The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-02-22
KILLING THE PEOPLES PARTY.


zation to take it's place
In March they are to hold a conven-
ton in Cincinnati, to form a union of
all elements opposed to the two old par
ties, upon the platform Of the initiative
and referendum, without any other prin-
ciples.
OF course the Democratic party has
already, in many of it's state conven-
tons, expressed itself in favor of those
reforms. Mr.. Bryan made a speech in
favor of them at the Chicago convention
In 1896, and it is very probable that the
Republicans, in their national conven-
ton of 1900, will say something squint-
ing in the same direction. The initiative
and referendum are not strictly political
principles, but very laudable and praise
worthy propositions to improve the
method of government; but after the
people have got possession of the gov
eminent through the initiative and ref
erendum, they must then have some
clearly defined principles upon which the
government is to be administered, or the
initiative and referendum will amount to
nothing.
We regard this movement, therefore,
as simply a scheme of the fusionists,
backed by plutocrats, to consign the
Peoples party to the political grave
yard
Then we have another meeting to Gre
ate another new party, to be held at
Buffalo, N. Y, from June % to July 8,
1899. This call is put forth by Mr.. Eli
weed Poneroy. of Newark, N. j., presi-
but who, if our memory serves us right,
has denied that he is a Populist or an
advocate of free silver The call is fol-
lowed by long list of names of prOmi-
nent people of all parties. We doubt if
any Of these have been consulted in the
matter or would assist in the formation
of a new party.
The first name which appears on this
list, and who therefore may be regarded
as the father of the movement, is Hon.
Hazen S. Pingree, governor of Michigan,
a gentleman who advocates anti-Repub-
lican reforms and sticks to the Republi-
can party, and is stealing the livery of
heaven to serve the devil in" If any
one supposes that he is going to desert
the Republican party and set forth on a
sea of uncertainty in the small craft of
a new party, he will be wofully mis-
taken.
Then we have such nominal Populists
as Senator Allen, of Nebraska; Congress-
man Mcclure, of California; Marion
Butler, of North Carolina; S. NJ Owen
of Minneapolis Hon. Jerry Simpson, of
Kansas, etc. We also have such promi-
of Illinois, mixed in with Republicans
like Rev. Lyman Abbott, Booker T..
Washington (the colored leader), VIM
Dean Howells, ETC., etc.
Nothing but divine power can weld
together such discordant elements into
one homogeneous whole. Gov. Pingree
might be willing to take a nomination
from this incongruous gathering, with
the hope that he could use it as club
to force the Republican national conven-
ton in 1900 to nominate him. S. NJ
Owen would probably make them a
speech, in which he would announce his
grand principle that 1--WE all think alike
and It is no matter under what banner
we march" Senator Allen will soon be
out of job, and will be ready to pick
up any unconsidered trife that may be
lying around loose.
The whole thing, in our humble judg-
ment, is simply an attempt on the part
of the leaders behind the scenes, to dis
tract attention from the Peoples party,
and scatter the forces of reform to the
four winds Of heaven.
For our part, we joined the Peoples
party in 1891 in good faith; we still be-
lieve in it; as long as there is a plank
of it afioat we vt,i stand by it; when it
is utterly dissolved we shall withdraw
from public life forever. We don't
think great movement that once polled
nearly 100000 votes should be whitfield
around, and pulled hither and thither to
please a few scheming politicians and
Adventures.
The men who are at the head of such
movements generally amount to very
little personally; they cannot control
probably dozen votes, but they are full
Of tireless schemes to drag prominent
men into seeming support of something
which they take no real stock in, in the
hope that in the meantime they may de-
moralize honest men who are trying to
do some good.
If the Peoples party had at any time
been placed in power in the nation, and
had proved itself unfit to govern, it
might be all right to dissolve it en-
masse; but while other organizations
are striving to steal our principles, and
every day confirms the wisdom of our
opinions, we denounce all such at
tempts to fuse us into an incongruous
mass as altogether unreasonable and I'M
wise.
Stand by the Peoples party through
thick and thin, through life and DEATH
We cannot win by dividing I'm and