The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-12

Forcibie Appeal to Their Good Judgment
by Hon. u. Il. Gordon.
SANDY, RAPPAHASNocK CoUNTY.
August Q 1872 (

by Hon. II. II. Gordon.
sandy, RAPPAHANNocK COUNTY.
August 9. 1892.
To the Democratic Members of the Third
Party:
Three years ago I was honored with tho
leadership Of an undivided party. What
ever claims l may have possessed TO your
confidence am not conscious Of having for
feited them. and il is in their name. rather
than as the representative Of o rival orgsnl-
cation, that ask leave TO call 70 your at
tention some features In the coming cam
paign which seem 10 me vitality TO affect the
welfare OF our people.
However opinions may differ rs TO the
measures you advocate. no sane man can
doubt the existence. of evils you seek TO rem
edy.
The widespread depression among far
mers. their virtual exclusion by law or prac-
tice from banking facilities the fierce and
growing competition of the West more tnan
justify the formation OF a party whose single
object shall be the correction OF these
grievances
We're II in your power 10 secure the sue
cess Of your ticket IL would be idle TO sug-
gest q surrender Of your position, OF even
the concession of any material point. As It
is the most enthusiastic member OF your
party cannot hope 20 carry the State TINS
fall. At most you could only accomplish
the defeat of the Democracy and the sue
cess of the Republican party.
10 is for you 70 decide whether that sue
cess would further your cause aud how
much you will gain by abandoning those
principles you have 80 long supported and
those comrades by whose side you have
fought for so many years.
The Democratic party offers you by the
repeal of the State Bank tax an increase OF
currency estimated by many "A even larger
than would have resulted from the tree
coinage of silver.
1t promises you relief from those taxes
upon the necessaries Of life whose only JUS
tiication is the plea that they have advanced
wages
II is not necessary for you 10 60 10 Penn
sylyana 10 refute this claim for no body OF
men are in a better position than yourselves
10 know that 1t Is false.
Republican supremacy. on the other hand,
will mean q contracted currency. 10 Will
mean increased taxation whose proceeds
will be squand cred in the further democrat
iZation of the Union soldier
Above all. 1t will mean the passage OF the
Force bill
The silence Of their speakers. the faint
hearted denials of their local leaders. cannot
make you forget the supreme enOrt they
made 70 pass 1t two years ago and the sol
emn pledges renewed TO their followers in
Minneapolis scarcely two months since.
The men who voted for it are etill IN the
Senate; the President who urged il Is still
the candidate of his party the press that adj
Yocated it has never rotracted a syllable OF
It's praise. The negro has set his heart upon
il and demands 1t as the price of his vote.
If human experience sheds any light upon
the future and human language Is capable
of expressing thought their first act will be
10 entrench themselves IN power by the pas
sage Of such a bill.
A measure described by one of its former
advocates as the most Infamous that ever
crossed the threshold Of the Senate needs
little conformation az the hands of its pro-
posed victims.
In the very words Of its author it means
bayonet behind every ballot" Rather
than describe the horrors OF such a condi-
ton I wi trust to your patriotism to avert
them. However you may cast your vote,
/ for one shall not doubt that you have done
so with q full sense Of the responsibility in
volyed and actuated by as sincere a love Of
our common State as any class of her clti-
Zens. Very respectfully
BASIL Is. GORDON.