The Globe-republican., 1898-09-29

I'VE get them" said my Populist
friend, as he came blithely up the
gravel walk that leads to the front
porch of his coy country home.
His wife did not look up.
Il tell you." he continued, 1T does
me as much good this time to sub
scribe my mite to the government
loan as it did to go to the front my
self thirty-odd years ago."
Still no response from the little
woman, rocking on the porch.
What a glorious war this has
been!" and he grew enthusiastic.
What a great nation We are! What
. grand old man Uncle Sam is, any
how! Think of it! Think of 1t, say"
he fairly shrieked to the unruffled lady
In the chair. when Spain was trying
to borrow a few millions to patch up
her dilapidated old navy, Uncle Sam
showed his hand down in his pocket,
pulled out fifty millions in cold cash.
handed it over to Mckinley and said
Get ready Mckinley got. Gun fac
tories going, powder factories going,
men and boys going here and there,
camping, drilling, moving to the front.
Dewey at Manila, whizz! One-third OF
the Spanish navy at the bottom Of the
sea; Sampson and Schley at Santiago,
whoop! The pride Of SPANS navy full
Of holes and burning on the beach; the
boys in Cuba. twenty-five thousand
Spanish fighters surrender to them.
Porto Rico captured without a strug-
gle. It's great. It makes me feel like
celebrating. More money wanted; did
We have to go to Europe for it,"
He paused for reply, which did
not come, and then he proceeded:
mo, We didn't, not bit of it; we
didn't have to go anywhere. The peo-
pie just said, Here it is, six times
over if you want it, We get our share
of the bonds, it makes me feel good;"
and he strutted back and forth in
front of the porch, seeming to initiate
the walk of the proud peacock not far
off: but the woman said nothing.
But that isn't ALL" he said. Think
Of us commercially. What do you
think Of making Europe and other
lands fork over six hundred million
dollars in clean cash for the difference
due US in the deals Of the past year?
Aren't We somebody, thought"
Then her lips moved. She spoke,
her voice as deep and as solemn as she
could make it; her eyelashes not lift
ed; her features expressionless. He
listened to the words:
1--WE meet in the midst Of nation
brought to the verge Of moral, political
and material ruin.'"
Like voice from the tomb 1t sound
ed to him.
At first my Populist friend seemed
stunned; then he was angry. His arms
flew in the air, his jaw moved, and his
whiskers beat the wind; but so enrag-
ed was he that he could not utter a
word. Finally. in despair, he sat down
Upon the porch steps and buried his
face in his hands.
Cruel, know it IS cruel" said the
little woman in her softest, meekest
phrases in the first national declara-
tion of your great Populist party. That
was the cornerstone on which you
builded; 1t was the belief in those con-
d:tions that brought your party into
existence. Think of it, what libel On
a great and good people! What are
you going to do with that declaration
of ruin anyhow? Why not frame it
and send 1t to Spain? l don't know Of
any one else who could get any salts
faction out Of it; but, in the light of
recent historic events, it would be a
difficult task to get even her to believe
it."
But that was six long years ago."
plaintively pleaded my Populist friend.
But you are still following the trail
onto which that infamous declaration
led you; and that is what hurts me-"
she answered, impatiently. Think of
1t yourself; think of it. Can a great
and growing nation make a complete
change in morals in six years? When
was there more evidence that Divine
Providence was guiding a nation than
We have at this time? Think of our
war for humanity; think of Dewey and
think of Santiago; think of
SPANS navy practically ruined and |
but one man Of ours killed in doing it. |
Would the hand Of Divine Providence |
so protect a nation that was On the !
verge of neral ruin? Would a wicked |
and depraved people wage such a war |
Tor humanity as ours has waged?
Financial ruin. too! Think of that |
All those millions of dollars are being |
loaned to the government by the peo-
ple-plain, hard-working. economical
people, such as you. And yet you say |
n your great national platform that |
We are on the verge of material ruin.
How dare you look truth in the face
md follow the footsteps of the party |
which uttered that libel?
Material ruin! Yes, the difference
n o,,r t,-a1o with ,o.iopc NJ tba y--orJd