The Advocate and news., 1899-02-22
Nor ANY FUSION IN OURS.

NOE ANK FUSION IN OUhS'
A number OF readers Of the Advocate
and News have written asking the atti-
tude Of the paper on the question Of fu-
sion in Kansas in 1900; since fusion, be-
tween the political managers Of the
Democratic and Populist parties at least,
seems to be assured. The attitude OF the
Advocate and News has already been
plainly stated, both in the columns Of the
paper and at the opening Of the last
campaign to the Populist State commit
tee, as far as the present editor is con-
cerned. A refOrmer or revolutionist very
rarely has power to announce the exact
course of any others than himself. The
statement Of this paper that the cam
paign of 1898 saw the end Of fusion was
no exception to this rule. 1t does see
the end Of fusion as far as the Advocate
anw News is concerned, and, we believe,
as far as a great many Individual POpu-
lists, especially farmers, are involved,
If the expressions Of opinions that come
to this Office mean anything. But that fu-
sion will be made for 1900 and that 1t
will win out in Kansas seems very plain.
But this fusion will not secure the best
permanent results nor will 1t be built
upon foundation that is solid. Fusion
is really a bargain for Office-otherwise
there would be amalgamation-and 1t
will be to get into power, not to spread
and establish IDEAS that the POpulist and
Democratic managers will come together
for the coming campaign. Good things
may and no doubt will come out Of this,
just as they do come to some extent from
all political parties, but it will be with
great difficulty because the real spirit will
be supplanted by one appealing to the
selfish interest.
If the Peoples party had kept on un-
comprOmisingly, found its ultimate pur-
pose and never wavered from the fulfill
ing of it, in time it would become the
leading party Of the country. But allur-
ing by-ways have drawn it out of the
path of progress, and the advance must
be lead by some uncomprOmising cham
pion.
Where the Old-time POpulists will go
is still a matter for conjecture. Most Of
them are conscious Socialists, and the
Socialist party will undoubtedly catch
many; we believe that it is destined to
take up the work from which the siren
has attracted POpulism. They are all in
favor Of direct legislation, and the new
Union Reform party, of which we made
mention a few weeks ago, will attract
number. The writer has heard a num-
ber declare that rather than vote the fu
sion ticket they will vote for Republican
candidates, but most of this class will
stay at home, for the conditions which
drove them out Of the Republican party
are more aggravated than before.
The editor of the Advocate and News
does not wish to be taken as setting up
the Peoples party as absolutely vile and
wicked and the only political target In
the world The policy under the party
name is not his, and as he is not mere
destructiveist he does not intend to do
the Costigan act If anything for the
permanent good of the State can spring
from fusion we shall be glad to see it,
but until it is OF record we shall be skep-
tical and refuse to compromise with error
in the name of truth.
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THE aNATON SOTTTVON OE THE TRUSv