The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-02
How a Populiet Sees It.

To the Editor of the State Journal:
VIII you permit me take some space
to consider a recent event that has
caused considerable comment in politi-
cal circles.
1 refer to the statement that ex-
United States Senator PETER has gone,
it is claimed, back to the Republican
party. 1 also see it stated that in max
ing this change he has not taken one
POpulist vote with him. AS to whether
or not this latter statement is true or
false, depends very much upon the
truth or falsity of the causes which he
claims led him to change his political
base.
Let US look at some of the statements
he offers as a plea of justification for
his new attitude.
First he says he always was a Re
publican. In going into the POpulist
party he was not called upon nor ex-
pected to surrender solitary prin-
ciple of Lincoln Republicanism, but
was expected to stand Squarely by the
principles upon which that party was
founded. He further states that the
simon pure Alliance man who left the
Republican party was never headed for
the Democracy, and is not now II
the Democracy is headed for Wall
street as supporters of the methods of
the money power, then Mr.. PETER is en-
shall see later on. And if the Democracy
is headed for Wall street, the Populist
party will not line up in that direction
worth one farthing.
But Mr.. PETER also claims that upon
one main question (the money question:
he was not Republican. That he says
seems to have settled itself apparently
now.
Just here it will be proper to ask Mr..
PETER how, when. and where. has the
money question been settled? And if
settled, has it been settled in harmony
with the demands of the old Alliance,
the POpulist party or the Republican
party upon the discovery of the de-
monetization of silver in 1873? Has the
ariVN Io1 in i0h orr
back currency was born been remedied,
and the endless chain attachment added
to it by legislation later on been cor
rected, or has the operation OF ats per
petuaI motion of putting the money in
at the front door of the treasury and
out at the back door to drain it of the
gold been temporarily suspended while
another steal is going on, and which
just now claims the attention of the
shrewdest rOgues in the enterprise? But
still one more question: Mr.. PETER
states that he has no sympathy for the
Democratic party. But in 1896 he play
ed Fopulist, knowing well that the Pop
ulist party would cast its vote for Mr..
Bryan, the national Democratic candi-
date for president. Did Mr.. PETER vote
with the Populists with whom he was
lined up? And if so, where was his
sympathy if not with the success of Mr..
Bryan? Or did he profess to sympathize
with the Democratic presidential can
didate and vote for some one else? If
so, then the legislature performed
But he seems to favor expansion. Let
US inquire Is it the publicly declared
policy of the Republican party to favor
expansion by conquest. or do they still
maintain that the acquisition of territory
is to be considered when the people of
a country a. their own solicitation ask
to be admitted, and not otherwise, as
has always been the policy of this gov
eminent, except in such cases as the
Louisiana purchase, or the territory
acquired as a war indemnify from Mex
leo? In neither of which were the peo-
pie seriously opposed to the deal. In the
case of Texas the people were willing to
be annexed. But Mexico refused to
recognize what was claimed by Texas
and this country as the boundary line.
In the case of the Philippine Islands
the conditions are entirely different;
$40, 900, 600 of fool money was paid to
Islands, when she had already been
whipped beyond the power of further
resistance. Nothing was necessary but
to tell her to get out and to stay out.
These terms she would have accepted,
5 she could not have done otherwise,
and we would have been $40, 600 600 bet
ter off at that time. Then if I am not
seriously mistaken. to have put that
country under the projection of our
a government of their own liking would
have ended the war then and there.
And as to the matter of annexation it
should be left matter to be agreed
to by the people of that country as well
as our own government, and 1 do hope
that this latter plan may be the one to
be finally adopted. / do not understand
that our government has fully and
formally declared in favor Of the an