Natchitoches populist., 1898-04-29

debtor the option, and substitute a new
system, which, first, permits the money
lenders to choose the coin Of payment;
and. second, allows them to increase
the purchasing power Of the dollars
which they demand, to the impoyer-
ishment OF the wealth producers Of the
world.
Should those who oppose this finan
cial heresy, this child of greed and
avarice, fight each other while the
American people are bound with fet-
ters Of gold?
If the questions above presented have
lost none of their Importance, it would
seem that cooperation is proper now,
if proper eighteen months ago, un-
less it can be shown that the parties
which could trust each other then can
not do SO now, AS there has been no
national convention since 1896, it is
impossible to Judge Of the present In
tentions of the three parties unless we
take for our criterion the actions of
those who stand in a representative
capacity.
The Democrats, the Populists, and
the Silver Republicans who in 1896 IA
yored the reforms which l have men
toned favor them to-day. There is not
prominent man of any Of the parties
which united In 1896 who has aban-
doned any Of the reforms which drew
the parties together.
The advocates Of the gold standard,
the enemies ofindependent bimetallism,
the opponents of the greenbacks, the
friends of national bank notes, the de-
tenders Of trusts, the supporters Of
government by injunction, and those
who object to arbitration and an in
come tax--alI these find no difficulty
in uniting on the main issues, no mat
ter how much they may differ upon
minor ones. Shall the friends Of re-
form show less earnestness or less sa-
gacity? Reforms are often delayed by
an attempt to secure too much, while
progress is usually made little at a
time. II one cherishes the hope Of lay
ing up a competency for old age, he
does not refuse to save anything until
he can save all that he desires. If
he is wise he lays aside a little each
day and makes 1t the foundation for
his fortune. Society moves forward
slowly. Circumstances make it possi-
bic to rise to a plane q little higher
than that occupied before, and from
this new vantage ground the fight is
renewed for the capture Of some great
er height. Holland has expressed an
idea which may well be applied to the
unceasing contest waged by those who
would improve the condition Of society
and promote the welfare Of the human
race He says;
Heaven is not gained by q single
bound:
We build the ladder by which We
rise
From the lOwly earth to the yaulted
skies,
And mount to its summit round by
round.
Many millions Of our people believe
that the reforms above enumerated
will bring vast advantage to the pro-
ducers of wealth. but whether the ad-
vantage be much or little, these are
the things which lie Immediately in
front of US, and they must be decided
one way or the other before more re-
mote questions, even though they be
greater ones, can be seriously consid-
cred. What though there he questions
which may ultimately separate those
who fought together In the last cam
paign, viii Democrats, Popullsts or Sill
yer Republicans be the worse for hay
ing secured those things for which
they are jointly contending?
Agitation Is means To an end, not
the end itself. To secure few things
is better than to advocate many things
and get nothing. Our opponents not
only recognize that there Is strength
IN union, but they also recognize that
there is weakness in division, and there
fore they may be expected to present
a united front whenever the interests
Of exaggerated wealth are attacked,
and they may be expected to spread
dissensions wherever possible among
the reform forces. The Democrats viii
be warned against becoming tainted
with Populism, and yet Jefferson de-
nounced banks Of issue, and Jackson
entered into contest with the money
power before there was a Populist
party, while the birnetalllc system was
established in the United States be-
fore any political party was organized.
Our enemies will warn the Populists
against association with the Demo-
Gratis, and with unstlnted praise conn
mend those who are credited with
putting principle above office " The
Republican party will gladly leave the
PopulEgts in possession OF all the prln-
clples, SO long as the Republicans are
permitted to hold all the Offices, be-
cause political principles are OF no SER
vice To the public until they are en-
forced, through the legislative, execu-
tive and judicial departments OF the
government. The Silver Republicans