The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-13
MRS. DIGGs' EDITORIAL.
Doesn't Think Tt Means She Has
"Hauled Down Flag"

Mrs. Annie L. Diggs, editor of the
Farmers Advocate, says she did not
mean to convey the idea that she had
hauled down the flag" and surrender
ed to the Democratic party in her edi-
torial in the current issue of the Advo-
cate. and she asks that the first part
of her editorial he reproduced by the
State Journal. The substance of this
portion was given in the State Journal
Friday and part of it was quoted in
connection with the latter part refer
ring to the Populists going into the
Democratic party In a communication
to the State Journal Mrs Digs says:
1.-The State Journal of Friday gave
generous space to portion of my Ad-
Vocate editorial on the problem which
will come before the Peoples party
conference of February 81.
I feel quite sure that the State Jour
nal will add justice unto it's generosity
and will reproduce the balance of my
editorial which will show very clearly
that 1 have not hauled down the flag
and have not even assumed to be wiser
than the whole conference by whose de-
cision L shall Loyalty abide, and which
is as follows:
There are practically three courses
open to Kansas Populists They may
play the party programme alone; they
may agree with the Democrats and
nominate only partial ticket, or they
may go into the Democratic party.
1.-The first course would remove the
party from the field of practical poll
tics and relegate it thereafter TO the
purely educational domain There is
no possible point of view from which
success in the way of electing candi-
dates can be foreseen- If L We're to
consult my personal tastes, tempera-
ment and enjoyment of my part of the
work 1 would inhesitatingly declare for
a programme of this sort If it were
possible to maintain for years a
thorough and effective organization
solely for the dissemination of our
ideas of government, of economics and
of sociology, there could be nothing
more highly satisfactory than to de-
vote ones best endeavor to such pur-
poses ,,.. ,o .as4od .no seet-
ness of presenting our theories OF Just
government. of arguing for them and of
compelling unwilling attention We have
changed the sentiment toward the funda-
mental principle of our platform issues
We have done all this despite misunder-
standing of the denSeSt sort and mlSrep-
resentation the most cruel and unkind-
FebrHarT q deciare for independent n action
it viii be my pleasure and my deepest in
such discussion of political problems as
will materialize through some future or
ganization into votes and legislation But
should this be the path which Kansas
with no vain hope that they are to win
elections and offfces. the collapse of such
hope would deepen encouragement and re-
1--WE can not be blind to the facts of
history; no reform party ever renewed its
Gus progress The Republicans made
steady progress from Fremont to Lincoln;
had there been the same ratio of decline
after Fremont that marked the path of
the Peoples Party after the Weaver cam
paign OF 1892. then the Republican con-
tention would have been fated to await
another organization, made up of a new
alignment. before achieving success.
THE Greenback party made a heroic
struggle to grow after its decline set in,
but il was compelled to merge into new
political combination
THE Union Labor party made astonish-
ing growth, but Strove in vain to hold its
party organization after its fortunes
Waned.
1.-The Populist party is now confronting
the same crisis in it's party organization;
it, too, will be forced, matter how val
iantly men stand for principle, to accept
reorganization under another name with
new elements participating In it's leader
ship There is nothing about this to cause
one to moan and wall, nor yet to abandon
hope. Ea CHI reform party builds upon the
sentiment and enlightenment of the past,
and each new effort is stronger than the
one preceding it. 1t will be so to the
ty. butts purposes and principles. broad
ened and adapted to new problems, will
reappear in other party organization. 1t
is for the conference to say what shall be
done in a voting way until the next party
opportunity is clearly arrived.
THE spirit of 1890 never more
alive. intense and devout among the faith
ful Kansas POpulistS than it is today. 1t
is of that quality which breeds martyrs
glorious if on the 21st we enter into COM
pact to reconsecrate ourselves to daily,
yearly work for the further spread of our
doctrines