The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-09-14

beats down their wages; hreling standing
army, unrecognized by our laws, is estab-
lished to shoot them down, and they are
rapidly degenerating into European condi-
tons. The fruits of the toll of millions are
boldly stolen to build up colossal fortunes,
unprecedented in the history of mankind,
and the possessors of these in turn de-
spise the republic and endanger liberty.
From the same prolific womb of govern
mental injustice we breed two great classes
-tramps and millionaires.''
They denounced BOTH the old parties, as
equally responsible for the terrible condi-
ton of the people. The platform said:
Eve have witnessed for more than a quar-
ter of a century the struggles of the great
parties for power and plumber, while griev-
GUS wrongs have been inflicted upon a suf-
fering people. We charge that the control
ling Influences, dominating both these par
ties, have permitted the existing dreadful
conditions to develop without serious eff
forts to prevent or restrain them. Neither
do they promise us any substantial reform.
They have agreed to ignore in the coming
campaign every issue but one. They pro-
pose to drown the outcries of plundered
people with the uproar of a sham battle
over the tariff, that capitalists, corpora
tions, national banks, rings, trusts, watered
stocks, the decentralization of silver and the
oppression Of the usurers may all be lost
sight Of. They propose to sacrifice our
homes and children on the altar of Man,
cure corruption funds from the million
aires
Upon this platform with its familiar con-
Guiding demands, we went before the peo-
pie, and, after four months campaign, we
pOlled 1055, 424 votes and carried four states
and partially two more; receiving altogeth-
er % electoral votes. The Democrats won in
the contest and elected Grover Cleveland
president by 277 electoral votes, against 145
for Benjamin Harrison. In the campaign
tie" over the tariff and studiously ignored
the great issues raised by the Peoples
Party.
In 1893 the Omaha platform received strik-
Ing confederation from the terrible panic
which fell upon the country, sweeping away
banks and business, and plunging millions
Into bankruptcy. Mr.. Cevelands panacea of
free trade did not relieve the sufferings of
the people, In the elections of 1894 the
Democratic party was generally repudiated
and it became apparent that that venera
BILE organization must find new issues or be
borne to its everlasting resting place. There
did not seem to be state it was certain to
carry in 1896.
The Peoples Party vote in 1894 and 1895
rose to nearly two millions, and everything
indicated its speedy national triumph.
In this emergency the Democratic party
saw that 1t had no resource but to steal
one of the principles of the despised Popu-
lists; and after having persistently opposed
the reconciliation of silver, in congress,
and defeating a dozen bills looking to that
end, it changed front in the twinkling Of
an eye, and In the Chicago convention of
1896, in prearranged theatrical scene of
great uproar and enthusiasm, moved to the
front as the devoted and lifelong champion
.. Of that which it had always opposed.
Having stolen one Of the principles of our
PLATFORM, it became necessary to steal our
votes and break up our organization. Hence
when the Peoples party national convention
met, tremendous pressure was brought to
bear upon it to do what political party
had ever done before in the history Of our
country. to-wit. to nominate the candidate
of another party for president, and stop in
mid-career of its own tremendous growth
and tie itself to the doubtful fortunes and
| still more doubtful sincerity of a rival or
gan1ZatlOn
In vain it was urged upon the convention
| that If we maintained separate exist
| ence and nominated own candidates, we
could still unite with any other party in
| support of a joint electoral t.c.,el III every
state.
! If this plan had been adopted, the Repub-
lIcan party would surely have been de-
F, feated; but Democracy insisted that the
] battle must be won under their banner.
| Hence our noble candidate for vice-presi-
dent was ostracized and pushed aside, in
| behalf Of man whose every principle was
! in fundamental antagonsm to the creed of
| our party: and our organization. with its %
| electoral votes and nearly 1000 000 voters,
J was ignored and spit upon. Our nomination
| was thrown back in our faces by tele-
| gram from the gentleman we had nomi-
| mated The telegram of declnation was
| suppressed by those who had betrayed us
but votes were carefully exploited in
I! the election which followed
| BY an extraordinary calamity a gentleman