The representative., 1898-05-25
A VOICE FROM THE PEOPLE,
Plain Man Speaks the Opinion OF
the Many.

A Plain Man Speaks the Opinion OF
the Many.
Florence, Mimi, May II, 1898.
Mr.. Editor
AS l send you pay for the paper and
some new subscribers, will say that l
have subscribed for eight Peoples Party
papers because 1 want to help the re-
form press and keep it alive; for l we'll
knew it represented the cause of the
people. But If the Peoples Party is
bound to kill itself, by fusing with the
Democrats, 1 am only going to support
one.
The Peoples Party has not gained a
man here since it fused with the Demo-
Gratis in 1896. If 1 ask a Democrat
that has got tired of his old party, to
come over and help the Peoples Party
the answer is always: mo! The Peo-
pies Party has and is going to come
over to our camp. So, have to stay
where 1 am
The same answer l am sure to get
from such Republicans as see the hum
bug in the Grand Old Party, they say:
"The Peoples Party has united with
the Democrats and the Democratic party
is more rotten than the Republican par
ty. So we shall stay where we are at
present"
On the other hand it looks as if the
fusionists will not give up until they
have fused every radical and fighting
for-principle Populist out of the party.
Then it will be with the Peoples Party.
as Christ said: eff the salt has lost it's
SAVIOR wherewith shall it be salted?"
Some will go to the Socialists, others
will be scattered and belong to no party.
They might be found amongst the lost
tribe OF Israel, as Weaver says In his de-
bate. But one thing is sure, the fusion
lists will be between the devil and the
deep sea, for all the argument the Re-
publicans have to use in 1900 will run
about like this: 1T is not long since
you had four years of Democratic rule
under Cleveland; how did you like it?
Do you want four more years like that ?'
This is enough to scare the majority.
All Populists that go under the Demo-
cratic banner will have to defend the sin
full record of the Democratic party: and
1t is blacker than hell And all those
one-eyed silver statesmen that say free
silver will cure everything, the people
will not believe any more in them in
l9oO, than we believe today in the patent
medicine advertisements that have been
tried and failed eight times out Of ten
1t takes more radical cure for this
country. To get well we must have the
greenback issued by the power of the
people, and not by the bankers 1t
should read on the front side, "a full le-
gal tender for all debts, public and pri-
vate,' and on the other side, receivable
for all taxes and dues to the govern
ment."
That is the kind of redemption the peo-
pie want. The government must run a
postal savings bank and own and run
telegraph and transportation systems.
The ownership of land is also misused;
a man should not own any more land
than he can work: and the referendum"
we must have, SO that the people can
rule themselves and not be sold out by
our representatives.
Those are the issues that will come up
before the people in 1900.
If it is impossible for the honest re-
formers in other parties to unite in the
Peoples Party with the same, principles
we want union for principles, and victory
but no fusion.
I shall never fight under the Demo-
cratic banner.
Yours for reform,
]. EDWIN HAMILTON.