The San Francisco call., 1898-12-30
THE END OF POPULISM.

p the open letter of Thomas V. Gator, published h in The Call of yesterday, public attention is
 directed again to the increasing evidences of the decline of Populisn. In all parts of the Union the deections from the party numerous, and long be- fore the next Presidential election is held the organ ization will have gone the way of Coxey's army.
 The reasons for the disappearance of the party not hard to seek It made up of three classes of citizens. First those of socalistic tendencies who desire to attempt to equalize human conditions and make all vrtuous and prosperous by the enact ment of certain laws which they regard as panaceas for all the ills of society; sec ond, those who, by reason of the hard times and industrial depression, had been rendered so discontented with existing conditions they were willing to accept any of change simply for the sake of change; third, those who had become ndig- nant at the boss rule and machine methods of the old parties and hoped to attain political reform through the new organization.
 The capture of Democracy by the Bryantes on the Chicago platform drew the great mass of the socalstic element of the country to that party and to that extent weakened the Popust organization by taking from 1t its most aggressive element. The l restoration of prosperity under the Mckinley ad- mnistration by the re-establishment of the protec- tive system and the maintenance of the gold standard caused thousands who had voted with the Popuists in former elections to to the Republican party and finally the capture of the Populst organization by the Democratic bosses completed the ruin of the movement by driving from it all who had hoped to see 1t conducted on lines of honesty and indepen- l dence.
 It is hardly likely the factors that made Populism strong during the last eight years will come together again. The tie that bound them in the past a strong one, nor was their union based upon any fundamental principle of political action That much shown by the fact that in the North ern States the party acted with Democrats against Republicans while n the South it acted with Repub- licans against Democrats. It had no convictions on questions of tariff sound money and was animated in each State mainly by desire to defeat the domi- nant party in that State.
 In his letter MT. Gator pointed out many reasons why earnest Popuists who have been sincerely seek ing the welfare of the people should return to the Re publican party and hereafter act with it. The coun- se will doubtless be accepted by all former Populsts of that class In fact the overwhelming vote by which Mcguire defeated IS an evidence that the more conservative members of the party have already be- come disgusted with fusion and Bryanism and are ready to work hereafter in the ranks of the great party of prosperity and constructive statesmanshp. The country is to be congratulated on the decline of this organization which at time threatened to seriously disturb the politics of the nation It's rise was caused by hard times and dscontent and its fall is the surest sign of the return prosperity and DO litical common sense among. the people.