The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1900-09-01
I-lAnsEMs ApPEAL..

AASilN1sA tbh3sst t'S-feA - - =
Idaho. We do not reproduce it III
the hope, or with the desire, that it
will arouse Populists to sense of
their political duties The chances
are that Mr. Harsen's cry will be
answered by ridicule and Insult
from hundreds of men who pretend |
to be Populists. We publish Mr..
Hansen's letter because he has es-
pccially requested it and because in |
all this State, which six years ago
contained many Populists papers,
there is not now a Poputst paper
through which genuine Populist
can address Populists. In view of
the past history of the Populist
party in Idaho, there is something
profoundly pathetic in Hansen's APP
peal. It is like one crying in the
wilderness because they are not.
Just think of the situation A few
years ago the Popu1ist party was
organized on the theory that both
the old parties had degenerated
taken on the corruption of senil-
ity. The Populist was all there
was left of health and purity in the
politics of the country. His special
mission was to bury the decayed
old parties and erect over their sep
ulcher a party Of freedom and puri-
ty. why in those elder days." it
was better to be called a Populist
=, than an evangelist. But, heaven
help us, look at them now. Read
Johannes Hansen's melancholy ar
raignment. That tells the story
. and tells it truthfully. TIE Popu-
list party--the Populist men and
women--have become mere politi
cal chattles, the personal property
of q few schemers who trade and
swap them about like SO many cat
tie or sheep. Not in all political
history is there to be found paral-
lei. Never before did a free people
allow themselves to sink to so low
a depth. There is not a Populist
voter in this State who upon going
to bed at night can tell what sort
of a political dose will be rammed
down his throat next morning. At
this date, month and a half after
the State conventions have been
held and complete tickets put in
the field, there is not a Populist in
Idaho who can tell within 40 miles
n who he will be expected to vote
for. And this is reform! These
are the people who are going to re-
generate the country, and can't tell
20 hours ahead what they are, how
they are or where in thunder they
are going TO get off at, If these
few lines should ever meet the eye
of a Populist who is an honest, in,
telligent man, we would like tC
hear from him, because we have a
burning curiosity to learn some
thing of the internal workings Of
such d mind. The other day g
good and highminded fusion Popu
list told us that it was anything tc
down the Republicans. That was
the sole aspiration of his politica
D. dream. He didn't care a cont
mental what happened after that
We wonder if all Populists are ami
mated by that noble passion
Think of what they are willing tc
come to in order to crafty it. They
are willing to support a party
which four years ago said: Pop
ullsts happen to be associated with
misrule, reputation and lawIess
ness, and patriotic citizens who
have the future of our State al
heart, cannot afford to notify the
world that such people are stuff
GENTLY dominant in this State tt
entitle them to recognition" Pos
sibly political reform requires mer
81 and women TO become the abjec
tools of those who hate, fear ant
deride them. Possibly it does, bu
we hate to think SO.
FUSION POSTPONED.