Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-09-12
The Middle 81 the Road Popullsts.

The next national election is still!
some so months in the future, but Que
old friends, the Middle of the Road
Popufists. have vigorously grasped
time by the forelock. They held their
national convention at Cincinnati, last
week, nominated Barker and Donnelly
as their ticket for 1900, solemnly de-
clared for paper money, and, in gem
eraL had high old time OF the long
wEdskered sort. Perhaps the Middle
of-the- Readers" thought they had bet
ter have their convention now as there
might not be any of them left in 1900.
As matter of fact it was the smalles.
national political gathering of the sort
ever. seen in this country, but It's
declaration Of principles was as long
as its list of delegates was short. 1t
wasted more than 1000 words in view
ing with ALARM "denouncing'' and
"arraigning'' almost everybody and
everything. and wound up with this
fine rhetorical outburst:
"Our chief battle is against the
claiming of the worlds progress to the
car wheels of prehistoric supersti-
ton in the shape of both metals. The
whole world today is held in check by
system Of gold barter while enter
prise languishes. industry suffers and
the cemeteries are populOus with the
bodies of hankrupts and suicides. We
will end the tricks of the office seekers
by putting our national ticket in the
field at once. We believe the soul Is
bigger than the pocketbook. We in
sist that the best currency this country
ever possessed was the full legal tender
greenback of the Civil War. And We
look forward with hope to the day
when gold shall be relegated to the dis
eased teeth OF the people, and the hu-
man family possess. free of tribute to
bankers, a governmental. full legal
tender measure of value, made Of pa
per, that will expand side by side with
the growth of wealth and population"
The candidates nominated deserve
word at this point. By curious CO.
incidence both are natives of Phila-
delphia. Wharton Barker is wealthy
banker and capitalist of that city. and
his recent conversion to the cause of
greenbackism is attributed to various
causes. Ignatius Donnelly has of late
years resided in Nininger, Minnesota,
and is professional sage. He is
specially famed for his attacks on the
memory of one William Shakespeare
and for having married his pretty
stenographer. In his vocal organs the
perpetual motion people find the
strongest proofs OF their theories. AS
an eight-day talking machine he has
but one rival. and he halls from Lin
coin, Nebraska. Just now this rival is
not in working order.
Both Mr.. Barker and Mr.. Donnelly
We're at on time Republicans, though
the latter has been wandering around
outside the fold for 80 years. In the
last presidential campaign both condi-
dates gave their support to Mr. Bryan.
although he did not represent the SEN
timents of either one of them on the
currency. They accepted the silver
issue merely as a means to an end
which with them is greenbackism.
But the political vagaries of the bank
err and sage Were not confined to
or ho oil -
wild theories of government, which
have been more or less exploited by
bearded and sockless statesmen with
more imagination than judgment.
After the overwhelming defeat of Mr..
Bryan they determined to go 1t alone
the next time and incorporate in their
platform all the principal features of
state socialism. In order to do this
they had to overcome the fusion ela-
ment in their party led by Senator
Marion Butler of North Carolina The
two factions clashed at Cincinnati, las;
week. and the fusionists bolted the
convention. At the proper time they
will be absorbed in all probability By
the Bryanites, just as the Populists alb
sorbed the Democratic party at Chi
cago in 1896. The only practical bear
ing which the nominations OF Banker
Barker and Sage Donnelly will have on
the campaign will be. to divide 2Sthe
forces arrayed against a sound cur
rency. For this reason the MiddIe-of-
the Road Populists deserve the con-
gratulations Of all friends of honest
money. The indications now are for
three national tickets, with platforms
declaring in favor Of greenbacks, silver
and gold respectively. And the last
shall be first and the first shall be
last
Tho Rnn,,h1fno,, candidates n~n