The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-11
an address to the Populists of the United

an ADDRESS 10 the 1OpuHSlS Oh Tue 1llilSu
States. In part the address follows:
We are to be congratulated on the
growth of our party and the fact that in
the recent election nearly half of the vot-
ers of the Union indorsed much of our
platform. No party ever achieved more
brilliant success I'm so brief a time. AL
though handicapped in the late campaign.
we emerge from the contest stronger than
ever. Our party alone has voting force
larger than that which elected Lincoln and
an able, effective reform press of nearly
2.000 papers. We elected several Governors
as well as hundreds of other state, county
and town officials We hold the balance of
power in the United States Senate and
have four times as many congressman as
ever before.
I'VE united with the silver forces in the
recent campaign not because we believe
the free coinage of silver is the solution or
the financial problem, but because IL would
better existing conditions. would meet with
the least resistance and would become the
entering wedge for our main issue. namely.
full legal-tender paper money, issued and
regulated by the government alone. Hav-
ing proved our loyalty at the polls. we are
free TO act separately on advanced lines
and to emphasize the real issues our
party was born TO advocate. We cannot. in
honor lay down our arms and cease our
activity until the war for which we are
enlisted has ended in victory for our cause.
The Democratic party proposes to con-
tinue the silver fight. Two parties can
not exist on the same issue. The greater
absorbs the smaller Therefore. If We re-
main mere camp-followers of another
party disntegration will result. Our party
success alone forced the Democrats to
adopt the Chicago platform and nominate
a Popocrat for President. Converts made
by party regularity cannot be trusted with
the reforms of the future.
I'VE are not Democrats and cannot be
classed as such. We simply united for a
single campaign. The Democratic party is
but the rear guard of our own. We do
not stand for redemption money. but for
scientific dollar. kept invariable by proper
regulation of the money volume. Then
why should a high-school graduate re-enter
the intermediate grade? Our grandest
achievements are in the future. The pro-
posed retirement of the greenbacks and the
discussion of the Pacific Railroad question
will bring before Congress the two strong
est measures of our platform; and what
ever issues the other parties may adept,
the logic of events will force upon both
Congress and the people the consideration
of these measures as to overshadOw all
others. and win TO our ranks thousands of
voters from both the Republican and Dem
ocratic parties.
II suggest that a national conference or
party leaders and workers be held as soon
as practicable that we may have full
and free expression of opinion regarding
our future work. We hope therefore that
the reform press will give the fullest pos
sible exposition of their views on this i'm
portant subject and our friends are invited
to write me or our national chairman. ex-
pressing their ideas on the independent
party action herein proposed