The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1900-06-28

LOUisvILLE. ~. Ans. +, HOO o.
eial call ter : oenvsatisn . asninat,
: candidate for sewerage.
,aa ~ s.-------- = .ss-.4s.- sss
Never before in the history OF Ken
tachy have her citizens been called up
on 70 face = graver state Of public a.
hairs than at the present time. Toda,
the civil liberty Of every. citizen i q
stake, and It behooves every thoughtfu
and patriotic person to weight well an,
action he may take in the political az
fairs Of the state.
On the one hand we have the Demo
cratic party. the author and upholder o.
the most infamous election law eve,
placed upon the statute books Of q STATE
Ia raw, 40 plain purposes Of which arr
to deliver into the keeping OF spoils.
men and politicians the destines Of 9
great commonwealth, even to the extern,
OF arbitrarily overriding the plainly
expressed will Of the majority; d party
OF broken promises; party Of impo-
tency; q party under the leadership OF
reckless spoilsmen whose utter disre-
gard OF Democratic principles OF gov
eminent deserves the emphatic con-
domination OF every true Democrat; q
party now oficered by those who, in
1896. mutined and betrayed their asso-
ciates into the hands Of the enemy! and
who today greet those whom they be-
trayed with Judas kiss.
On the other hand, we have the Re-
publican party. whose national prin-
ciples are against the masses and in fav-
or OF the capitalistic classes. Therefore.
those who are opposed to the menaclnx
plutocracy of today cannot link their
destines with those of that party; hence.
1t becomes necessary for those citizens
OF Kentucky who do not propose to be
parties to the electoral crimes of the
so-called Democracy, or the unjust and
oppressive legislation of the wealth
ridden Republican party, to seek new
and congenial political alliance. luls
they can find in the Peoples party.
We call the attention of the people of
Kentucky to the fact that the Peoples
party has had no part in plunging the
state into political anarchy. The hid
eous record Of the past, the political
crimes blackening the fair name of our
beloved state are not of our making;
and had the principles of the Peoples
party been in vogue in Kentucky such
could not have happened. The bitter
fruit Of the past is the legitimate result
OF the partisan system Of government:
and the only remedy is to abolish gov
eminent by political parties, and give
to the people the power to directly gov
ern themselves. This is provided for
In the Populist system Of direct legis-
lation through the initiative and refer
endum. through which the people may
propose and vote upon any law, or may
compel the submission Of any act Of
legislation to q direct vote Of the peo-
pie for ratification. Had this system
been In vogue In Kentucky in the past,
no set OF interruptions politicians could
have secured the enactment OF a vicious
partisan election law, such az the one
now disgracing this state and disfran-
chising her honest people. And while
we unhesitatingly declare that the SUI
preme Issue In Kentucky is the enact
ment OF fair and honest election law.
which will guarantee to the citizen the
right to cast his vote as he pleases, and
have that vote counted as cast, still we
insist that the issue Of direct legislation
Is inseparable therefrom, and will pro-
vide the only guarantee that future
OF some party will not
repeat the follies and crimes of the
present against the ballot.
We feel that the, rank and file of the
people OF Kentucky of all parties are
honest and sincere; that they desire
only the good Of the state and of its
people: and were these to unite in one
political body, with the one great pur-
pose to give the people the right of self
government through direct legislation |
and fair and honest electoral system.
that they would constitute an over
majority of the people.
Therefore. firmly adhering to all the
glorious principles Of Populism, as set
'orth In the immortal Omaha platform.
md as reaffrmed and emphasized in the
Cincinnati platform, we invite all citi-
'ens. regardless Of past party afiliation
md belief on other questions, who are
Wiling to join with us in a grand cru
'ade for fair elections and for the es-
ablishment Of the system Of direct leg
station. or self-government by the peo-
lie, to join with us in the state conveu-
ion Of the Peoples party at Louisville
n Aug. l, 1900. That we may have
vide differences on economic questions
hould be no bar to such q union for
his specific purpose, as we can, through
he system Of direct legislation, express
ur differences by voting direct upon
II questions Of Importance, and submit
Ing, like true Americans, to the decis-
IN Of the majority. Whatever may pe
ur belief upon any question. we know
hat our pet idea cannot succeed until