The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1882-08-10
An Opvn Letter to Hon. VIM NJ Rust

Mr.. WIN. NJ. RUST:
Dear SRI have been intending to address
you an open letter for some time but have been
very busy of late, SO ] will take the opportunity
| have on this pleasant August evening and eX-
plain to you why I think you are a better DEM
ocrat than Greenbacker. | remember hearing
you speak in 1876 and you said you Were &
Greenbacker, and the reason YOU said so, Mr.
Rust, was because you wanted Greenback sup
port, for you wanted office In 1878 YOU favored
fusion, but you seemed to be on friendly terms
with Scion Chase. You remember that he was
then Il candidate for Congress and YOU said he
was an honest and upright man, one who could
not be bought or sold by either the Democratic
or Republican parties, and you hoped he would
be elected Why is not Scion Chase as good
man to-day as he was in 1873: He has always
been a Greenbacker since the party started, and
is a man who believes in principles rather than
policy. Why are you and those who favor flu
sion calling him molasses patriot and every
man who has the courage to stand up and sup
port him this fall an instrument to his Whims :?
Simply because the Grccnback song has lost its
charms for YOU, as You clearly indicate in the
columns of your paper. Did you claim to be
Greenbacker two years ago when YOU stood ND
and voted for that hard money Democrat, Win
field Scott Hancock, instead of that genuine
Greenbacker, Gen. James B. Weaver: Did YOU
claim it to be Greenback talk when you said on
Oct. 2lst, 1880. THAT the chances as they stand
to-day are much more than equal in fayorof Han
cocks election, and we predict his election with
the utmost confidence. And let every Fusion
iSt grid on his armor and make our victory
doubly sure" If you call that Grecnback talk
then ASK where is the Grcenback party of
Maine:
Mr.. Rust, you Were one Of the first men in
Waldo County who advocated the principles Of
the Greenback party II was YOU who examined
the financial affairs Of the country and became
convinced that they were un>ound. 1t was You
who began Il vigorous canvass of the whole
question; and it was through your labOrs. in
your paper, and by your speaking, that the
people in this county left the two old parties
and found q home in the National Grcrnback
Party. And say You We're the first in die State
of Maine to advocate Fusion. and by Your Ia
bors i'll Your paper and speaking to that effect ,
You influenced very many men to rally to the
platform which demands hard money. Mr..
Rust. how much better OF would our country
be financially should the Democratic party
come into power than it is at the present DAY
under Republican administration. Democrats
sleep in the same bed with Republicans upon
the financial question. Their platforms are a
unity, for their platforms of 1882 1896, 1910,
and their doctrines repudiated. Read their
platforms of 1876 and lSSo. and YOU will find
the Democratic party rs much national bank
party rs the Republican party. Now, | want
TO say in conclusion, that am one Of the Young
men in Waldo county who intends to vote the
straight Grernback ticket thi, fall if vote
alone, and will never barter truths for errors -,
for | believe. with Milton. that Truth is
strong Next to the Almighty She needs no
policies, no sratagems, no Iren>iug> to make
her victorious. And will follow her where
ever She may lead. If from power, then | am
against power. If from the mass. then am
against the mass. IT into the solitude, and the
desert, will make her my companion forever
Please read this letter, Mr.. Rust and answer
it in next weeks issue of the Age. stating how
you can be true Greenbackcr while advocate
ing Fusion with the Democratic party.
am truly yours, f. W. GuwEN.
FREEDOM. Me, Aug. ). 1852