Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-23

COMMANDING THE SON TO STAND STILL.
In these days of doubt and unbelief
it is refreshing to find some people who
still believe implicitly in the super
natural and miraculous. A few days
ago the wiseacres of a decaying and
rapidly disintegrating political aggrega-
ton met at the state capital and adopted
by a rising vote a set OF resolutions
that forcibly recall the fate Of Joshua
when he ordered the sun and the moon
to stand still to enable his army to wal
lop the Philistines.
To men who have studied and oh
served the irresistible current of per
petual change, the attempt to stem the
tide that is sweeping populism into the
political sea In which the defunct green
back party, and a half-dozen other
parties have been %engulfed, would seem
foolhardy as well as futile. Not so
with the high priests, prophets and
revelators Of populism. They actually
declared In their conclave that "it is
the solemn conviction of this confer
thNC ina thS pGODAt patty gCt hdo a
vast field of usefulness to occupy and
that every honorable effort should be
made to increase its strength and make
Its influence for good felt throughout
the state and nation" Therefore, they
have resolved:
First-That we must earnestly repel and
repudiate every attempt to disorganize the
party, or to absorb its membership by an
other political party.
~Second-That we reafArm the wisdom and
soundness Of the cardinal principles Of the
Omaha, st. Louis and Sioux Falls platforms
and confidently appeal to the intelligent
judgment and to the patriotic fairness Of
the voters of the United States to continue
the agitation for essential government re-
form and carry on the campaign of educa-
ton happily inaugurated at the beginning
Of the party.
In other words, the Rip Van Wrinkles
Of the twentieth century have solemnly
reafflrmed that the dead and buried is
sues of two great national campaigns
shall be galvanized into life, although
everybody who has any political sa-
gacity knows that the trumpet Of Ga
briel could not resurrect them.
On the 4th of July, 1892, the pre-
amble OF the populist declaration of in
dependence promulgated from the
Omaha Coliseum startled the world by
prOclaiming:
We meet In the midst OF a nation brought
to the verge of moral and political ruin.
Our homes are covered with mortgages,
labor impoverished and the land is con-
centrating in the hands of capitalists. A
vast conspiracy against mankin has been
organized on two continents and it is rap
idly taking possession Of the world. If
not met and overthrow at once It forbodes
trouble, and the destruction of c~iviliza-
ton, or the establishment of an absolute
despotism. Our country finds itself con-
fronted by conditions for which there is no
precedent in the history Of the world. Our
annual agricultural productions amount to
billions Of dollars in value. which must
within a few weeks, or months, be ex-
changed for billions of dollars of commod-
tiles consumed In their production. The
exchange currency supply is wholly made
quate to make this exchange. The results
are falling prices. the formation Of COM
bines and rings and the Impeachment OF
the producing class.
How do these declarations and prophe-
sizes sound In the face Of the marvellous
prosperity the country is enJoying2 How
do these ~forecasters of dire calamity
expect to rally the people this year on
the Omaha and st. Louis platforms
that have gone all to pieces in the last
five years and cannot be rebuilt out Of
worm-eaten planks2