The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-07-14

ner In which the last campaign was
conducted was voted down; not that
the convention did not feel that there
were serious grounds Of complaint OF
the manner in which our candidate for
the vice presidency had been treated in
some of the states, but the universe.
sentiment was to harmonic the party.
and remember the part only so far as
was necessary to preserve and guard
the future.
The great sentiment was to save the
party from being traded or whitfield
away to nothing, In the interest Of few
politicians, or for the benefit of some
other organization. The apprehension
Which some honestly entertained, and
which others pretended to entertain.
that the Populists were crowd Of crazy
fanatics, incapable of elf-government.
and could not assemble in conference
without raising Cain and smashing
things generally was happily proved to
W ShSiO ely
1t was great pleasure to meet the
men who had created the party in 1891
and 1892 and find them just as earnest
and enthusiastic as ever There were
no office seekers or traders present.
They were band Of patriots, deter
mined in purpose, but self-contrOlled in
the utterance of their views. No per-
sonalities were INDUCED in, and individ-
ual grievances gave way to the general
good.
The Conference HAS STRENGTH
ENED THE PEOPLES PARTY I'M
MENSELY. 1t has lifted it up to the
highest plane of principle. 1t has said
to the politicians that it Is not mere
aggregation of voters to be turned hith-
or or thither as personal interests may
dictate. 1t has restored confidence.
1t has demonstrated that the necessity
which begot the Peoples Party still ex-
lists with undiminished vigor.
II this conference had not been held
processes of disintegration would have
gone on with increasing activity, and
in another year it would have been ten
times harder to rally our scattered
forces under the old banner. Now
every man can take heart Of hope and
feel that he is part of living and not
of dying organization
The national committee appointed by
the conference is intended to press the
work Of organization and education;
not in conflict with the national COM
mi,tee appointed at St. Louis in July
last, but in harmony with it,
There was a widespread fear that
Senator Butler, of North Carolina,
chairman Of the St. Louis national COM
mittee, might refuse to call our national
convention in 1900 until after the date
of the Democratic convention, and a
great pressure would be brought to bear
upon us to swallow the Democratic tick
ct and abandon our own party. We
do not think Senator Butler would be
guilty of such an act of treachery, but
" d1OCI ouA IL q pOoSlUlC COulllSCnCy JIG
national committee of the conference
was authorized, in such case, to call a
national convention at such time and
place as it might name. 1t is our hope
that no such action will ever be neces
sary. There should be the kindiest
feelings of cooperation and sympathy
between the two committees, and every
thing should be done that honor and
honesty can dictate to keep all our
forces solidly in line, as the great army
of reform of the United States
Hon. Thomas E. Watson, of Georgia,
was not present at the convention, but
his name was on every tongue, and his
absence generally regretted. He had
sent word that he did not desire the
Butler-Watson controversy to be
brought up in the conference; and this
request had great deal to do with
that absence of acrimony and recrimin-
alton, which was so marked a feature of
the assemblage. If a resolution had
been offered indorsing Mr.. Watsons
course in the last campaign it would
have passed unanimously
Now that it is made plain, beyond
controversy, that the nomination of MIR.
Bryan for president by the Populists in
1896, did not mean the abandonment of
the Peoples Party, let us forget and for
give all HONEST differences of opinion
as to the past, and press forward har-
moniously to victory.
Let the campaign of 1898 begin to-day.
lGREAI SPEECH