The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-12-08
Nucleus for q Revolt

ANAOAOuo IVA - 49, -
Editor Independent: In compliance
with The Independents policy OF refer
endum to the populist voters of the
country, relative to fusion or anti-fr-
sion, if the editor will remember, Il
expressed myself against fusion in the
columns of The Independent two or
three years ago. And am very glad
to go on record at this time as ire
vocably against fusion with the demo-
cratic, or any other party; and above
all things, politically, let the populist
fight shy of any entangling alliances
with the so-called democratic party.
The populist party has demonstrated
beyond the possibility of doubt that
they do not care so much for the Of
fetal places as they do to have their
advocated principles enacted into law.
Although unprecedented in the history
of any party, in national convention
they nominated a man Of the demo-
cratic party for president and re-
publican for vice-president, and what
did this bimetal, reform, good, moral
and pious party do at it's convention.
Why it slapped the whole reform ele-s
ment of the country in the face, by
turning down Mr.. Towne and substi-
tuting one of their own henchmen, and
/ am sorry to say that have never
heard of any protest from Mr.. Bryan.
The facts in the case are this: In
the early nineties the populists were
carrying on an educational propaganda
with frey zeal that BODIED no good
to the plutocrats of the country. The
scheming conspiratOrs of the country
had up to this time, manged to keep
the people organized in two hostile
camps or parties, the solid south and
the no less solid north, by welding the
Bloody shirt, and were thus able to for
mulate the policies of the government
to their own advantage. But in this
educational propaganda of the populist
party the bloody shirt lost it's power
to divide. Then the cOnspiratOrs be-
gan their war upon the reform move
ment, by using the daily press to mis-
represent, Witty and ridicule every
thing populistic. Still the movement
continued to gain strength. Counties,
then states, fell into the hands of the
populist party. They elected judges,
congressman and senators, and every
one of them an able teacher in politi-
cal economy Cor national housekeeping.
The special privilege class saw that if
the populists were allowed to continue
their educational program, that it was
only a question of very short time
that the people would take the govern
ment reins in their own hands and re-
turn to Lincoln republicanism and JEFF
ferson democracy, and hence there
must something be done if they re-
tanned their hold upon governmental
affairs. They had learned that the
populists could not be driven to dis
bandment, so they scehemed to lead
or sell them to the destruction of the
party. They had brought into exis-
tence against such fearful odds and
with so much sacrifice. The first thing
on the program in the plot was to ap-
propriatei enough Of the populist plat
form to make 1t palatable for the pop
ulist voter. They now had the hook
and line The next step in the plot
was proper Ddlt ilile SJuucu prophet
is a fisherman), they knew that the
populists would refuse to support a
man-even on their own platform
unless they thought that the man rep
resented their principles, and hence
they allowed Mr.. Bryan to be nomi-
mated for president, the object being to
absorb all that had come of the dem
ocratic party and to drive back to the
republican party all that came out of
that party.
The democratic and republican par
ties have been fighting, either politi-
cally or in civil war for hundred
years, and any reform party organized
must come out of these parties and
draw its strength from both or it can
not succeed.
Therefore, let me say, no more en-
tangling alliances with any party I'M
der any circumstances whatever. I
am heartily in favor of keeping the
populist organization up. It will form
= neucleuS for a revolt which is liable