The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-08-28
BUTLER'S LETTER.

BOSTON, August 1S.-Tod day Ben
Butler gave his letter Of acceptance as
candidate OF the antiSmonopolist
greenback-labor and various other
| parties, to the Associated press. He
commences by explaining that when
he went as representative of the
democratic party TO Chicago, but
| more particularly as representative
II the antI-monupollst and labor party,
when he attempted to incorporate
planks in the platform of the national
democracy for the b nefit Of the peo-
pie, he was sat down upon by vote
Of 7711z to 973z. He therefore con-
siderS lie has 40 allegiance to the DEM
ocratic party. In view CT the fact, he
continues. that we have no
works of the democratic party
during the last twenty-five years,
it having accomplished nothing
as to what it will do, and it refuses
emphaticalty to give any pledges to
the working people that it will work
to their Interests, the laboring classes
have nothing whatever to expect from
it. He next turns his attention to the
republican party and says that, as it
has fostered mOnopolies and monOpo-
lists during its hold upon the govern
ment, and has always shown itself in
imical to the interests of labor, that
the working classes can have no hopes
from it also. AS regards the tariff he
claims that both parties are weak
that the democratic party tried its,
best to form tariff platform that
should mean the same as the repub-
lican, but read different. Both of
them would tamper with the tariff
only in the interests of the rich.
Next he calls the attention of the
working classes to the fact that al
though powerful in numbers they
never accomplish anything for them
selves. Why is it? Because the Ia
bCr9r and mechanic in the
city follows the fetish OF
tie democratic party. The farmer in
the field follows the fetish of the re-
publican party. Both follow their
tetishes as bllndly as ever did the
negroes who fought in the jungles of
Both the farmer and the
laborer are ruined by these fetishes
and the rich fatten upon their labor.
When you would help yourselves, he
goes on to state, your enemies cry you
are DESERVING your party-that your
votes will count for nothing. That
was said of the free soil and the re-
publican parties in their infancy and
still became powerful and the latter
successful. So it will be with you
and workers of our coun-
try if you work for yourselves. But
Y GU must SOW before you can reap.
Y GU must commence to sow at once.
Y GU may not be successful in this |
but in 1888 you can sweep |
the country, and in 1884 your influence |
will be felt. Success is not uncertain,
still, organize. By this l do not mean
that you shall form political machines |
and give birth to their concomitants |
bosses. Work, but with a |
will-not showily. Let all the work |
men in one shop march silently to the |
polls and vote as one man
That will count, you will
finally win. Let every party, every |
body of men opposed to the two great
parties, form themselves into one
grand organization and let us call it
THE PEOPLES PARTY.
This VIII be the party of the future. |
A new era will dawn upon our coun- |
try; legislation for the rich shall cease,
and the poor shall have a chance. |
This will be class legislation, your OPP |
ponents will say. Answer them yes!
You have had your legislation one |
hundred years-let us have ours now
for time.
General Butler further advises his |
to combine with the minor |
ty party in all the states on the basis
that if the combined forces elect their |
electoral ticket our course will be
that the electoral votes shall be divid- |
ed amongst the victors on the percent |
age of the votes cast by each. By
this we may throw the election into |
and likely finally win. After |
calling attention to his record as a
friend to the workingman with few
parting words to the democracy Of |
Massachusetts,, the general brings his
letter to close. 1t is a mastery doc |
ment, and must have great effect dur
ing the campaign.