Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-02-11
e. $. Bragg as. F. u. Brook.

e. $. Bragg as. F. u. Brook.
EDITOR REPUBLICAN.-Gen. T. s.
Bragg being noted specimen OF the
species known as professional politician
and sfice-seeker," my friends and your
readers must have been much myssified
over the vehement, bordering on the row
dyish, manner in which he Bragg con-
tradicted my statement that in 1875 'he
had been blowing long and deep 10 the
9Th and 9th wards but withou, accom-
plishing anything" and an explanation
Oh my part may therefore be in order.
The readers of the dsfunct WATERFOWL
Democrat will remember TIE persistency
and determination with which that paper,
blythe medium Of my pencil, antsgonized
and denounced the fat money hallucins'
ton, and how its war on the greenback
craze received the commentator of lie
readers and all honest men, and drew
down upon itself the maledictions of tim .
servers and policy men everywhere. The
Fond du Lac platform (1877)-attributed
to the craftsmanship and pen of E. 8.
Brsgg-"declares its hostility to the
financial policy Of the republican party
in Withdrawing capital from taxation"
(whatever that may mean) increasing
the burdens Of the public debt by declar
ing currency bonds payable in geld,
demonetizing silver in the interest of the
creditor (bondholder) IS aud at
tempting to force resumption when it
will bring .uin upon the general business
interests of the country" and demands
instead that silver be re-
monetized and the present resumption
act be repealed and resumption be post
poned, opposition to longer
continuance of the national bank curren-
cy, and that the government furnish its
own notes (greenbacks) for The place
thereof" (The resumption act was not
repealed bat the country still lives.
Silver was renonstizsd, aud is corded up
in government sheds, and congress 10
about to stop its coinage again because
nobody will use it.
Many readers of this will remember
the interesting spectacle of Judge Mallory,
at Turner Hall, advocating the green
back doctrines of the platform, and Mr..
Deustsr Immediately following, in Ger
man, prouncing it sll humbug.
To be true to my convictions and the
readers Of the Democrat could do no
less than oppose and dsnounes this
treachery to the time shonored-principles
of the democracy, trusting to time and a
re-awakeAiBg of the honest masses, fora
vindicxtion. continued the battle for
honest money and specie payment, though
sometimes with heavy heart and dark
forebodings, sbeing almost alone among
the democratic papers of the state, and
later my endorsement was as complete no
as it was gratifying, though the finger
marks of Bragg's venom in punishment
of me have been manifest in numerous
instances since that time. The democrat.
ic convention Of 1879 (Gsn. Bragg having
been sent to the rear) resolved as follows:
"That, as the democratic party adherss to
the financial doctrine which it establish
ed when in power, that the constitution
al currency of the country and the basis
of all otAer should be gold and silver coin ,
so we maintain that all national treasury
notes and authorized currency should be
convertible into the same on demand"
Now, though had in quiet way, in
1876, assisted Gen. Bragg iu securing a
nomination, because dared in 1877,
and ever after, to question the homes
and democracy of the Fond du Lac plat
form (Bragg's handiwork) I have been
the subject Of unrelenting persecution at
his hands, and his coarse denial of my
narrative of Chow the 9Th and 9th wards
were carried" is simply another manifes-
tation sf his determination to punish me
at every opportunity. No man in Wis.
consin has plowed longer and deepe,
than Gen. Bragg to secure Office. First
running as an independent after defeat