The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-02-02

separate oneself from a party on account
of the name is waste of time and energy.
For myself I was brought up a Repub-
lican, but when that party deviated from
the path Of political righteousness I left it
and for a time affiliated with the Demo-
Gratis. I have not necessarily joined that
party for life. l hold my party allegiance
very loosely. If the party had at the last
national convention been dominated by
the Cleveland wing 1 would have had
nothing more to do with it. But when the
party had the strength to throw off the
incubus that had fastened itself upon 1t.
to purify itself and to relegate to the rear
those leaders who had proven themselves
untrue to their trust; when the rank and
file Of the party eXerted itself and gave
expression to their convictions and sub
stituted other leaders who are in accord
with these convictions, then 1t becomes es-
sentially new party. This new party
united with the Populist party and the re-
form element in the Republican party at
the last election. which was the only SEN
sible thing to do. The object sought at
this election was not accomplished. why
then should not this cooperation between
the same elements continue until the OBJ
ject is attained? Whether we cooperate
as we did in 1896. in three separate or
CARNATIONS or unite into one body, choosing
whatever name the majority desire. is to
me an immaterial thing. The main thing
is that we remain united until victory is
won. Yours,
SAMUEL TORGERSON.
We publish the foregoing letter be-
cause The Representative never lodges
or evades important questions and de-
sires to be fair in the field of political
discussion, and that we may more easily
point out what seems to us to be error.
We have met Mr.. Torgerson and be-
lieve him to be honest in his opinions
as here expressed and shall therefore
treat his letter as honest error, error
however largely, due to his environ
ments and position as assistant cashier
of the First National Bank of Mayville,
N. D.
We have never yet known a national
banker to express warm affection for a
Pcpulist, but there are numerous ma
tional bankers who, like Mr.. Torgerson,
claim to be new and purified Democrats
Mr.. Torgerson's first error is in being
a Democrat. His next is in assuming
that The Representative as an exponent
of straight Populism sis attempting to
divide the reform forces of the North
west"
He begs the entire question when ne
assumes that the Democratic party IS
a reform party, has shaken off its in
cubus, purified itself and relegated to
the rear its old corrupt leaders. Like
all fusionists he does not distinguish
between the Democratic party am ! a.
honest Democrats. Up there in North
Dakota he gathers about him from the
honest rank and file few sympathizinr
souls, one shouts Bryan" another &c
to l. and in chorus they exclaim 1--WE
the Democratic party" To use his smile
OF the kernel and it's shell; The Rep
resentative is trying to save from tie
rotten Old Democratic shell whatever
honest Kernels are worthy of preserva-
ton and as we pull them out of their
shells the fusionist snarls, won are A.
tempting to divide the reform forces"
Mr.. Torgerson repeats favorite argu-
ment Of fusicnists Tin union is strength.
in division weakness" he forgets that
union of the lion and the lamb would
in all probability weaken the lamb. We
do net doubt that such union would
strengthen the lion.
He says, "a political party is a volun-
tary organization made up of those who
believe in the same political principles"
and then most Inconsistency censures
independent Populists who believe in d.
rect legislation, government ownership
of public utilities and greenbacks be-
cause they will not unite with Demo-
Gratis and Republicans who repudiatc
all three of these Populists tenets.
Populists hold that the essence Of
money is in the government stamp. a
legislative decree, the government fiat,
the legal tender statute and that there
fore full legal tender greenback, scier-
tific dollar is the best dollar the world
has ever known.
On the contrary, silver Democrats and
Republicans demand metallic mon,y.
commodity-money, intrinsic value in
money and confine their monetary dis
cussions to the inccnsequential questions
Of a proper ratio between two metals.
and that of a parity.
Populists stand for retention
through the payment of government
dues. The so-called reform Democrat
demands both silver and gold as the
only money of final redemption
PCpulists look upon money only as
measure of values and medium of OK
change Silver Democrats and Repub-
licans maintain that money is in itself
property and has value
And Mr.. Torgerson speaks of these
people as drawn together on common
platform, aCtuated by common motives. ;"
and charges the Populists with fighting
over an empty name
Democracy established national banks.
champiCned chattel slavery, for 16 years
since the war has been in control of
both houses of congress and legislated
against the people, for eight years has
had the presidency and in 1893 destroyed
silver. The new and purified Democracy
at the Chicago convention through Bryan
introduced a direct legislation plank,
Cleveland Democracy turned it down.