The independent., 1903-03-26
The Common PdrtJ

being universally demanded by the
American people irrespective Of party
Affiliations, 1t becomes necessary first
to locate the evil and then to apply
the remedy. And first, what Is trust?
"A trust may be defined to be a rcorpor-
alton of men, criminally selfish, oper-
ating under special privileges which
give them a monopoly in trade and
business. The present action OF the
coal trust and the action of the mon
ey trust in So are fair examples of
this class.
This class of men have obtained par
tial control of the democratic party
and absolute control of the republican
PARTY. The republican party today as
q political organization is an aggre-
CATION of trusts. There is not a trust
In the United States but what is rep
resented In the leadership OF the re-
publican party. That faction OF the
democrat party dominated by the
trusts and known as "reorganizers'
are part of the republican organiza-
tion from business standpoint; their
interests are identical and their vote
in SO proves it. This Is why the re-
publicans are so anxious about the
success of reorganizing the democratic
party and SO extravagant at this time
i their praise Of Grover Cleveland.
With the democratic party reorganized
and Grover at the head, unwinding
some of his old streotyped tariff ex-
pressions, followed by David B. Hill
shouting I'm q democrat" and the
republicans led by "old strennosity
shackling cunning the fight would
be an easy one for the trusts. Being
the organization of both parties they
could not help but win.
Then to apply the proper remedy
would be to kill the louse that makes
the nits. That is to say the demo-
cratic party must not be reOrganized
and the republican party must be
driven from power and the government
turned over to the people. Grover
Cleveland's ghost dances must cease
and he be reconsigned to the political
,mb from which his business asso-
ciates, the trusts, have lately resur-
rected him. Nor should we cover his
grave with Oblivion. Far from it. We
should be SO kind and generous as to
erect over his political dust this pass
ing tribute which he SO nobly won and
Justly deserves: "Mourned by mon
grels, loved by republican leaders,
hated by democrats and damned by
the whole American people,"
Having cleared the ground of all OBJ
structi0ns between the people and the
republican party, the democrats, pop
ulists and all people who are opposed
to trusts should unite in one common
cause and move in solid phalanx
against the republican party. All this
can be accomplished by fusion if we
can keep the mongrels out of the next
democratic national convention. But
just as long as the democracy is
cursed with these half breeds just that
long will the people lack confidence in
the party and fusion will prove fail
ure. The proper way to dispose of this
class is for the voters in every pre-
cinct to guard their organizations
agar st any and all impositions from
this source. If this cannot be done,
or II they have already obtained par
tial control of the various local or
ganizations, then rest assured they
will be with us in the next national
convention and while they may not be
able to control the convention they
will, by their presence and clamor. de-
stroy all confidence the people might
have in the democratic party and fu-
sion.
Should such be the humiliating posi-
ton OF the party at that time then sur
render the name but cling to the prin-
ciples of democracy and the cause of
the American people and let all unite
under the banner of the Common Par
ty. The call should be to the Ameri-
can people and the platform drafted
should be in strict accordance with
their demands. Party prejudice would,
under the new party name, give way
to sober thought and action, and the
forces, seeking the same redress now
scattered and divided, would be united
In one invincible body moving on to
sure and certain victory.
AS for the name, there cannot be
distateful about it since it is
the common people that are made to
suffer at the hands of organized greed.
And as the common people include ev-
cry class except the privileged few, I,
f<,rs rI Il