Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-23
Speech Accepting Their Nomination
for the Presidency.
POINTS OUT COMMON INTEREST
Explains Why Silver is Not the
Paramount Issue.
DWELLS ON IMPERIALISM


fication committee: In accepting the presi-
Dental nomination which you tender on
behalf of the populst party. l desire to give
emphatic recognition to the educational
work done by your party. The populist
party, as an organization. and the farmer
alliances and the labor organiza lions, from
which 1t sprang, have done much to arouse
the people TO a study of economic and in
dustrial questions. Believing, as do. that
truth grows not In seclusion but in the
open field, and that it thrfves best in the
sunlight of full and free debate, l have
confidence that the discussion which your
party has compelled will aid in reaching
that true solution of pending problems to-
ward which all honest citizens aim.
Il desire also to express my deep appre
citation of the liberality of opinion and de-
votion to principle which have led the
members of your party to enter the ranks
of another party in the selection of can
didate
while l am grateful for the confidence
which the populists have expressed in Inc,
l am not vain enough to regard as person.
al their extraordinary manifestations of
good will. The ties which bind together
those who believe in the same great funda-
mental principles are stronger than ties of
affection-stronger even than the ties of
blood-and cooperation between the reform
forces is due to the fact that democrats,
populsts and silver republicans take The
side OF the people In their contest against
greed and agree in the application of JEFF
fersonian principles to the question imme-
diately before us
Money Question In 1890.
In 1896 the money question was of para
mount Importance and the allies In that
campaign united in the demand for the i'm
mediate restoration Of silver by the indie
pendent action of this country at 16 to 1,
the ratio which had existed since 1884.
They We're defeated. but that did not end
the discussion. The democrats were de-
feated in 1sSS, but that did not put an end
10 tariff reform. The republicans were de-
feated IN 1892, but that did not permanent
y overthrow the protective tariff. Defeat
at the polls does not necessarily decide a
great problem. Experience and experience
alone settle questions. If increase in
the volume OF the currency since 1896, al
though unpromised by the republicans, and
unexpected. has brought Improvement in
industrial conditions, this Improvement in
stead of answering the arguments put
forth in favor Of bimetallism, only con-
firms the contention of those who insisted
that more money would make better times.
The republican party, however, while
claiming credit for the increase in circula-
ton makes no permanent provision for an
adequate supply Of standard money. 1t de-
MES the necessity for more real money
while II permits national banks to expand
the volume OF paper promises to pay
money.
IF the populists felt justified In opposing
the republican party when it sought to
conceal its gold-standard tendencies under
the mask of International bimetallism. the
opposition should be more pronounced In
proportion as the republican party more
openly espouses gold monometallism.
In 1896 the reform forces charged the
republican party with intending to retire
the gretnbackS This charge, denied 1t
the time. has been confessed by the fnan-
cial bin, which converts greenbacks. when
once redeemed. into gold certificates, and
"a 1au* rfNila m nf
Ii a populist opposed the republican party
when its hostility to greenbacks was only
suspected, that opposition should be greater
now since no one can longer doubt the pur-
pose of the republican party to substitute
bank notes for greenbacks.
P0rulists for Paper Money.
1t 10 true that the populists believe IN
an irredeemabie greenback, while the dem
ocrats believe in greenback redeemable in
coin. but the vital question at this time,
so far as paper money Is concerned, Is
whether the government or banks shall
issue II There will be time enough to dis
cuss the redeemability of the greenbacks
when the greenbaCk itself is saved from the
humiliation which now threatens 1t. The
republican party is now committed to a
currency system which necessitates per-
petual debt, while the popuist finds HIM
self in agreement with the democrats who
believe in paying off the national debt as
rapidly possible.
IF belief in an income tax justified
populist In acting with the democratic
party in 1896 what excuse can he find for
aiding the republican party now, when
even the exigeucies of war have not been
sufficient to bring that party to the support
of the income tax principle?
"Populsts believe in arbitration now as
much they did in 1896 and as much
opposed 10 government by injunction and
the blacklist as they were then. and upon
these subjects they have as much reason
for cooperation with the democratic party
today az they had four years ago.
democrats and populists alike favor the
principle Of direct legislation. II any differ
ences exist as to the extent to which the
principles should be applied these differ
ences be reconciled by experiment.
Democrats and populists agree that Chi
nese and other oriental labor should be
excluded from the United States.
Democrats and populists desire to so en-
large the scope of the interstate commerce
act TO enable the commission to pro-
tect both persons and places from discrim-
inatiOn and the public at large from Excess
sive railroad rates.
The populists approve the demand set
forth in the democratic platform for a la
head. Such an official would keep the ad-
fntnistration in close touch with the wage
earning portion of the population and go
far toward securing such remedial legisla-
ton as the toiers need.
Joint Opposition to Trusts.
In 1896 the populists united with the
democrats in opposing the trusts, although
the question at that time appeared like a
cloud scarcely larger than mans hand
Today that cloud wellnigh overspreads the
Industrial sky. The farmer does not par
ticipate in the profits Of any trust, but he
sorely feels the burden of them all He Is
dependent upon the seasons for his in
come. When he plants his crop he knows
not whether IL will be blessed with rain or
blighted with drought; he knows not wheth-
er wind will blow ii down, or hail destroy
1t. or insects devour il, and the price of his
crop is uncertain as the quantity. If a
private monopoly can suspend production
the price of the finished product, the farm
er. powerless to protect himself when he
sells. Is plundered when he purchases. Can
ANY farmer hesitate To throw the influence
OF his ballot upon the side of those who
desire to protect the public at large from
mpnopolies?
THE fact that the trusts support the re-
publican party ought to be sufficient proof
that they expect protection from 1t. The
republican party cannot be relied upon to
extinguish the trusts so long as II draws
It's campaign contributions from their over
flowing vaults.
The prosperity argument which the re-
ppblicans bring forward to answer all CON-
plants against the administration will not
deceive the farmer He knows that tWo