When McKinley won the 1896 election it basically killed off the Populists Party, yet fusing with the Democrats did not help that party either. Republicans went on to hold the White House and most of Congress, with few exceptions until 1932. Silver, which had become such a large issue, and even tariffs would soon be replaced with foreign policy issues. Finally, a group known as Progressives would take over the call of reform but now pushed efforts through much slower and more conservatively.
Historically Speaking 