on Blaine or Garfield,
ind the republicans would concern
their virtuous souls with a defect or
30 in Cleveland's moral character; and
he contest was fought out on the old
rayed and frazzled line of "Force-Bill'
on one side, and "Bloody-shirt' on the
other.
Look into the campaign books of the
two old parties, few years back, and
see how much space is given to mere
scandals, and how little to economic
principles!
In this campaign all was changed
and populism has done it.
Everybody sought information. The
voter wanted light. He demanded tc
know the facts. The printing presses
groaned night and day to supply the
demand.
The impression prevails that Mark
Hanna's money bought Mckinley's
/ election. We do rot share that opin-
ion. 1t is practically impossible tc
bribe people by the million.
The populist theory of money is the
only one which can successfully meet
the Sound money" argument, ant
Bryan lost votes because our demo
cratic allies were not willing to adop
our line of reasoning.
But although the campaign Is over
the discussion Of the money question
| goes right on.
1t has received mighty impulse
which keeps it moving. And so greatl,
disturbed is Mark Hanna over the out
look, that he proposes to continue th'
republican campaign organization. ant
to keep it at work.
Thus has populism been doing it
work. 1t has put down party despot
ism. 1t has erased the lines of section
alism. 1t has brought politics to bat
| tie of economic doctrines. 1t ha
forced the money question to the front
It has called the masses into such lif
and strength as they have not had TO
q generation. It has abolished politica
intolerance. 1t has made huge inroad
,pon political ignorance.
Let US not be discouraged, comrades
Good government does not happen b.
accident.
Under great disadvantages, we hay
fought good fight. We must not fal
ter nor fall back. The path of dut,
leads onward, and we must press for
ward therein. T. e. w.