The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1902-10-24
COMMUNICATION

E u N.
OF the Pioneer-Sentinel toyour hands.
I am satisfied that it will, under your
management, support the principles
and policies necessary for the welfare
and progress of our country. The
populist party is apparently dis
solving. Many Of its prominent lead
ers, when hope of ~preferment was
gone, have left it. They were In 1T,
but not OF it; others, earnest enough
but extremists, Withdrew from 1t
was found that it could not be, car
ried to their own extremes. Living
or dead it has made an impression on
ideas and policies that will be per-
manent. AS a party it may be COM
ing to a end OF be on the eve of a
great revival. We are confronted
now, as the world has ever been, with
two antagonistic tendencies. One is
the control Of the government for the
benefit Of special interests, the other
the struggle Of the people in opposi-
tion.
We have settled in this country the
pretensions of king, noble and
stakeholder only to fall into the pow
er Of corporate capital entrenched in
all the forces of the age. The
popullsts were the first to take alarm
at the course of events, but were I'M
fortunate in that some without the
root of the matter in them found
leadership in the party, and Others SO.
radical that they repealed support,
found a place among them. Both
classes proved a source d. weakness
and not of strength. They have
eliminated. themselves from the cause.
1t is we'll. &
In the crisis Impending it seems to
me that the wing Of the democratic
party represented by Bryan should
receive support. 1t has about reached
the position of referring important
legislation direct to the people for APP
proval, and the administration by the
government of public utilities These
propositions constitute the very core
of the populist idea.
cannot understand why any of us
should support the republican party.
1t makes its claim to popular favor
almost wholly on accoun9 of the pros
porous condition of the country,
Ignoring the fact that the world is
more than normally posperous, show
ing that some cause is at work
other than than the supremacy
ofthe republican party in the United
States. That party now occupies the
place of parties in all ages that have
maintained the privileges of favored
classes. Into it have drifted those
who profit by protection, inflated
stocks, bond issues, monopolies,
) trusts, gold standard and corporate
issues of currency. These have fur
nished the party with campaign
funds ana received in return govern
ment favors when the party achieved
success.
All this has been done with q blare
: of.pretenses that what was done was
! done in the interests Of the people. In
e the name of.sound money silverlw was de
monetized to makeroom for corporate
issue OF currency. A great central bank
with power to establish branches and
y issue asset-cnrrency--a currency that
will surivel to unayailability in times
of PANELS on approval by their par.
ty organs and congressional G N.
. mittees. Schemes of subsidy to grea,
ship companies find approval, anc
lawhiie cOndemning trusts in a genera
way party organs and leaders asaer,
they are notsall bad, that they cheap
!; en- prices, economic labor. are {
sary to maintain our industrial posi.
{ tion and have come to Stay. In Tho
t shelter of its administration OF public
affairs trusts have grown to monopo
; lie nearly every industry, ard while
Its party presidents have talked
againststh ina doubtful way and
made a SHOW of enforcing The
llaw against them, they still
! organize, apparently without hind.
J rance or fear. Evidently they art
coontdidentcf their position. and thai
when the time comes.8as in the cast
OF the decentralization Of silver, %
{ position to them will cease.
The republican party is a conspicu
Gus example Of the growth of elias.
: interests and the use OF government,
powers to promote them. In il,
. earlier platforms there was no de
81 smand for protective tariffs. pol.
Standard, banks OF issue aud sLelte
g 9 Industrial monopolies. AS IL he
3 came established in power through
the advocacy OF other issues thes
Things drifted to it and too
e possession oft.
the democratic party is Of necessI