The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-10-27

one argument used against us in this
campaign by the fusion leaders has been
that THE POPUL1STS ARE HELPING
THE REPUBLICANS. Most men are
touched quickest through their preju-
dices, and cunning politicians have
ever taken advantage of this
fact to lead poor humanity
into trouble and distress. But
stop and think our brothers. When did
the Democratic party become worthy of
the sacrifice asked of Populists. Dem
ocracy defiantly asks that Populists
abandon their party, and such of their
party principles as Democracy does not
indorse (all of them save free silver
and become Democrats. This cannot be
argued away by cunning phraseology.
To any thinking man this charge is a
patent fact.
Do you want the Peoples party to
die? Do you want it's press blotted out
Of existence? If you kill the Peoples
party, and suffer it's press to be de-
stroyed, then the Democratic party can
compromise with the gold men without
fear of successful opposition. The
Democratic party has done this before,
and many Of the present leaders appar-
emily so valiantly fighting for silver,
were parties to it. Remember you can
not build up party in one campaign.
We have been four years building up the
Peoples party to point where we
were a faction in politics. What were
those four years to some of us? They
were years of sacrifice and toll, public
abuse, and social ostracism. Around
the party for which some of us had sac
rificed our all, were clustered our fond
est ambitions and most cherished
wishes. We ask not for pay. or re-
| ward. The fact that the people are be-
coming enlightened and our principles
spreading and the dark clouds of op-
preston rifting. was all the reward that
we sought. So long as we were not
able to control public affairs Democracy
/ fought us bitterly, but when the time
| arrived that our influence was felt and
! ourselves become factor, Democracy
with that cunning which gave to it
the greenback party, ceased to fight us,
and commenced to cajole. BY liberal
I promises Of Office to our leaders, then
| the Democratic leaders beat down op-
! position and our flag was surrendered
with scarcely a skirmish. Shall we let
the Peoples party die or is it worth pre-
serving? Decide this question at the
ballot box, brothers. If it is to die vote
| the Democratic ticket. If it is to live
vote the Peoples ticket and thus aid
us to poll our vote of two per cent. By
| this means we retain our organization
! in the state to be used if necessary
The election of the Democratic ticket
! can do our cause no good whatever. It
will not give us single reform de-
manded by the Omaha platform. 1t will
not change in any way our national
legislation. BY voting tie Democratic
! ticket you accomplish no good what
ever, and do great harm by breaking
up and disintegratins tho only organ
ization that stands between capitalism,
oppression and the people. In the Peo-
pies party is hope for the farmer. tho
wage worker, the poor and oppressed.
It is the only party that offers any sub
stantial relief to the toi]!ng millions OF
our population. The Democratic party
offers no hope to the laborer. 1t does
! not maintain in it's platform any OF the
demands of organized labor and already
! is that large body Of enlightened men
forming a new political party. Organ
| lied labor solidly supported Democracy
| last year. but 1t will do so no longer.
The Democratic parry fooled the pco-
pie once, but it can't do so again. It's
promises of relief are too shallow and
| it's leaders too tickle to invite the con.
| f1dence of patriotic men. During The
closing week of the campaign, the fu-
sionists will make all kinds of charges
against us. They will charge that we
are in the pay of the Republicans. This
charge we deny once for all. The SUD-
port for our cause has come from the
South and represents, no doubt, the
hard earned dimes and nickels OF
Southern Populists, who are looking to
US with anxious eyes and who have
sent their prayers along with their
money, for success in defeating the
damnable work of fusion. Charges and
counter charges of taking Republican
and Democratic money, by local work.
ers, has been made by both sides. The
state committee has not investigated
these charges but, while we do not
! countenance Doodle taking in any way.
shape or form, yet If we were COM
PEELED to condone the offense we would
say that we consider it a thousand
times more honorable to take money
for the upbuilding and preservation Of
the Peoples party than to take money
to destroy it. Be firm, brothers, in the
cause OF right. Your support of the
Omaha platform and the Peoples party
has made you heroes in the sight of
heaven and has won for you the COM
mendation and prayers of anxious
mothers and respondent wives. Do not
swerVe from the right That which was
n 10