The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-05-25
BROKEN-BACKED LOGIC.

The st. Paul Globe, the leading
Democratic organ of this state, has this
to say anent the action taken at Kansas
City on May 16-18:
The midroad Populist represent a type of
political activity which surpasses the under
standing of all the rest Of creation. Taking
the middle of the road usually results in
the blocking of traffic. unless the road is
wide or the obstruction is dtched. Whether
through the insignificance of the obstruction
or the width OF the road the political process
sion has recently passed the mid-road band
wagon by without any serious embarrass-
ment. Now. however, since Messrs. Whar-
ton Barker and Ignatius DOnnelly were not
found to embody all the considerations of
presidential availability by their political
brethren, it is proposed to leave the middle
OF the road and take place in the regular
Populist procession.
This would, indeed, be a commendable
procedure, we're it not attended by condi-
lions and limitations which render it's ex-
pediency doubtful. When one traveller vol
unteers to keep another company for any
length OF time, the presumption is that he
finds the company acceptable. Not so the
mid-road POpulist. He says to his fellow
voyager: IF you will travel just at my rate
of speed and submit yourself entirely to my
guidance. l will keep you company. But
If you fail to do as direct you to do l will
not only leave your company, but 1 will
throw my entire caravan in front of you
and In every way possible hamper and pre-
vent your progress.
This Is the only form of political partner
ship which these amiable persons will toler-
ate. They will agree to go into a political
convention, provided that convention and
the delegates chosen to it agree to obey
their direction. If they fail, then these DO
litical pariahs will bolt and pursue their
n ~
lists of the country are willing to accept
political fellowship on these lines, they are
to be regarded as indeed of so meek and
lowly spirit that the Biblican Injunction
when smtten on one cheek to turn the
other conveys no true idea of their submis-
siveness
Applying the philosophy of the mid-road-
ers to the political concerns of the balance
OF the citizens of the United States what a
glorious spectacle would be presented This
is OF the very essence of the minority rule
And il the minority were not sufficiently
small it would have to be reduced to the
most attenuated proportion possible consist
ent with its existence. Thus do we see the
tmperialist doctrine of One-man power
brought into full effectuation, albeit by an
entirely original even il somewhat tedious
process.
The Peoples party was started in 1892
on a declaration of principles setting
forth that both the old parties" had
labored jointly to ruin the country, and
for this proposition we polled, in that
year, over one million votes, and in 1894
we swelled that vote to nearly two
million.
But in 1896 lot of office-seekers sold
the party out to the Democracy-one of
the old parties which the new party had
been formed to fight; and they are now
scheming and plotting to do it again in
1900.
Is it wrong, therefore, for those who
believe in the platform of 1892 to re-
fuse to be transferred, like flock of
sheep, to another and totally distinct
party?
Suppose gang of Democrats, for
personal profit, undertook to turn the
Democratic party in Minnesota over to
the Republicans, and had gotten con-
troll of the organization for that end,
would the editor of the Globe submit?
Would he swap away the convictions of
lifetime to enable few scalawags to
get fat places from the G. o. P? And
il he insisted that the Democratic party
should adhere to Democratic principles,
could he be justly charged with being
"bolter?" Would it not be the duty of
every honest Democrat to "bolt" such a
game? Would not the man who took
any other course be a bastard and
craven?
Come, Mr.. Globe, answer that ques-
ton! I'D.