The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-24

Populists that four years more of Re-
publican misrule would so aggrayat %
economic conditions as to make reforms
easier. No one can afford to aid in
making matters worse in the hope of be-
ing able to make them better afterwards.
for in so doing he assumes responsible
ties which he may not be able to remedy
No Populist, however, sanguine, believes
it possible to elect President at this
time but the Populist party may be
able to determine whether Democrat or
Republican will be elected. Mr.. Chair
man, the Populist convention. which your
committee represents, thought it better
to share with the Democrats in the
honor of securing some of the reforms
desired by your party than to bear the
odium of remaining neutral in this great
crisis or of giving open or secret aid to
the Republican party which opposes ali
the reforms for which the Populists con-
tend
REFORMS REQUIRE TIME.
"Those who labor to improve the con-
ditions which surround their fellow men
are apt to become impatient; but they
must remember that it takes time to
work out great reforms. Let me illustrate
by calling your attention to the slow
growth of public opinion in support of
proposition to which there has been
practically no open opposition. Pres
ident Johnson. in 1868, recommended a
Constitutional Amendment providing for
the election of United States Senators
by direct vote of the people, but his
recommendation met with no response.
AhN1Yf Jo&1 ~ Wy
then member of Congress, tried to secure
the passage Of a resolution submitting
such an amendment. but his efforts were
futile. In 1892. the resolution recon-
mended by President Johnson and urged
by Congressman Weaver finally passed
the House of Representatives. but it has
not yet reached vote in the Senate and
now, after eight years more of public
discussion The proposition for the first
time received the endorsement of the
National Convention of one of the great
parties.
BUT THEY WILL COME.
If the fusion forces win a victory this
fall we shall see this reform accomplished
before the next Presidential election,
and with it's accomplishment, the people
will find it easier to secure any remedial
legislation which they may desire. But
how hating has been the progress. Hol-
land has said:
Heaven is not gained by a single
bound.
I'VE build the ladder by which we
rise.
From the lowly earth to the vaulted
skies.
land we mount to dts summit round
by round
"And so it is with great social and
political movements. .
Great problems are solved slowly but
struggling humanity marches on. step
fY step, content that at each nightfall
it can pitch its tent on a little higher
ground.
THE PARAMOUNT ISSUE.
81 have called attention to the issues
which brought the Democrats and Popu
lists together and which justified the
cooperation during the last four years.
Let me now invite your attention to
question which would justify coopera-
ton at this time even though we diff
fered upon economic questions. 1t is
not our fault that these new questions
have been thrust into the arena of poll
tics; it is not our fault that the people
have been called upon to consider ques-
tions of ever-increasing magnitude. In
1888 the tariff question was the principal
subject of discussion and the Democratic
party contended that the masses were
burden of unjust and unneces-
sary taxes. In 1892 the tariff question
was still the principal issue between the
Democratic and Republican parties, al
though in the West and South the money
question was assuming greater and great
er proportions and the Populists were
contending that our monetary system was
more responsible than the tariff laws
for the depression in agriculture and the
distress existing among the wage earn
ers. In 1896 the whole cues ton of tax
alton became of secondary Importance
because of the increased holiness of those
who opposed the gold and silver coinage
of tie Constitution. When the Republic
cans declared at ST. Louis that the res
toration of bimetallism in this country
although desirable. was impossible with
out the aid of the leading commercial
nations of the old world. the Populists
and Silver Republicans. Joined with the
Democrats in asserting the rights and
duty of the American people to shape
their financial system for themselves, re-
CARELESS of the action of other nations.
The failure of the Republican party to
secure international bimetallism and it's
open espousal of the gold standard still
keeps the money question in politics, but
no economic question can compare in i'm
pertaroe with question which con-
Germs the principles and structure of
Government. Systems of taxation can
be changed with less difficulty than
financial systems and financial systems
can be altered with less danger and less
to the country than the vital
doctrines upon which free Government
rests.
REPUBLIC OR EMPIRE-WHICH?
''In the early sixties when we were en-
gagged in a contest which was to determine
whether we should have one Republic or
two, questions of finance were lost sight
or. Silver was at a premium over gold
and both gold and silver were at a pre-
MUM over greenbacks and bank notes
but the people could not afford to di-
vide over the money question in the
presence of greater issue. And so to-
day we are engaged in controversy
Ii sAI 1.lA