The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-11-24
More Stomach Than Brains

LuC lOi3OWlu5 plOpOcitiOA. bouoe'sA
the peoples party maintain its nation
al organization independent and sep
arate from all other organizations, or
should it abandon it's organization and
join with Mr.. Bryan and ether reform |
democratic organizations as basis I
for building a reform party for the /
campaign of 1902"
In the first place / wish to say for
the populists to abandon their present
organization under any pretext would
be the heighth of ignorance, coward
ice and a crime Mr.. Bryan holds that
the best plan is to stay in a party to
reform it. Thomas e. Watson holds
that reform must come from pressure
on the outside. Pray, how can TWO
walk together unless they be agreed!
Can it be possible that any consider
able number Of populists imagine that
the populist party can BE carried. over
bag and baggage into the democratic
party. wonder il there are in our
ranks men of any influence who think
the peoples party is in politics Ike
trading stamps to be handed over with
the goods.
When will the populists understand
that all poDulists were rot born IN
the democratic party? While 1t may
be true and doubtless is that the great
er number came out of the democratic
party. still the fact is large per cent
were republicans. 1t is the financial
plank that holds the populist party
together. Bimetallism won't hold the
populists together-it is not our faltn
The very hour that a backward 'tep
is taken on the money question the
populist party dies.
| can preach all the reform covered
by the Springfield platform OF 1904 IN
the camp of all parties with more or
less approval until | open up on ne
money question, then, All, me! Then
the trouble begins The peoples party
must live or die on is stand on the
money issue. Let us look ct the situa-
ton for while For eight years Bryan
led the democratic party on bimetal-
lism with two-thirds Of the populrst
partv with him and went down to de-
feat. One-third of the populists refused
to follow Bryan then, and more wouia
do so now, for Bryan is not as popu-
lar now S he was year ago. more
over the gold standard telegram mas
oDened the ewes of tie masses anc re-
~yeaIs the democratic party spit Wlde
omen on the money question. What
ais the democratic party? Let LIE
tell YOU. For eight years the demo-
cratic party lived half decent lie on
stolen goods This year the reorgaSiz-
ers safe and sane,'' could make the
old strumpet look all together respect
ahle nv stealing the republican plat
form In short, bit OFF more than 1t
could swallow and choked to death.
Sinnlv a case of more stomach imam
brains. that's all.
what shall populists DO? Why SIM
nlv attend to our own business. Put
ont q I'm of organization to raise
means to support national headquarters
and go straight abe |, absolutely IN
dependent of all parties. We nave
WATSON and Tibbles, who took. us as
we Law on cur backs and stood US on
orr feet. Life has come again ana
the flags of health are flying IN our
cheeks Hope beams in every eye.
stand fast in the liberty wherewitn
we have been made free and be not
enfangled with the yoke of fusion
again Carry our own colors. beat our
own drums, pay our own bills, preach
orr own doctrine. attend to our own
business. and this do and as sure as the
rising sun kisses the far off hills, so
sure under the leadership OF watson
and Tibbles the populist party Will
drive the money changers from the
temple of liberty and restore this gov
eminent back to those who pay us
taxes and fight its b-ttles. What small
the populist party do? Simply stay IN
tho middle of the kings highway. Let
the democrats steal part; let the So
cialists steal part; let them all steal.
One thing we know, they can't steal the
keystone in the arch, j. e., the money
plank from us. Here the populist grant
Glands invincible and immovable
awaiting in sublime composure the
wreck of all parties led by demogogues'
And here we take our stand, led by
the plumed knight of the sunny south,
-1,,~,od lpioht Of the wild