The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-05-12


tinent in connection with the pro-
posed rebuilding of the peoples party.
The common history Of side parties
is about as follows: D Dissatisfac-
tion on the part of many of the rank
and file with existing conditions and
with legislation and administration ct
one or both of the two great parties;
(2) The formation and growth of some
non-political organization which
eventually develops into a political
party; 90 rise of the new party unit
it loses its identity by cooperation or
fusion with the democratic party; (4
unsuccessful attempt to regain the
lost strength by change of party maine
or some other subterfuge: (5) burial.
Then after few years OF rest, new
cycle is begun very similar to the
one previously completed.
1t is to be noted that the republl-
can party has not, since 1t became
dominant, had any direct influence in
killing off side party movements. The
democratic party has invariably done
the work. And this has led superficial
observers to believe that it was pal t
of the scheme of the money power
to have the democratic party act as
the destroyer OF every side party
movement which threatened pluto
cratic rule.
There are two good reasons why the
republican party has not directly as
sisted in killing off side parties. Most
OF the time it has been in control OF
government, and dominant parties
make no concessions to weaker ones.
But the principal reason is that ever
since the civil war was ended, the re-
publican party has been controlled
absolutely by the plutocratic element;
all its legislation and administration
except campaign sops to the old SOL
diers and age-wOrkers-haye been d.
rectly in the interest of the great
manufacturing, banking, railroad, and
done directly in the interest of the
middle class"-the retail merchants,
farmers, homecoming bone and
sinew" Of the country-by the repub-
lican party. The republican follow
ing has been made up for the greater
part OF farmers, merchants and labor
ing men who never think for them
selves, but are content TO receive from
their leaders political instruction
without question as to It's soundness.
The leaders are all working for piu-
locracy.
Many of the democratic leaders are
just as truly the agents of plutocraIy
as any republican, but within the
democratic party. there is a much
larger percentage Of what the social
lists would call "class conscious" mid
die class voters. This makes party
discipline harder to maintain, and ac-
counts for the more frequent bolt
ing in democratic conventions than
in republican conventions.
But it also accounts for cooperation
or fusion between the democratic
party and the different side parties
which have risen in the past. 1t was
no accident-nOr was it by malicious
design-that the democratic party
fused" the greenback party to death,
killed off the union, labor party, and
has the peoples party at deaths door.
Every one of these side parties was
middle class party and naturally gray
itated to democracy because within
the democratic party are the greatest
numbers of more or less independent,
thinking, middle class voters.
Is 1t possible to prevent the peoples
party from going the same way as its
predecessors No; unless it be pos
sible to control the action of the demo-
cratic party at it's coming national
convention. Resent the statement, as
many populists may-and doubtless
Wilt is nevertheless a fact that If
the plutocratic element in democracy
fails to dominate the ST. Louis con-
vention, the peoples party is sure To
go just as the greenback and union Ia
Dor parties went There Is no help
for It, The peoples party, to grow.
must get recruits from both the old
parties: 1t can get none from the DEM
ocratic party unless plutocracy domi-
mates that organization.
But while these are facts, II does |
not follow that populists should act |
the part Of Micawber and walt for
something TO turn up. They can get |
In touch with each other In all parts |
OF the country and be ready. They |
can have delegates at the Springfield |
convention from every state In the |
ITutau Thev fan Nominate n nraat-