The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-10-05
NOT ON THE FENCE

NOT ON THE FENCE
come now, Brother Lowe, get off thu
fence and help hoe the corn Let's quit thi.
unwarranted and unreasonable wranglins
ABOUT the return of the prodigals. Let then
| come They are but a fraction of our pres.
| ent 1orce-the tail can't wag the dog. Wher
| tney went. you said they should have known
| Oetter, and damned them. Now they have
learned better and are coming back, YOU
damn them for what? What do YOU want
| anyhow?-Winona Leader
we nave never been on the fence and
nave always hoed corn. Neither are we
wrangling; simply pointing out facts to
show that the tail does sometimes wag the
dog. You are familiar with the fact that
every Democratic congressman elected one
year ago, east of Ohio, is a rank goldbug.
and that thousands Of the voters who voted
Tor these men voted for Bryan in 1896. and
these gold men will do for the party lust
what Democratic protective tariff men did
Tor the Democratic congress, when thew the
democrats, were forced to swallow the in
come tax, nauseous dose of Populism in
order to get quorum when they had over
100 majority in the house, Oh, YES. some
times 1.-The tail does wag the dog" Thew
nave not learned better but thew have
sense enough to know that with Republic
can senate, no monetary legislation from a
democratic standpoint can get through
congress, even though Bryan occupies the
White House. Hence they can we'll afford
to fall into line, for by so doing they have a
chance to win positions, without endanger-
Ing the gold-standard policy of the govern
ment.
The Democratic party has ALWAYS been =
policy party. mighty good at making prom
fses when out of power, but utterly incapa-
Bile OF fu!hllment when in. Brother get off
the fence and make a fight for pure Popu-
lism, and you will either soon see the party
grow into large proportions or you will see
enacted into law the things the Peoples
party demand.
The foregoing, from the Faribault
Jeffersonian, points a few morals that
should be frequently and deeply i'm
pressed upon the minds of every hon.
est reformer
During the campaign of 1896 trades
and political dickers were made by the
Democrats throughout the East where
by gold Democrats pledged themselves
to vote for Bryan, or at least to not vote
against him provided they should be al
lowed to name congressman from their
districts.
AS is we'll known, this came near
electing Bryan, but the most important
packed congress with gold Democrats.
The same policy was pursued in many
Western districts and even Bland of
Missouri was temporarily retired. In
1893 elections the same tactics were
pursued and the money power still con-
tinues to elect Democratic congressman.
Is it strange that now moneyed Dem
ocrats are willing that Bryan should be
president?
Pluto Republicans control the senate
and the Democratic side of the house is
also plutocratic, and Bryan says that
kind of an outfit will put rings in hogs
noses. Don't you believe it. There |
are now too many hogs in congress for
rings to do any good.
The pegs are set for another Grover |
Cleveland administrations In 1892 a
Democratic congress was disposed to do |
right and old Grover played hog. In
1900 Bryan will be disposed to give the
people relief and a Democratic con-
zress will play hog.
II Bryan should be elected in 1900
his position as driver of the Demo-
cratic herd would bring him and his
present supporters much valuable ex-
oerience.
We are reminded of laughable incl
lent OF our boyhood that occurred
among the hills of old Vermont.
An uncle of ours, tall. gaunt long
lrmed, muscular Yankee, had purchas-
ID at farmers auction sale seven
arge porkers and we were attempting
o drive them to his home. The road
ed up long, steep hill. The weather
vas hot, the large hogs were heavy and
'rogress was slow. We had coaxed and
'rodded and driven the herd perhaps a
uarter of mile up the hill when one
Ia hog showed unmistakable char
cteristicts OF his species. He was de-
to right-about face and 20
Jack down the hill. Three or four
ines we whacked his nose and thrash
him into line only to have him make
mother more determined effort to pass
8 and return. Finally uncle hit upon
new scheme for driving that particu-
ar hog. 1t was scheme that promised
, be about as successful as Brvan's
[nging hogs noses.
The next time that hog reversed ON {
8, uncle seized the long, curly tail Of !
ne brute, gave 1t one or two twists t
round his hand, and then began a race ,,
etween the two ends Of that hog to I
70 which end should reach the foot If l
10 NIL first. The race was
Dt and spirited and resulted IN t