The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-04-05

late day can hope to do.
Those we refer to as the most danger
GUS enemies Of Populism because hidden
in the disguise of friends are those with
in and without the Democratic party
working to incorporate the Peoples par
ty in the Democratic by waving for a
time yet the banners OF Populism and
proclaiming part OF the principles of Pop
ulism to be acceptable to the Democratic
party, even as in 1896. But to take part
of the principles of Populism is to take
all. They cannot be taken in part, for
the one great and indissoluble principle
of government of, by and for the peo-
pie Therefore it was that many thought
that when the Democratic party took a
list principles in 1896, it would end up
by taking them ALL But it has ended by
an attempt to take the party without its
principles. And now Populists who were
drawn into fusion see that the Demo-
cratic leaders made play with the prin-
ciples of Populism to gain their votes,
they see that the play is now being con-
tinued to hold their votes. They see that
the Democratic party stands for coin re-
demption money, and though not for a
natiC nal bank currency, state bank cur-
renry, even more Objectionable; they see
that it stand by railroad determinations,
| nd
ment ownership; they see that it stands
by trusts and monopolies and the prin-
oiple CT taxing men in proportion to their
needs, not in proportion to their means;
they see that while Haunting on its BAN
ne,s the principles OF equality it stands
by such preferences and determinations
as destroy all equality of opportunity
eao to the uprearing of trusts and mo-
nope lies and the undermining OF popular
government. And so Populists draw
away from the Democracy that is false
to its name and, as they draw away,
Democracy looks more and more to Wall
St trusts, the combines, the large contrib
utors to campaign funds for its inspira-
ton. In short, it gets its inspiration
more and more, and just as in 1892, from
the same fountain head as. the Republi-
can party And under such circum-
stances how can the two parties help
standing for the same corrupting force
in pclitics-not indeed outwardly, that
would never do but actually?
AS giving point to what we have just
said we here mention some declarations
OF Michigan Populists in recent state
convention. To this convention went
several Populists who we're leading fu
sionists in 1896. The offices to be filled
by state election, and for which the con-
vention was called to make nominations,
are few and Of quite minor Importance.
But the significant work of the conven-
ton lay, not in the making of the nom
nations, but in the party declaration.
The reunited Peoples party of Mich
igan, in state convention assembled, at
Lansing, on March 7, $780," runs this
declaration, "reafirming Our devotion to
the cardinal principles of reform declared
at Omaha and perpetuated in subsequent
national and state conventions of Our par
ty, declare the reunion this day made
to be perpetual and further cooperation
of distinct organizations impracticable.
To this end we have been forced by the
Democratic party. Upon its leaders alone
the odium, if any, must rest. With hearts
| 1oI ov,I
burning with the sole desire to see our
people uplfted and their heritage re-
stored to them, we entered the political
alliance of 1896 with the Democratic par
ty. We then placed reliance on their
protestations of reform, and the sincerity
OF their condemnation Of Clevelandism
and the faction OF gold Democrats who
repudiated the Chicago platform, and we
hoped that throught a touch OF elbows
and community OF sentiment the new
democracy could be kept on reforma
tory course, and be led eventually to
adopt all of the tenets OF Populism.
Most OF us we're even ready this year
to renew the alliance of 1896 as we have
done in the past but the Democratic
party managers assume now to believe
that the members of the union silver and
Populist organizations that maintained
cooperation, are converted to the doc
trnes OF the Chicago platform-redemp-
ton money and also thoroughly that
they can be induced to readily abandon
their respective organizations and bodily
enter the Democratic ranks.
These leaders have mistaken patriot
ism for conversion. The Populists Of
Michigan who maintained the policy Of
cooperation have not abandoned the
Omaha platform for the one constructed
at Chicago, and they are not willing nor
ready to abandon the Peoples party just
when the two wings of democracy, the
gold and silver wings-are attempting to
unite to the body, and bear it away to
the cool and restful shades of plutocracy,
as was done when the greenback party
was absorbed by an alleged reform de-
4 mocracy."
SO spoke the Michigan Populists in