The Louisiana populist., 1897-02-05
WHO WAS IT STRUCK HlM7
An Exchange Wants to Know Who Hit
Silly Patterson.

Silly Patterson.
NOncOniormist: Looking to the states
that were expected to give a majority
for MIR. Bryan, but which went for Nc
Kinley, we find some significant things.
In the states of Indiana, Kentucky,
West Virginia, Wyoming. California,
Oregon and the Dakotas, all of which
are in the Mckinley column, or are
saved by a scratch, a change OF 23,OOO
or 10000 votes in the eight states
would have reversed the election and
sent Mr.. Bryan to the White House.
Now, why were not those states car
ried by Mr.. Bryan?
The answer IS obvious.
In all these states, except West VIZ
ginia, the Dopulist vote was consid-
cradle factor, and in several OF them
this vote was largely driven to stay at
home by the unreasonable demands Of
the democrats, that the populists sur
render their organization and become
democrats" This they could not and
would not do 1t is true that finally,
just before opening the polls, fair
union terms were agreed upon. but 1t
was too late to repair the damage done
in the earlier part OF the campaign.
1t was too late to heal the sores or
hide the scars made early in the sum-
mer. If the democratic party had
stopped when Mr.. Bryan had been
named for the presidency. and had
recognized the fact that others than
democrats" desired free silver or
monetary reform, and had referred the
completion Of the ticket to the ex-
pected allies that were to meet in two
| national conventions, July %, at st.
Louis. thus gracefully acknowledging
in advance the services rendered, it
would have opened the way for union
of forces that would have contained
| none of the elements of weakness that
carried defeat TO the standard bearer
of the allied parties on the Sd of No
vember. Monetary reform Is post
poned for four more years through the
stubborn party greed that demanded
all, and only yielded at late hour
What was wrung from 1t by half-dis-
heaGtened, half-disgusted allies.
The nomination of Mr.. Bryan was
well done, but when it was accom-
plished, there appeared to be still a
hankering for the "fesh-pots of
Egypt" and an effort was made to
throw tub to the Eastern whale in
the shape of a vice-presidential nomi-
nation that was in itself an insult to
the expected allies. Some Of them
swallowed their chagrin, but the popu-
lists being longer trained in the needs
of campaign for reform, knew that a
victory of that sort would be "apples
o. Sodom," turning to ashes at the
touch of the possessor. Some popu'
lists were even willing to sacrifice all
party pride and accept the professions
of the so-called "regenerated democ,
racy," trusting all to them, but a large
portion Of the party could not be Sc
duced to such a course.
After concessions were made, the
pcpulists very generally accepted the
situation aud assisted in carrying ou1
the plans matured by those placed IL
charge Of party affairs.
The writer was one Of those wht
wished things could have been ar
ranged otherwise, but when the party
conventions and officials had done al
in their power, it was choice Of &C
cepting the union effected or votins
for Mckinley, and there was no hest
fancy in making up the decision.
Elsewhere in this paper is pointed
out the tendency Of late converts O
new recruits to backslide, or return t
old issues. Our only hope lies in 1
more perfect organization of the popu
list party, and the keeping intact of al
its educational forces. The populis
party is responsible for. the great pop
ular uprising, and it must keep abreas
in the way of organization, nor Stacker
in any respect its efforts along tn
line marked cut by the st. Loui
platform.
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