The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-09
FUSION HOSTS.
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PIE and the. money power must be fought.
1t IS not a revolutionary, but a reform
party. It has sought to institute changes
IN our economical and political Fabric
which would render the existing system
tolerable Crude though some of its first
IDEAS may nave been, ITS doctrines were
sound in the main. 1t has represented an |
honest attempt to improve unwholesome
conditions and has never battered or WsaV-
cred in its purpose. It has lived to see /
some of its ideas embodied in the laws of /
most of the states and to witness the /
general acceptance by nearly all the peo- |
pie of its fundamental doctrines. To its |
untirine efforts NAV be credited one of |
the greatest political crises that the coun- |
try has ever known.
South Dakota has always been on the |
firing line in this movement. She stands |
there today, proudly claiming her right |
to leadership in the battle, resting her /
claims to leadership upon her achieves |
ments. We have given the United States |
practical illustration of the ability of a |
people to enforce obedience from their |
representatives in the legislature. We |
have placed the initiative and referen- |
dunn upon our statutes. and We can now !
our representatives instead of being run |
by them. We are masters; they are SER |
wants. We have more nearly approached |
the Jeffersonian ideals than any other |
state in the union and our people realize |
their power We are proud Of this monu-
ment to the party's fidelity to the cause
of human liberty, proud of its discern
ment and aggressive adherence to the ten
cts of political freedom at a time when
this great law was in the balance.
Division and disunion in the face of
ments which would seize the Democratic
party if they could, and, falling in that.
would buy another victory for the Repub-
Hcans, as was done in 1896. with the con-
tributiOnS of the trusts and monopolleS,
would be folly little. short of criminal
eff the Democratic party shall prove
unfaithful to the trusts imposed upon it.
the Peoples party, or its offspring, will
become dominant in the aHe-s of the
country. And after ALL principles are
more precious to Populists than party
pride and while we are proud of our name,
nT0n0
highly still the principies for which we
have fought and we shall not meanly
cavil with any organization which seeks
honestly to assist us in the defence of
I'VE may protect posterity from despot-
ism, if posterity is left in possession of
stitut1on, put with capltal IN complete
control of the government full blown i'm
House and In congress- our immediate
duty is to bring the country back to its
old ideas, to install in the administration
of the REPUBLIC men who. believe in the
principles of the Declaration of hide
pendence. who regard the flag for what
it represents and who will protect our po-
litical rights at the risk of their lives.
even though they may disagree with US
years more of AIcKinley1sm may forever
/ bury Democratic government in America.
t Four wears more of Hannaism will estab-
/ fish the army as our governing force. We
| can not afford such a calamity and Popu-
lists, of all men, should be the last to i'm
economic differences or party name. Pop
ulists have for years predicted that a grow
| ing plutocracy would yet find it neces-
/ sary to its plans TO substitute mon
/ archy for representative government. Pop
4 ulists have toreseen clearly the present SIT
uat1on and knowing the nature OF lInpef-
| ialsm, they will not be slow in perform
1 ing a. sacred duty to the country. Amer
/ lean liberty gains new LIE or per1sheS TINS
1 year. The struggle which commences here
today will be momentous Let US hope
that its outcome will be of vast benefit to
/ American
Let US pray that concealed IN It's body
| is a new and better republic than the
| world has ever known and that the doc
| trines of Jefferson and Lincoln may be re-
established and made eternal In the face
| of all the dangers to which the country
| is exposed it is the patriotic duty of all
| lovers of home and country, all who cher
| ish justice and freedom, to unite in one
| heroic effort to preserve our institutions
| from death. There is no room for quar-
| reling over minor issues or party names !;
| the solemn duty of the hour IS united,
harmonious and patriotic action ana
| while I do not seek to anticipate the re-
| suits of this convention, feel safe in say
| ing that in Mr.. Bryan we shall find a
standard bearer who will remain IN sup
port of our principles and whose fidelity
can be trusted in any trial that may
arise
The remarks of Governor Lee were
received with applause.
Secretary Edgerton, of the national
committee, then read the call for the
convention, after which Chairman But
Ter advanced to the front of the res
truIn to formally open the cOnNenI1O1-
Immediately at the conclusion Of his
address, Senator Butler announced the
following temporary officers OF the con-
vention: Chairman, P. NJ. Ringdal, OF
| Minnesota; secretary, R. e. Brya. OF
Oklahoma; assistant secretaries, Leo
Vincent, of Colorado, and Eugene
Smith of Illinois.
MR. RINGDALLS SPEECH.
Mr.. Ringdal in taking the chair spoke
in part as follows:
1--WE are assembled today for a two
fold purpose-to reaffirm the declaration
of independence and to name the next
president of the United States. The
Peoples party has a mission to per-
form. It has gained some great victor
lit will continue to gain others. Eight
years, a voice of protest was raised
the first time in a quarter of a century
was hoisted again the flag of politica
equality; for the first time in recenf
years, a ovice of protest was raised
against the growth of empire. The con
vention at st. Louis in 1892, declared
that the country was on the verge o.
financial ruin. A storm of derisivt
laughter was raised in the monopoly
, press, but the ruin came to Thousands
who had laughed at the warning. w
did not rejoice at their downfall The
/ mission of the Peoples party is to builC
2 up, not to tear down.
t The first victory of the People,
party was victory over falsehood. I
dared to tell the truth. The next grea
victory was a peaceful one-a victor,
for the spirit of '76 which won every
thing, taking possession of the Demo
cratic party in national convention as
sembled and the true Democracy o
n | the nation was founded
> 1.-THE next and the greatest victor,
! yet was won at St Louis in 1896, whe
r the people conquered prejudice, con
4 quered ambitions, conquered love of lif
and growth of power-conquered them
selves.
1.-THE spirit of liberty is abroad in tn
land.
g This convention stands as a guaran
< tee that liberty shall not die on thi
t continent. The Republican party stand
3 for everything that we oppose Our aim
: are different and our methods are ais
L different. We seek to restore to tn
: people the rights which fraud and cor
: ruption have taken from them.