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About The independent. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907 | View Entire Issue (May 28, 1903)
I, ML 0 WW Vol. XV. LINCOLN, NEB., MAY 28, 1903. No. 1. POYNTER'S VIEW $ - L1: Former Popalial Gorerner of Nebraska Writee on the Question of What tha ' Peoples Farty fchaii do Editor Independent: The question of Independent action is the most im portant one now confronting the pop ulist party. It has been very clearly demonstrated that the democratic party-(with which populists have been acting for some time) on account of its hopelessly divided condition, if for no other reason, does not possess the power to meet the great questions of the hour. 'A large wing of that party is as fully under the control. of the trusts as ever the republican party has been, or is now. An additional num ber of democrats, which we have good reason to believe is large, are weary of what they call defeat, and will welcome any change which brings with it the hope of democratic office holding. ; - ; The effort at reform which Mr. Bry an and his followers so - gallantly made, has ad fed one more proof to the truth that no party was ever re formed from within, or in other words, reformed itself. History is full of such futile efforts. Reforms have been made, but they have ..been made not within, but without the party. Populists entertained strong hope that by alliance with reformers in the democratic party the coalition would be stronger than independent action and thereby the purposes for which the populist party was organized would the sooner be accomplished. But time has shown its impracticabil ity. indications now point to the success of what is known as the reorganiza tion of the democratic party. This means in plain language the depos ing of Mr. Bryan and hi3 reform ideas and the adoption of the leadership of Mr. Cleveland, "sound money" and - "tariff reform." With such democracy the populist party can have neither ! fellowship nor sympathy. A wide op portunity was afforded us for the disseminatio- of populist doctrine by our coalition with the democrats, but with reorganization an accomplished fact that opportunity no longer exists. The time is now ripe to regather our forces and line them up upon the principles of the Omaha platform for the fray of 1904. - Whatever disintegra tion has happened to our ranks ha3 been caused by our union with the democratic party. Independent action will in large measure recover these scattered forces. Our trinity of prin ciples enunciated in the Omaha plat form, which was received with such derision by the great eastern press . today commands the respectful con sideration, of thoughtful men every where. The adoption of these prin ciples in government is the only solu tion of the great questions before thj people now. Strikes, lockouts, and the numerous ills which are today ruining labor, vexing business Interests and robbing consumers, are but symptoms of the diseased condition of our body politic. Arbitration is now the great soporific, which, while quieting to the patient for the time, does nothing to eradicate the disease. Conditions re maining, the paroxyms are sure to ra- turn. -; Populists have made the correct diagnosis, and present the remedies for radical cure. It is folly to talk of legislating against trusts while the great mother of them all. the money monopoly, flourishes under congres sional protection; and the transporta tion monopoly builds up or wrecks fortunes for individuals or communi ties at its own will. The advice of Greeley, "go west, young man," no longer affords a solution to the land question, 'now already assuming vast impcrtar.ee especially in the eastern states, because the arable homestead lands are exhausted. ' Government must again resume its functions, too long farmed out to cor porations, and issue all money without , the intervention of banks of issue, Government must own and operate the transportation of the country in the interests of all the people. Wit'.i these two powers taken from the lands of monopoly, the trust question will very soon adjust itself. More people today than ever before believe in the doctrines of the populist party, If the larger portion of the principles advocated in the Omaha platform was left to an unprejudiced vote of the people they would receive a majority of ballots in their favor. Party prejudice is hard to over come. Men will meet each other upon a middle ground. In Independent ac tion the populist party will present that middle ground. Democrats who believe in principle above party, and are patriots rather than pie-biters, will gladly aid the success of populist principles. Republicans who are weary of trust domination and are tired of broken pledges will help. Let us make the platform along the lines of the Omaha document, short, crisp, and to the point, arid unite all pa triots to stand with us upon it- W. A. POYNTER. Lincoln, Neb." UTAH POPULISTS Former Committeeman Lawrence Says the People Party Hee Ceased to Exist in Utah Editor Independent: Your letter of 16th inst, with Henry George Edi tion, is at hand, for which please ac cept thanks. In reply to your questions, permit me to say that the populist party has ceased to exist in thi3 state. Fusion with the democrats killed the party. Those who were formerly populists have generally joined the socialists, to which party I am now giving my sup port. We cast-about 3,000 votes at the last election, and were it not for the opposition of the dominant church in this state, we would poll a larger vote. The populist party has been the means of preparing the way for rt great change in social and economic t'-ought, but I sincerely believe that socialism has to complete the work of freeing the people from political and industrial slavery. With best wishes to The Indepen dent in its work of reform, I am, very truly yours, H. W. LAWRENCE. Box 1374, Salt Lake City. - (Lr. Lawrence , . is to be compli mented for joining' the party whos? principles he sincerely believes in. Some far-seeing socialists with whomr The Independent has talked recently have about reached the conclusion that the co-operative commonwealth will, after all, not be ushered in through the capture of the govern ment at one fell swoop, but that the path may He through "state capital ism,'! that is, the publie ownership of railroads, etc. although that is a matter with which scientific socialists are not concerned further than mere onlookers in the evolution of society. Carnegie's recent declaration in favor of public ownership of the railroads is significant as indicating that the time is not far distant when It will be an assured fact This is one of the fundamental demands of populism, and although the plutocrats will doubtless plan to take every advant age of the situation, the accomplish ment of securing public ownership will be a decided victory for populist principles. Associate Editor.) iency to the gold gambling Wall street clique, Jv P. Morgan and the Ikle heimers, threw the country Into a panic. His banker friends climbed the golden stairs by every route conceiv able; in the east men fought for bread in the west men burned their cufii. The bonded debt was increased more during his administration than it was by Mr. McKinley during the Spanish war. - With 180,000,000 ounces of un coined Oliver in the treasury Mr Cleveland redeemed silver certificates with gold coin. And finally bought off his tormentors with a lump sum of nearly f 20,000,000 United StatC3 bonis. That : the Seligmans,- Ikleheimers and Morgans should wish" Old Jumbo back n the -presidential office is not to be wondered at Mr. McKinley, ;i free silver republican, coined every ounce of the seigniorage this blind old donkey shied at, and was lauded to the skies for it That thisjjlunder ing old traitor should crawl out of his grave and play the part of Caesar and Richard III., refusing the crown, is tdb funny for anything outside of a comic almanac. The presidency is farther from Gro ver Cleveland's reach than the farth est fixed star and equally as inacces sible. As against Mr. Roosevelt it is doubtful if he would receive a single electoral vote. His strength can be measured by the Palmer and BucV. ner vote of '96. To my personal knowledge Jumbo was sold like an ox to the Seligmans before his last nom ination. Seligman's son-in-law was making the open bid of $240,000 to the delegates at the Chicago convention for Cleveland's campaign fund. Had Boies, Hill or any other man bean nominated at Chicago in '92, Cleve land would have gone home to the mugwumps just as he did in '96. If the democratic party has become so barren of presidential timber that it must nominate a republican, why not make Teddy's election unani mous? He is today Ihe better demo crat of the two, both in theory and in practice. Another "four years more of Grover" would mean the death and eternal damnation of . the democratic party. Knowing this to be true, is the reason why the mugwumps are so anxious to secure his nomination. Alex h. vance. Milford, Neb. THE PEOPLES PARTY ; Dog-day Madness Editor Independent: The folly and dog-day madness of those mugwump reorganizes, republicans and warmed ever democratic degenerates, who voted with the republicans in 1896 and 1900, and are now seeking to force the nomination of Mr. Cleveland on the party he has betrayed, is with out a parallel in history. As well might Judas have contended for th3 place of Peter, or Benedict ArnoU have sought to succeed Washington. Grover Cleveland in his best estate was a" political calamity to his coun try and his party an aggregation of egotism, entrails and obstinacy, be loved by his enemies for his betrayal of his friends. , ILat any body of respectable Amer lean citizens should violate a politi cal precedent, established by Wasi- ington, to honor a man who has be-m rebuked and sat upon as Mr. Cleve land has, is wholly inconceivable. The democratic party has not yet dug out from under the calamity of his last administration. Mr. Cleveland's sc ond administration was remarkable and distinguished only for its blun dering and stupidity; ; his subsarv Bartley'B Coalition. Editor Independent: I fully agree with James Bartley's article under the heading of "Jeffersonian Clubs," March 26, and gladly send my name as he requests. Would suggest that we let it be known we are a part of ihe so-called Bryan remnant. How would it do to start a list under a proper heading? If those eastern plutocrats aand money kings cannot run this govern ment, they might carry into effect tin threat that was made in some of their papers in 'S6 that they could annex the eastern states to England. Start a list, and let us hear from the Bryan remnant And at the same time send your subscription to Th? Independent and Commoner, two of the best and cleanest, containing more Information in them to the. square inch than any other papers on earth, and more editorials and cl.'an cut wisdom. Where can you beat them? M. D. MORSE. Hickman Mills, Mo. Bishop McVicker has been telling the people of Aldrich's principality some very plain truths. Among other things he said: "The laws which are to be made and the offices for their administration are spoils and loot to be acquired at a price in the interest of any party or any scheme, no matter how selfish or evil may be its aim, and all chance for the expression of the popular conscience or popular right through the ballot, the one prac tical method apart from revolution, is either prevented or choked." Within twenty-four hours after the address was given, the henchmen of Aldrich raised the cry that the bishop was ad vocating revolution, and that he was a dangerous man and ought to be sup pressed. Aldrich rules more despot ically in Rhode Island than Quay does in Pennsylvania. There was never anything on earth so infernally rot ten as the republican party. National Committeeman E. Gerry Brown, of Massachusetts, aires Reasons For the Faith That's In Illm L The Independent's letters to the populist national committeemen are . bearing abundant fruit Last week Committeeman Elmer E. Thomas of Omaha told of the revival of populist strength in Nebraska's metropolis; and this week Independent readers have the pleasure of hearing from ' Committeeman E. Gerry Brown of Massachusetts, who has been a mem ber of the national committee con tinuously since 1891, and who has beeu an active participant In all the grea, populist gatherings. Mr. Brown's letter ought to be an inspiration to populists everywhere who feel in the least down-hearted. He has entered into the spirit of The Independent's idea in writing to . the national committeemen to hold, through the columns of the paper, a genuine populist revival and experi ence meeting; to compare notes and be ready to take definite action as a national party when the proper time comes. Mr. Brown says: Editor Independent: I have received your Henry George Independent and also your circular letter of inquiry addressed to members of our national committee for information and opin ions. Before replying specifically to, your questions permit me to say that your proposition for a symposium or views of members of the national committee is the right thing at the right time. Some weeks ago I made . a suggestion to the Missouri World that it should endeavor to interest - our members in an exchange of opin ions as to what could be done and at the same time secure information from each state which might be a basis , for future action. I also suggested that each one might be willing to con tribute at least a subscription because those members who could not attend a national conference would have the privilege of hearing from old-time friends who have our cause at heart. Too often our national committea meetings have been held without any opportunity for an exchange of views of members from different states; we come together and separate without being posted as we should be if we are to do our full public duty as national committeemen. Next to a meeting of the national committee I consider the work you have undertaken to be the most important contribution that could now be made towards once again giving practical and well defined di rection to the spirit of populism which is the spirit of 1776. May all the good fellowship of our movement Join you in your work. I anticipate the great pleasure I shall have in common with ; others in reading your paper, for I hope and believe that each member will respond to your call as a duty incumbent upon each true populist at this time. ' The Independent Is right in saying that the people's party is not dead. As well might Ve say that our first Ideal, Polk, or our gifted Ignatius Don nelly or a host of others that we might name with a tinge of sorrow because we shall no more grasp the welcom ing hand of flesh, are dead; but; we know that all the attributes thai made t-em lovable to us, all the individual ity that gave matchless energy to the cause of human rights, still lives though having joined the majority that has passed the grave of corrup tion. The cause for which we fight can never die, and never did it need every one who places principles above party and the man above the dollar as it needs them now. From 1891 down to 1896 our party had a monopoly so far as the declar ation of public ownership of public utilities was concerned. Private credit shall not circulate as national cur rency was the Jeffersonian principle than won us hosts of converts; trans-, portation at cost was a close second and with some a leader; then came our declaration as to land. We all know the controversy which has al ways arisen as to our land plank. We had it at Cincinnati in 1891 and in St. Louis in 1892, where the labor organi zations from the farms and the cities made the platform which we adopted . word for word and letter for letter at Omaha. Shall we ever again have