The advocate., 1897-08-25
POPULIsTs AND THE POPULIsT
PARTY.

lty determined to support the Democrat
state ticket, and no Popullst ticket was
named. The minority objected and
withdrew and called a convention OF
their own to meet on the 18th day OF
this month (AugusD, at Des Moines.
At the time and place appointed, up
ward of fifty counties were represented
by about 15O delegates, and by special
invitation and request, the editor OF the
Topeka Advocate was present to speak.
The following passages are taken from
his address:
- Like our two great antago-
nists, we are divided among ourselves,
but the nature and scope Of our ditfer-
ences are essentially unlike. With
them they are largely matter OF de-
tail. There is no great principle unaer-
lying their disputes, while ours relate
to matters which all of us regard as
important, and some Of us as vital.
Republicans divide on line which
lies along the outskirts of the money
question. Silver Republicans
want more metallic money, and they
would probably be satisfied with gold
if there is enough Of 1T.
The trouble among the Democrats
is virtually the same. Like the RepuD-
licans, their dispute is over the ques-
ton whether it is wise to at once
Americanize the subject, and open the
mints again to silver.
But in our case there are two sources
OF trouble; one relates to our party
creed, and the other to our party policy.
In the first place, the POpulist party,
like every other great movement OF
men to improve their condition, came
into being because of the aggresslons
of unjust power. Our government,
from the beginning, had been under
control of one or the other Of two great
parties, dividing on questions relating
to the constitutional powers OF the
State and national governments. They
differed about tariffs, internal improve
ments. banks and the extension OF
slavery into the Territories. But with
the great war new forces came into
play. Our enormous debt was better
than gold mine to the speculator,
and the usurer preyed upon the peO-
Dle's substance. Our public lands were
suuandered and a stupendous railway
system was developed. Our currency
was funded in coin bonds; the coinage
of silver dollars was discontinued; the
word "coin" was construed to mean
gold, and the New York banks took
charge of the country's finances. Mis-
fortunes befell the people. The general
level of prices fell to the cost line and
below it; invention multiplied men
with muscles Of iron and nerves OF
steel, and immigration swelled the
ranks of the unemployed. Debt had
overtaken us. Nine million homes had
been m0rtgaged, and in our great cities
an average Of seventy-seven in every
100 families were paying for the privi-
lege of living there. In the country at
large, So per cent. of the families were
living on rented property, and in New
York City the proportion was "a per
cent. Agriculture was prostrate and
labor was manacled. Farmers were at
the mercy Of spectators, and wages
were fixed by employers. The earth
had come under dominion Of landlords;
forests and coal mines were owned by
syndicates; railway companies were in
combination; wealth and political in
fIuence had been usurped by a few
men, and the seat of government had
been transferred to Wall street
These conditions forced new prob
lens forward, and the political parties
then existing were not competent to
solve them. They had not been formed
for such purpose. These abuses had
grown up by their consent. The Re
publican party led in this stupendous
work of spoliatiOn, it saw the approach
of the marauders and opened the way