The independent., 1904-12-22

that the result Of the last campaign
might be offered at least as an excuse
for not doing so. I claim that no man
who voted Tor Mr.. Bryan in 1886 or
1900 has a moral right now to criticiSe,
let alone abuse him for still maintain
ing his relations to tne democratic par
ty, and to continue to do SO is evidence,
&c :;f mind the! Il 4: :s net reforms they
are mostly seeking after, but party,
or personal aggrandizement or gain.
Mr.. Harrington, a few weeks ago, in
your columns, suggested and very ably
argued the formation OF new party,
under a new name. but he also sug-
gested weighty reasons against its
probable success. Such a move when
feasible and concurred in by the pop
ular sentiment of the reform element
of the country, would meet my approv-
al, but the same ground would have to
be gone over, and the same difficulties
would have to be met. and overcome
that the populist party has expert
enced, or is now up against. Many
political parties have been born in this
country but few have ever become
hoary with age, or even long survived
the pangs of birth. Many of them,
however, have done much good by
pointing out evils, suggesting their
remedies and by agitation forcing a
stronger party than their own to OPP
pose and abolish them. This much
the populist party has already done,
and, weak as it seems to be, by the
returns of the last election, it is still
capable of doing much more. / am,
therefore, in favor of its further and
it's indefinite continuation as local
and national organization, and when
it seems wise to do so. as the surest
and speediest road to desired results,
/ am in favor Of a combination, co-ope-
ration, or fusion with democrats, re-
publicans, socialists, or any other par
ty organization that seems to give
reasonable promise of those results.
/ like Mr.. Watson and Mr.. Bryan
both. If it were not a display Of
weakness | would say love them
both. OF course, / am the better ac-
quainted personally with Mr.. Bryan
He don't only live in my state and
county, but in my voting precinct, and
school and road districts. But | have
heard them both often, and never get
tired of hearing them. They are SINH
lar in all respects and yet not alike
in scarcely any. Speaking astronomi-
cally Mr.. Watson is meteoric. while
Mr.. Bryan should be classed among the
fixed stars. Mr.. Watson, according to
his own statement, is the comet ap-
pearing in the political heavens peri
odically, while Mr.. Bryan is constantly
in view. They are both great and,
believe, good men, and both occupy
conspicuous positions and have great
influence in their respective parties.
Eight years ago they both ran on the
same ticket and practically on the.
same platform and neither has changed
his political views. Why should either
of them, or their friends say or do
anything to the discredit or injury of
either. Neither of them, nor any of us,
is 'too wise to err" but all of us de-
string and advocating the reforms to
which we all are committed should Ger
tainly be "too good to be unkind." If
present conditions continue, in ma
terial matters. in this country. and
present policies are pursued with ref
erence to political affairs, it requires no
prophet to foretell what party will pre-
side over the destinies of this country
for very many years to come. Any
other party to supplant the republican
party will require, as far as the popu-
lar vote is concerned, not only the vote
of the entire opposition to Mr.. Roose-
velt at the last election, but the con-
version of about two millions of re-
publican supporters. How foolish,
therefore, it seems to me on the part
of persons or papers to add to the
discomfort and natural jealousies grow
ing out of a heated campaign after the
election is over. Let us recruit our
forces from every possible source, ar
NOR anew our battle ships, calk our
keels and prepare in every way pos
sible to unitedly attack the common
enemy under any leader that our unit
ed wisdom may at the proper time