Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1898-02-25
Opposition to the Cold Standard Made
the Basis for a Combination.
Nine Principles on Which the Silver
Men Cain a Majority.
1HILE it is always difficult to
u secure harmonious GO operation
. hatuoon Distinct and sanarata

HILE it is always difficult to
WI secure harmonious GO operation
between distinct and separate
political organizations, there are
times when this co operation is both
" Sc and necessary In the campaign
of 1896 the Democrats. Populists and
Silver Republicans united in demand
ing the immediate res Grafton of inde'
pendent binetallism at the existing
ratio of sixteen to one, and they agreed
in declaring that the money question
was of paramount Importance at that
time
The question now arises, should these
three poll ical organizations act to-
gether in the congressional campaign
of 1898.
answer without hesitation, Yes.
hThose who answer No must assume
burden of proving first, that CO.
OPERATION was unwise in 1896 or second,
that conditions have so changed as to
make unwise now what was wise then.
The defeat that befell the allied forces
does not prove co operation at that time
t., ha been unwise unless it can be
shown that some one party would have
been more successful than the three
combined
Cooperation does not contemplate
the abandonment Of party organization
or the eur, eDder of any political prin-
ciples; nor is co operation defended op
the ground that the platforms Of the
three parties are identical. Campaigns
generally turn upon a few issues, some
times upon one. and events do much to
determine which issue shall most alb
sorh public attention.
If the Democrats. Popnli-ts and Sill,
yer Republicans we're agreed upon but
one question, that question might be
important enough to Justify co opera
tion although the parties differed on all
other subjects; but those who advocate
the union of the principal reform forces
against the common enemy, can point
Not to one, but q number Of reforms
4hich are demanded with equal empha.
III by Democrats Populists and Silver
Republicans:
Ftrst-They are unaiterabiy "pposed to
gold oln~tniii.m.
SECOND They demand tho Immediate
restoration III bimetSltism ut the preae"t
sountry.
Ar>t ~>H
the xreenbncka.
Fourth They oppose the issue Of paper
mon~y by national banks.
Fifth.-Th-y "pp"se the is"ne Of interest
hrari"x bonds IL time "f peace.
sixth They favor the imc"ne tax rs =
me.ns IT rai.i"g - part If the revenue
,,.cassnry Il, nd m ni-ter the Federal Gov.
s.vruth-They favor the abolition Of
Trusts
Eighth They are opposed to gov overnnent
Ninth they are IN favor of arbitration
a. m.au., of settling disputes betwe en-
labor aud capital.
Here are nine issues which are not
ONLY important to themselves. but are
now prominently before the peol 10
Are not these reforms worth securing?
These questions were submitted to the
neo lie at the last election. but they
were not settled, and wi not be Sc tied
kuutii they are settled right.
The Republican party is trying to
commit the country more thoroughly
TO the gold standard. Even now it is
endeavoring to secure legislative in
dorsement of the policy of payins all
coin obligations in gold. It pretends to
ha much concerned about national
honor and the public credit. The lead
ers of the party know that the debtor,
whether a public debtor or private
debtor, meets all the requirements OF
the law, moral as well as statutory,
when he discharges his obligations ac-
cording to the terms of the contract.
They know that all through the war
the government, and private debtors as
we'll, paid coin obligations in gold, al
though gold was worth three cents on
the dollar less than silver. And yet