The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-07-21
POPULISI PLANkS.
HOW THEY ARE WINNING AND HOLD
ING SUPPORTERS.

est Men In cbrnsI<n- SOruA of En-
enlargement From the National
Secretary of the Peoples Party.
Every reform cause has been ridi-
cnled. Populism is no exception to the
rule. But its principles are right, and
they are forcing their way to the front.
The great municipal ownership wave
sweeping over our cities comes from a
Populist principle, and that movement
will not end at municipal ownership,
but will go on until it reaches govern
ment ownership. The first party which
dared to take up the standard of silver
was the Populist party, and it forced
the Democrats to come into line. De-
mOcracy's magnificent leader, Bryan
and nobody loves and honors him more
than WAS educated in his political
faith by the Popnlists of Nebraska.
Here would pause to pay a tribute.
The Populists of Nebraskal For nine
long years they have stood 70, 600
strong, like an nnbroken phalanx. In
defeat OF victory they have remained
the same sturdy, united and determined
body cf men. Finally they won, and
their winning has blessed that state.
They have been peculiarly blessed in
leadership. The men whom they have
elevated to office have, with scarcely a
single exception, reflected honor and
credit upon their party. Among that
number are an Allen, a Holcomb, a Nc
keighan, a Van Wyck, a Greene. God
never made "A stancher, truer, sturdier
body Of men than the Populists of Ne
braska.
This is the old guard, educated by
the Farmers Alliance, seasoned by a
dozen campaigns, disciplined by de-
feat, sobered by victory, faithful and
unswerving. The result of that faith
fulness is shown by the fact that Ne
braska today is the only state in the
Union under Populist control.
Many Populists. and honest ones,
have regarded the fusion of 1896 as a
mistake. They are now coming to see
that it was the only logical thing to do.
That campaign advanced Populist prin.
ciples more than they could have been
advanced in any other way. Populist
SpNthSIS' WIZ Oub tSStu DCllOCldUlC
and silver Republican audiences, were
instructed to talk Populist principles,
and they did it. The result is that, in
addition to the 9, 900, 900 of our own
party who are supporting these prin-
ciples, we have 4, 600, 600 or ., 900, 900
more who are being permeated by
them. Mr.. Hearst's two papers, the
Now Np1ty Tpy,rro1 on1 tho Cav L,,,,,
cisco Examiner, have put at the head
of their editorial columns six planks,
which have been taken practically from
the Populist platform:
First. Public ownership of public
franchises. The values created by the
community should belong to the com
munity.
Second. -Destruction of criminal
trusts. No monopolization of the ma
tional resources by lawless private COM
binations more powerful than the peo-
pies government.
Third.-A graduated income tax.
Every citizen to contribute to the sup
port of the government according to his
means and not according to his necessi7
ties. \
Fourth. Election of senators by the
people. The senate, now becoming the
private property Of corporations and
bosses, to be made truly representative,
and the state legislatures to be redeem
ed from recurring scandals
Fifth.-National, state and munich
pal improvement of the public school
system. As the duties of citizenship are
both general and local, every govern
ment, general and local, should do its
share toward fitting every individual to
perform them.
Sixth.-Currency reform. All the ma
TONS money to be issued by the ma
tons government. and it's supply to be
regulated by the people and not by the
banks.
No; the Populist party has not been
injured. If it seems so, the appearance
is but due to shortness of vision. Its
principles We're never so far advancing
as they are today. and they are going
forward until they perform their mis-
sion, for they are right, and right in
the end will prevail. j. A. Edgerton.