The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-19
| PETER BOLTS poPuLISTS.
GETTING a BROADER IDEA OF WHAT
dNERTCANISM MEANS, HE SAYS.

Returns to the Republican party-Demo-
cratic Party Hns Largely Absorbed the
Populists Nationnlly-The 10 to 1 Issue
Dend-The War Has NRtionaiiEed Us
Our Cause in the Philippines just.
TOPEKA. Kan. May lS.-Kansas was treated
to q political sensation to-day when former
United States Senator PETER left the Populists
and returned TO the Republican party. He
assigns several reasons for this change. The
apparent settlement Of many OF the questions
which were the cause Of the organization OF
the Populist party: tho fact that the Demo-
cratic party has largely absorbed the Populists.
nationally. and the dissolution OF many OF the
dangers which threatened tho nation during
the bard times OF the early %nineties have all
contributed to the change in his political atti-
tude.
II have always been n Republican he told a
reporter for THE Sun to-day. Except on one
main questionable money question. That
seems to have settled itself. The ropulist party
has been eliminated nationally by tho Demo-
Gratis. so those OF us who don't want to flock by
ourselves will have to vote for our convictions
as best we can. The old Simon Pure Alliance
man who left tho Republican party never was
headed for the Democracy. and he Ia not now.
The Middle-o'-the- Readers are having n little
pow-wow at Kansas City Just now. but moth
Ing will come Of It, They have nominated
Wharton Barker for President in 1900. but
that won't amount to anything"
In speaking Of the qucstlons which gave rise
to the Populist party and Of their settlement.
Senator PETER said Along In the fore part OF
the eighties Kansas was moving lively. We
built many railroads and tho country became
rapidly settled. Many improvements Of all
sorts were made and the State was at the high
est notch OF prosperity. Then came the hard
At~Naa Art ~ 40 -r, H. "a -.
Of everything. Many of us honestly thought
there was danger ahead. l really dreaded
what was coming at ono time. The masses
were disc ontented. and we were afraid
something might happen, some strike
or riot or something Of the sort.
to cause n general breaking out Of the smoul-
dering discomfort. But through our great crops
at home and the crop failures abroad and our
late war we are apparently coming out all right.
The war has nationalized us. 1t has allowed
the people to work Off their surplus steam. We
are all getting q broader Wow Of what Amer
icanism means. Thu labor question Is settling
itself. and you don't hear anything more about
IL to !. People won't listen to 10 to l now any
more than they will to a discussion OF the
tariff. And some Of those old-tIme free-traders
Of the South are really advocating n mild tariff
on some things now"
Senator PETER Is an ardent believer in the
justice OF the Philippine war. He believes the
United States owes IL to tho inhabitants OF the
Philippines to restore peace there and to put
down the insurrection which is now in prog
ress. He thinks the islands were providen-
TALLY placed in the care Of the American people
to insure liberty and safety to all classes. But
he does not believe there ought to be any
politics in 1t. He does not think the question
Of expansion should be made a partisan Issue
at all. He says:
"AGuinaldo is simply a disturber and a
rioter. and we cannot treat with him until he
Is suppressed. l think our Government is act
ing wisely. and the sooner we get the disturb
ance quellod the better. / cannot help looking
upon the fellows here at home who are raising
such a hubub as copperheads. Idon't want to
be unchristian. but l don't like the way they
talk. l don't agree with the cry that we. as
Americans. ought not to govern without the
consent Of the governed. We have no such
national policy. and mover had. In our whole
history we have acted on the theory OF our
right to possess this continent"
Senator Pefrcr's bolt will greatly demoralize
the Populist forces in Kansas and the West.