The representative., 1897-08-25
THE sOOIALIsTIC TREND.

One Of the significant features Of the
Iowa Populist state convention held this
week was the substantial reputation Of the
Chicago platform, and the declaration that
there are other issues more important than
the silver question, which should be given
at least equal prominence. The temporary
chairman of the convention A. L. Kicker.
Of Johnson county, in quite an able speech
voiced this sentiment, which was plainly In
dorsed by large majority Of the conven-
ton. He referred to the abandonment of
the Omaha platform and the fusion with
the Bryan Democracy last year: I'VE
united with the Democrats in 1885," he ad-
ded, because Of the nomination Of Bryan;
who lacked only the name to make him
Populist; but Bryan is not now the Demo-
cratic party, as he was practically in 1895.
Mr.. Kicker further declared that 1.-The much
vaunted Chicago platform in not one line
or sentence, makes open and direct at
tack upon the present economic system"
He secuted the idea that prosperity could
be any more than chimera to the indus
trial classes SO long as capital has 1t In
it's power, by combination, to levy fixed
charges upon industry. 1t is the capitals
tic SYSTEM" he exclaimed vehemently,
that must go, and to change this system
the Chicago Democratic platform offers not
one thing. Its one cure-all is the free coin
age Of silver. The free coinage Of silver will
increase the volume Of money and will raise
prices, but will destroy trusts. no mo-
nopolies, will in no wise deprive corpora
tions Of their enormous absorbing powers.
Free silver will destroy the power Of no
railroad king, no, will 1t in any degree
lessen the burdensome tax which our rail-
road management has placed on commerce.
Free silver will not deprive a single land
baron of his stolen public domain. No
party can ever succeed upon the single sill
yer issue. for its inadequacy to relieve So
ciety OF its stricken condition is apparent.
Deeper and more far reaching must be the
reform, the banner of which will gather to
1t countless numbers Of the oppressed.
Never again shall We consent to compro-
mise with plutocracy, and from the dark
night Of the present system Of consuming
greed, OF aggregated wealth. and of cruel
injustice, we will turn to the dawn Of
brighter day when the commonwealth Of
the people will prevail"
This reads almost like a page out OF Bel
lamy's new book Equality" IT is rank So
cialism and shows that the chairman Of
the Iowa Populist convention has in some
respects gone even ahead Of the Omaha
platform.
II the writings and speeches Of the Radi-
calls who Joined in the Bryan movement
last year are carefully examined this trend
towards socialism will be found conspicu-
Gus in nearly all of them. They have come
to the conclusion that the free silver issue
Is too narrow and that nothing will answer
but the demolition of private capitalism.
AS q rule they like Mr. Bryan much better
than they do the Chicago platform, with
its lone cure ALL" They recognize In him
q man who Is essentially a socialist. II he
did but know it, and 1t is probable that II
Mr.. Bryan would broaden out his platform
and embrace the socialistic doctrine with
out reservation, he might become the
socialistic leader In 1899. instead Of merely
the leader Of the free silver coinage advo-
Gates.
The country should wake up to the fact
that the issue which it will have to meet
In 1900 is not free s!lver-or at least not
that alone-but socialism Of the Bellamy
stripe. All the elements Of real opposition
to the Republican party are drifting in that
direction, and If they succeed In uniting
they will constitute q formidable organiza-
ton.
From the Minneapolis Tribune, Repubi-
can.