The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1902-11-27
THAT POLITICAL CHAOS
What is to be Done Now ?-Separstion in
the Democratic Party Must Come
Which Side Sis all Have the
Name?

Name?
The following is part of personal
letter to the editor of The Independent,
written by one of the most dlstln-
guished and unselfish reformers in the
state of Indiana. 1t is of such geenral
interest at this time, for tens OF thou
sands of men seem to be all thinking
along the same lines, that the editor
takes the liberty to print it. There
seems to be kind of "telepathy'
among the men who fight plutocracy,
for it often happens that the same idea
strikes them in all the states OF the
union at the same time. This letter
is along the lines of many others
that have been received during the last
week or two, and the editor has been
doing some hard thinking on the sub
ject himself. The question is: What
shall we do now? The extract is as
follows:
But, Friend Tibbles, what are we
to do in politics? The mental confu-
sion among the mass of voters, who
E.ade up the great army that followed
the standard-bearer of the democratic
party in 1886 and in 1900, has pro-
duced as shown by the late election,
results that you we'll call political
chaos" Ideas and motives have been
terribly mixed Some saturated with
disgust, have remained away from the
1olls-disgusted with so-called leader
ship su as we have had in Indiana
and not caring to stultify themselves
by voting the republican ticket, while
others voted the prohibition or So
cialist tickets. Others, angered by the
manifest duplicity and unmistakable
treachery of their own party commit
teemen, concluded that the best way to
Ct rid of such influences in their own
party was to close their eyes to prin-
ciple and political policy, and vote in
way to destroy the organization. Some,
not believing that either organization
cared anything about principle or po-
.1tical policy, have mixed up their tick
cts in trying to select from both the
men believed to be best fitted and most
honest.
Under such circumstances, nothing
could be reasonably predicted except
what has occurred. Let the republi-
cans and the reorganiZers figure out
as much comfort as they please, the
encouraging fact remains that the re-
organizers, while able to make confu-
sion, cannot draw the rank and file
after them. The two million or more
voters outside the democratic party,
who supported Mr.. Bryan more because
of the confidence they had in him than
in the party he represented, cannot be
induced in another national campaign
to assist the democratic party, unless
it shall manifest enough vitality ana
courage to rid itself of not only Cleve-
land and HILL but of every man who
holds onto the party standard with
one hand and to plutocratic influences
with the other.
There were too many men on the
rostrum in 1900 who were overly anx-
ious, while supporting Mr.. Bryan, to
have every audience they faced under
stand that they were not in accord
with Mr.. Bryan on the money ques-
ton and who never lost an opportun-
ity in season or out, to inform an au-
dience of that fact.
so important and so fundamental
is the financial question, that it is a
ratter of doubt about any man being
right on any political question who is
not right on that question. The man
who, by reason of personal interests,
is deceiving himself or trying to de-
ceive others, or the man who thinks
he is opposed to trusts, ETC., and yet
sees nothing wrong in the financial
combinations, cannot be depended up
on when the pinch comes, no difference
who he may be, or how earnest and
energetic he may be in his attempts
to bring about some reforms.
when say this, believe that
am expressing the well-settled belief
of very large per cent of the demo-
cratic masses and almost all of those
outside of that party, who supported
Mr.. Bryan in two campaigns.
"The silver republican organization
has served its purpose in two cam
paigns and will not appear again, but
yonr organization ought to be kept up
as l have no doubt it will be, until
something arises that may make it