The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-01-05
4 Strong Plea for Fusion.

Editor Representative:
l hope l can differ with the Repre-
sentative in it's middle-of-the-road ad-
vOcacy without mourning the hostility
of the able editor. No one knowing
Brother DOnnelly's ability as a satir-
list can be particularly DESTROYS of en-
tering an engagement with him, to be
exposed to the heavy broadside firing
at which this eminent man is an adept.
But the readers of his paper are invit-
ed to give their views either for or
against its le-of-the-road move
ment. In doing this if Populists do not
fearlessly utter their convictions re-
CARELESS of personal consequences they
are not true men, and not of class that
should have influence with other men.
1t has been matter of deep regret to
me that in the last half of this year
the middle-Of-the-road Populists have
raised the cry I'VE are sold out" THE
Peoples party is being swallowed"
There is somehow such a tinge of inf
deity if not of cowardice in llese
alarms as they strike me, that dissent
from their view of the case entirely.
Now 1 claim to be an out-spoken,
open and above board Populist at all
times. If it were necessary could east
ly furnish the certificate Of thousand
Republicans in Otter Tail county to
back this statement. l left the Repuh-
lican party four years ago, finding my
self wholly at variance with it's princi-
pies, and disguised with it's methods. 1
espoused the cause of Populism ard
since that time with me it has been
war to the knife and knife to the hilt
with the so-called G. o. P. This par
ty is our strong enemy in state and ma
ton, not in the sense that all men
in that party are individual enemies.
1t is to the task of putting that party
out of power and reform party into
power, that we as Populists should con-
Secrate ourselves. In answer to the
cries that the Populists are sold out"
or ''Swallowed," let me ask: Who swal-
lowed us? Who sold us out? For one
feel that it would be dangerous I'M
| dertaking for any political party on
earth to swallow me unless its NAV
could assimilate a strong alopathic
dose of Populism. Middle of-the- road
ers, did the national convention sell
you out at St. Louis in 1895? 1 was d
member of it. / deny that we did Ev-
cry state represented there with the
single exception of Texas, enthusiastic
ally Endorsed the candidacy of w J.
Bryan for president. Never can I feel
more proud of the Sage of Nininger
| than at the moment when he rose in
that convention and ratified it's choice
Of nominee. Has w. J. Bryan sold US
out? Never can you maintain an ar
gument that he has by any word or
deed of his up to date. He is simply
God given leader of the common
peoples cause, a fair Populist in 1896,
will be full-fedged in 1900, and l ask
| those who followed him to think twice
before they go to battle in small squads
under leaders which may in no way
compare with Mr.. Bryan. Six and a
half million electors LOYAL TO THE
CAUSE OF SELF-GOVERNMENT vot-
votes in few states would have elected
him. If all his followers did not in
| dorse quite all the principles Of the St.
| Louis platform let us be patient, and
M 1Ch mo Hly of writ c1o
the face. Let the leaven of Populism
! have a chance to work in the meal-the,
| people, and do not let the salt lose it's
SAVIOR 1t will be far better to exercise
patience with those who are inclined
our way than to accuse them of be-
traying us. Tell them over and over
again what POpulist principles are
Ask them if they believe in postal say
| ings banks. Explain what the initia-
| tive and referendum means to those
| who really believe in sef-government
! if municipal ownership is good, as ev-
erybOdy with sense comedies it is. Why
would not government ownership be
| better by overthrowing larger and more
| powerful monopolies. On the question
of being swallowed, let us have no
uneasiness about it, but remember the
words of him who was Truth itself:
whatsoever shall seek to gain his life
shall lose it, but whosoever shall lose
| his life shall preserve it." Who Will
swallow us, the Democrats? Let Inc
express the hope that the Bryan De-
mocracy may so advance its creed that
we may either swallow them or be
swallowed. To have matters just right
for the next battle, the G. o. P. should
swallow all gold Democrats and
if Bryan Democrats and Populists get
along so as to swallow the same politi-
cal creed, the country will be saved.
These Democrats and Populists work
very we'll together in congress. Vote
together as rule. l want to say right
here that if Bryan Democracy has not
awakened in 1898 or 1900 to the point
of giving a flat Endorsement of Popu-
list principles as laid down at Omaha
| and St. Louis, then they cannot hope
1 g. L