The sun., 1900-08-24

sky. The farmer does not participate In the
profits OF any trust but he sorely feels the bur %
season for his income. When he plants his
crop he knows not whether It will be blessed
with rain or blighted with drought he knows
| not whether wind will blow II down. or hail
destroy II, or insects devour II, aud the prtoo
| OF his crop Il as uncertain as the quantity. II
| private monopoly can suspend production and
fx the price of raw material as well as the price
| of the finished product the farmer power
| dered when he purchases. Can any farmer
| hesitate to throw the influence OF his ballot
upon the side Of those who desire TO protect
The fact that the trusts support tho Repubh-
| can party ought to be sufficient proof that
They expect protection from t. ,.,.
The Republican party cannot be relied upon
10 extnguish the trusts so long IA II draws ia
campaign contributions from their overfowinR
vaults.
The prosperity argument which the r.
publicans bring forward 10 answer all com
plants against the Administration will not de
enter into his Income. First. the size OF the
crop, and second. the price which he receives
for the same lie does not return thanks
and a bountiful harvest, and he knows that
the Republican party has no policy which In,
prices. since he sells his surplus in foreign
lie ESsI1't tayir. R0 and not since Is Gs pIodue$s
by the appreciation Of the dollar He knows
that the much vauntcd prosperity Of which he
has never had his share. is on the wane In spite
Of the unusual and unnatural stimulation whion
II has received In the last three years lie
knows that each month OF 1890 shows n larger
number OF failures than the corresponding
month OF s99 and that there Is already marked
tendency toward decrease In the output OF
the factories. He knows. also. that the dis
coveries of gold. faninos abroad and war OF
three continents have not been able TO raise
the price Of farm products as rapidly as trusts
and combinations have raised the price OF the
IA "a lVG GNrla lnh hA
Our opponents have tried TO make II appear
that we are inconsistent when we desire gem
eral rise IN prices. and yet oppose an arbitrary
rise in protected MANUFACTURES or trust-made
goods There is no conflict whatever between
these two propositions. II general rise IN
prices occurs because OF permanent increase
In the volume OF money, all things adj ust them
selves TO tho new level. and II the volume OF
money then increases IN proportion TO the de-
mand for money the p ice level remains the
same and business can be done with fairness
TO all.
II, however, the rise ia arbitrary, and only
affect part o. the products of labor those whose
products do not participate IN the rise suner be-
cause the purchasing power OF their income Is
decreased. IL a bad monetary system drags
down the price Of the farmer ; products, while
monopolies raise the prices OF what he buys,
he burns the candle at both ends and must
expect to suffer in comparison with those who
belong 10 the classes more favored by leslsia-
ton.
II Is sometimes urged by partisan Populists
that four years more OF Republican misrule
would so aggravate economic conditions as
70 make reforms easier. No one can aHord
TO aid in making matters worse In the nope OF
being able TO make them better atterward.
For in so doing he assumes responsibility Tor
evil. which he may not be able 70 remedy' No
Populist however sangulne believes IL pos
sible 70 elect Popullst President at this time,
but the Populist party may be able 70 deter;
mine whether Democrat or Republican Will
be elected. Mr.. Chairman, the Populist Con-
venton, which your committee repreSents,
thought II better 10 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 or
giving open or secret aid 70 the Republican
party. which opposes all OF the reforms Tor
which the Populists contend.
Those who labor 70 Improve the conditions
become impatient, but they must remember
that it takes time 70 work out great reforms.
Let me illustrate by calling your attention TO
Of OF pro- pTopo.ition to which there has been pFsc,
tically no opposition. President johnson. In
1898, recommended constitutional amend
ment providing for the election oi United States
Senators by a direct vote of the people. but
his recommendation met with no response
About twelve years later zen. Weaver. then
sage OF a resolution submitting such an amend
ment, but his efforts were futile. In 1897,
the resolution reeoInmended by President
finally passed the House OF Representatives.
but Il has not yet reached vote In the Senate.
s0a A0a pES lSS paopaaSn s!s5 sS. the ne
ceives the Endorsement OF the National Con-
vention OF one OF the great parties r
III the Fusion forces win a victory this all.
we shall see this reform accomplished before
the next Presidential election. and with It's
accompshmeht he pe9pf pSsstioI S na %b easer sy
may desire. But how hating has been the
progress! Holland has said:
Heaven S, y no. gained BY ss1GS single eGs.d.
From the lowly earth ,o the vaulted skiea.
And we mount to It's summit round by rounds
And 80 il is with great social and political
Great problems are solved slowly. but strug-
Cling humanity parchses, s.,,3 on step 6y stsp.
tent on a little higher ground.
THE NEW ISSUES.
have called attention to the issues which
brought the Democrats and Popullsts together
and which justified their coopersuon during
the last four years. Let me now invite your
attention 70 new quest which would jus
tify cooperation at this time. even though we
6eTsa 6Ht r ffRo faRSt bat ReSe new have
been thrust into the arena OF politics. II is not
our fault that the people have been called
upon 10 consider. questions OF eyer-increas-
ing magnitude. In 1890 the tarif question
was the principal subject OF discussion. and
the Democratic party contended that the
unnecessary taxes. In 1892 the tarin Ques-
ton was still the principal issue between the
Democratic and Republican parties although
in the est aud South the money question was as
sumiug greater and greater proportions aud the
Populists were contendng that our monetary
system was more responsible than our tariff
laws for the depression in agriculture and the
distress existing among the wage earners.
In 1898, the whole question OF taxation became
OF secondary importance because OF the in
creased boldness Of those who opposed the
gold and silver coinage OF the Constitution.
When the Republicans declared at st. Louis
that the restoration OF bimetallism In this coun-
try although desirable. was impossible without
the aid Of the leading commercial nations OF the
old World the Populists and the Silver Repub-
hcans Joined with the Democrats In asserting
the right and duty Of the American people 70
shape their financial system for themselves
regardless of the action Of other nations
The failure Of the Republican party 10 secure
International bimetallism. and its open espousal
OF the gold standard, still keep the money Quee-
tion in politics. but no economic question can
compare in Importance with question which
concerns the principles and structure OF the
Government Systems OF taxation can be
changed with less difficulty than financial
systems, and financial systems can be altered
with less danger and less disturbance TO the
country than the vital doctrines upon which
government rests.
In the early sixties. when we were engaged
in a contest which was 10 determine whether
we should have one Republic or two. questions
OF finance were lost sight OF. Silver was at a
premium over gold and both gold and silver
were at premium over greenbacks and
bank notes, but the people could not afford TO
divide over the money question In the presence
OF a greater issue. And 40 to-day we are en-
gagged In a controversy which will determine