The Advocate and news., 1898-01-12


have not yet determined in favor OF per-
petual union with another party. That,
they say, can be settled later-When they
know what the other parties are going 70
do. Right there Is the seat OF trouble. IL
they would only declare against any and
every form OF alliance or fusion with any
OF the old parties, chat declaration alone
would settle the question and bring tne
party together again, while tnelr Iallure
60 do so leaves the matter still In Issue,
and the breach widens. This claim or the
fusonlsts that they are simply waiting 70
see what course the other parues VIII
take, that POpulists may avail themselves
OF whatever strategy there Is then IN the
situation, can not, in the opinion or the
anti-fuslOnlsts, be safely accepted or AZ
lowed. II lacks evidence Of party loyalty
in the first place, they say; II lacks goo9
faith in the second place; and In the third
place il is wanting in truth. They are
not waiting. On the contrary they are ac-
lively at work farming local alliances pre-
paratOry to the Congressional campaign
in 1898 and the Presidential contest In l9OO.
In every part of the country where they
are comparatively strong, as In Iowa, Me-
braska and Kansas, they are In hearty ac-
cord with the fusion Democrats. In iowa,
at the late election, the regular state con-
vention OF the Peoples party refused TO
put out ticket Of its own, and personally
the fusion members united In support or
the Democratic nominees from Governor
down. In Nebraska where the POpulists
are largely in majority over. Democrats,
they united in support Of ticket headed
by @ Democrat. In Kansas, the patronage
OF the State administration (Popullst) Is
divided among the parties to the triple
alliance Of 1885,
These things indicate the direction Of
political wind currents. They are signs
full of meaning, and none but the blind
can fail to comprehend their significance.
Mr.. Bryan, on his part, has already con-
tributed 81 500 to the Peoples party cam
paign fund, and Senator Allen has lnvesteo
the money In Understanding securities
that It may increase unto the day or It's
use In promoting the cause of bimetal-
lism"
on the other hand the antfuslonists
wish to maintain their party relations;
and they do not see how they can do that
by supporting some other party, more es-
pecialiy one whose principles do not ac-
cord with their own; and the division grow
ing out of this difference Is fatal. 1t Is
drawn on the dead line. These anti-fusion-
lists are like Cubans in this respect. They
demand the independence Of their party
they do not desire to be merely an attach
ment to another body, and particularly one
from which they have once separated on
account of unsatisfactory relations. They
are afflrlnatively against fusion or ali-
ance or federation of any sort with either
the Republican or the Democratic party
in any national election They are Popu-
lists because they believe In the principles
OF the Peoples party, and they intend and
expect to remain such, at any rate until
a greater and better party Is formed out
of other existing political bodies that are
aiming at higher Ideals In government.
Nor can 1t be said that the anti-fusionists
have been wanting in attentions to their
fusion brethren, for they have warned
them from time to time OF attempts OF
their national committee to extend an un-
Warrantable Jurisdiction over them. They
have repeatedly asked for conference OF
the disagreeing factions, with the view OF
q friendly adjustment of their differences,
but no attention Is paid to these requests.
And that their number and temper might
be not underestimated or their motives
and wishes misunderstood, they called a
conference themselves, held at Nashville,
Tenn, July 4, 1897, and on that occasion
It was unanimously resolved by them to
have no further union or alliance with
other parties, and q committee was ap-
pointed to reorganiZe the anti-fusion Popu-
lists OF the country.
Several independent suggestions have
been submitted by individual anti-fusion-
lists on their own responsibility, propos-
ing plans to bring the members of the
party together on new lines. One of these
is to call conference OF delegates repre-
sentlng all political bodies that are opposed
to the present gold standard regime to
consider whether 1t be not practicable,
out of many, to form one great party with
a single creed embodying everything re-
garded as essential by each of the parties
represented. Such conference, 1t Is urged,
would bring together the strongest and
best men among the members of all par
, ties. II, upon full and free conference,
such a body should agree upon common
declaration of principles and a new name
for the new body, the trouble which Is
now so threatening among Populists would
be disposed OF. Such a movement, IL sue
cessful would bring into being the most
splendid body of men ever organized for
any purpose, and they could gain possess
sion of the government by the use of a
freeman's safeguard-the ballot This prop
osition, however, wise and patriotic as 1t
Is, brings no response from the other side.
Two things may be taken as facts: First,
that as long as Mr.. Bryan is in the field
as the Democratic candidate for the Presi-
dency, fusion Populists will cooperate
with the Democracy. Second, that the
anti-fusion, or middle-of-the-road Popu-
lists will not again ally themselves either
individually or as a body with the Demo.
cratic party, no matter who is its candi-
| date.
These facts show why the Peoples party
H. passing 1t now remains to consider