Hutchinson gazette., 1901-07-04

1T seems 10 De pretJy Reperally Tue
thought that the peoples party as an
organization is thing OF the past
The organization is certainly not very
virile. 1t however has not lived In
vain. 1t has converted the demo-
cratic party, though the question as to
how long II will stay converted has not
been answered and we must wait to
Hnd out whether IL will become faith
full follower or will backslide. 1t may
possibly be within the power Of the
democrats TO force the abandonment
Of the party and to allow the parts to
resolve themselves back to their orig
inal elements, but II Is the worst stroke
Of policy they could pursue. or course
not all that we're republicans will
again become republicans. But some
of them will. More will quit voting,
disguised, and allow the Old ship TO 90
to the bow vows where Ii seems de-
termined to 20 anyway. Others more
hopeful will 20 into the socialist or
ganiZatlon and continue to agitate.
They will perhaps be the most logical,
They will stand as good show to win
90 the democrats in this State and at the
same time can teach something. II
the democratic leaders had sense
enough to wait Till the next national
convention Is over, and II then the
democratic platform is such as the last
two have been, they could have taken
the populistS of the whole country
into their organization practically In q
body. AS it Is they are liable to loose
half Of them. Perhaps more, But
may be 1t will be better to take a hope.
ful view. II the present era Of good
crops and inflated prices and currency
continue, the republicans can elect
Mckinley or Mark Hanna emperor II
they choose, and il Hill and his out
llt do capture the democratic party 1t
will make no difference except the fact
that we all like to have q party to vote
for that is right even though it is de.
feated. On the other hand IL there
comes financial crash, II times tigh'
en- and credit is contracted the peo-
pie will consider 1t to be a vindicatlon
of the claim OF Bryan and his friends,
that there can be no permanent pros
perity under the gold standard, Then
the hostility to the trusts will exhibit
itself afresh and the democratic party
will without doubt hold close to the
course marked out in the last two cam.
paigns. Perhaps there are those who
will Criticise our theory that the peo-
pie vote for the party that 10 In when
times are good and for the party that
Is out when times are bad. 1t did not
always used to be 80. But 1t is 80 now.
The struggle for place to live on this
footstoOl has become so intense that
the people have come to think Of little
else. IIign sentiment, discussions of
right and wrong in administration
and Of rights and principles of govern
ment seem no longer to awaken the
people. If they did Bryan would have
been elected last fall. If they did
Bryan would still be looked to as the
democratic prophet He with Tom
Johnson of Ohio are about the only
democrats who are fighting at all and
seem to care anything for their alleged
principles. But after all there will
always be a populist party. 1t may
not be always a militant organization
but the same principles and men will
he alive In the land to trouble the
holders of special priviledges and ex-
ponents Of tory propogandas.