Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-12-16
RETURNING GREENBACK-
ERS.
Letter of Delegate Holt of
Preston County Endorsing
Speaker Moffett's Position.

The following letter was addressed
to Speaker Moffett by John II. Holt,
Esq, upon the publication OF Mr..
MoHett's declination to join in a third
party movement. Mr.. Holt was elect
ed as a Greenbacker from Preston
county and acted with the Greenbackers
in the last Legislature.
KINGwooD, W. Va, November 10.
My DEAs SIR have Just read your
letter to the Hon. John RICHTER, as it
appeared in the REGISTER of Saturday
last, in which you so fully and clearly
set forthyour reasons for dissenting from
third party" movement i'll this
State in the coming contest OfneXt year,
and as your views 50 entirely comport
with my own feelings upon the same
subject, think it is not improper to
make it known to you. In opposing
the means by which resumption was
brought about and the financial policy
of John Sherman and his followers, the
Greenback party represented truth and
right; and think no one will question
the business of its demands. But in its
demands it simply asked for a change
in the administration OF Il single
branch OF the government. They
never asked that the Constitu-
ton might be subjugated or
disregarded, but on the other hand that
it might be made supreme and main
tanned in all OF its purity. The great
policy 10 be pursued iii X" siSa6 UiaieG
of the Government, but as to whether
the Constitution of our Fathers, the
very life blood of our institutions is TO
remain as the organic law Of this cOun-
try. The Republican party has taken
the ground that it is not;
that it can be disregsrded, that
State lines means nothing, and
that the State governments may be in
vaded with impunity. What, then,
with such an issue confronting them, is
the duty OF the GTccnback party? An
issue made up on one side by princi-
pies, that we calculated 10 centralizc the
functions OF government so as to com
pletelv annihilate every principle OF
free government and establish upon Its
ruins the most dangerous class OF impe-
rialisms Can they who have with such
vehemence denounced the aggressive
policy OF the Republicans in one single
branch of the government now hesitate
when they see the same common enemy
stretching forth its hands to crush out
the very government itseliY You
say that the Greenback party
must be in sympathy with the Demo
cracy, in this great fight. What else
would il be? But while the Democratic
party must we'll maintain its time-hOn-
ored principles which have proved its
strength in the past, it must also lift of
its extreme BurbOn element, bury It's
internal disaIections, allowing gone
bys TO be gone-bys,' come out and take
a bold and fearless stand for COnstitu-
tiOnal government, making n vigorous
fight over living issues, then all true
GreenbaCkers as well as all lovers oil the
Government Fathers will flock 10 their
support. | must, however, suggest the
name of MaiOr-General Hancock as my
preference as the standard bearer OF the
Democracy in 1880. have thus briefly
written YOU because OF your acquaint-
ance with my relation TO this sub
iect. and because ! think your letter
ought TO receive the ready COM
mendation of every right-thinking man
Of both Greenbeck and Democratic par
ties, and that il is calculated to do much
good in consolidating the friends OF con-
stitutiOnal government, and II so, may
we not expect a great victory?
am, with much respect, yours, DC.
JOHS II. HOLT.
To Hon. Georgr IT. Nofet, Clorerlick, w..
Ia.