The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1900-12-27

(From the Populist Journal.)
In another column we give space to
an editorial from The Caucausian, Of
Raleigh, N c., Senator Buffers paper.
Senator Butler now admits that he was
mistaken in what he maintained in 1896.
then he claimed that, nationally, the
Democratic party would help us fight the
battle for the people; now he says: "The
Peoples party will have to continue to
fight the peoples political battles" We
very we'll remember telling Senator But
Ter at st. Louis in January, 1896, when
we met in national committee, to set the
time for the national convention, that
the Peoples party alone would have to
fight the political battle for the free
dom of the producer. We repeatedly
told him the same thing when the time
came on for the national convention.
pondence, we often urged the same
thought. The senator was equally
persistent that it would be the DEM
ocratic party that would be true to us.
Again, we then and there told him
over and often that the masses of this
country neither could nor would have
any confidence in the protestations Of
the Democratic party. Now Senator
Butler says: THE masses will have
no faith in Democratic professions.
Their acts do not tally with their protes
tations. There are too many false and
discordant elements in the Democratic
party to win in political contest" We
are heartily glad that the senator sees
this now, but why was he so blind IN
one more discordant element in that
party since 1896 than was in it prior to
that date, and that is the fusion element
of the Populist party. Did the senator
believe that the addition of one discord-
ant element would bring concord into
the Democratic party? Why, why were
men so blind? Here are at the very
least four years lost entirely to reform,
and Senators Butler and Allen are more
to blame for this than any other two
men. Further still, by our association
with them the people have, to a very
great extent, lost all confidence in us.
This is the worst feature of all. In 1894
we cast very large vote, and everybody
looked forward to the time when we
should rule this country. Plutocracy
trembled at our advance. The world
stood uncovered in the awe of admira
ton at the wonderful uprising of the
masses under our banner. The Mid
readers saw the results of fusion then,
the fusionists see it now. Since now
we all see it alike, we beg, in the sac
red name of home and country that all
unite on the old lines laid down at
Omaha and re-rttered at Cincinnati.
Drop Bryan, if need be-and we tn1nA
1t must be-and 60 on to victory. Men
are nothing in this; principles are all
things. What is Mr.. Bryan? Surely
not a god, but merely a man. There
are others. AS good men walk between
the pillow handles or WELD a hammer
pick in the mines, as ever was Mr..
Bryan. Remember that Lincoln was
a mere ''Hoosier," that Grant was only
a tanner that Garfield was mule driv-
,rl,k
saw Lincoln plotting flatboat down the
river that at some near future day the
destiny of this nation would repOse in
safety in his hands? All men are equal,
and development and trial is all that
elevates one above another. Let Sen
ator Butler now drop his fetish worship
of Mr. Bryan and get down to good, hard
work for reunited Peoples party, and
the man will arise to lead us. He is al
ways ready when we are. This faction
of our party is perfectly glad to meet
his faction and bury the past with its
mistakes, and turn our eyes to the most
glorious future.
All we ask is that men shall be as
nothing and principles and measures
shall assume their rightful place as
everything. We dare not compromise
for compromise is always wrong. We
are ready to clasp hands anywhere out
side of the Democratic party, but we
will not join that old fossil, ,"for that
party permits it's traitors to take too
prominent part in is political manage
ment'