People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1892-09-02
THE CANVASS IN BIBB.
OF A MEMBER OF THE
PEOPLES COMMITTEE.
A Vigorous Arrangement Of the Oppo-
SitiOn-A Reason the Faith
That We Hold.
To the People of Bibb County:

AS an executive committeeman of
the Peoples Party Of Bibb, repre-
senting the great common people, I
desire to place the cause we represent
fairly and squarely before the people
OF our county, and particularly be-
tore our lifelong friends, with whom
we now differ in our political views
differing chiefly, however, in the
manner of obtaining the reforms we
need, and not the reforms themselves.
In the face Of the crisis upon our
country, we ask careful considera-
ton of the reasons which, to us, are
OF such force as to drive US, for self
preservation, to seek relief from OPP
preston IN independent political &C
ton.
Religious and political freedom is
the precious heritage which our gal
liant forefathers wrung from the ty-
rants of England. Shall we sell this
blrthright for so small a mess of pot
tage as the privilege OF wearing the
Democratic collar?
Ii we are forced to be governed by
the commands Gas we have been in
the past) of little CLIQUE Of court
house politicians-a score acting for
a thousand-who have stolen the
name of Democracy while casting
aside all the principles which make
that party the party of the people /;
and who tell US we must abide by the
actions of all future party conven-
tious, adopt its platforms, vote for its
candidate regardless of what that
platform contains, or whether the
nominee is In harmony with the planks
contained therein, then, we ask, are
we not political slaves?
What are the reasons which have
driven us, the men who labor in fields
and shops, to sever our connection
with that once loved party? Have
we cause for breaking the ties which
have bound us SO closely and so long
to the Democratic party?
Have we not trusted the promises
of the leaders implicitly for years,
voting blindly and believing that our
interests were being cared for by our
servants?
For long time we have felt the
ever-increasing oppression, but could
not see the iron hand of the oppres-
sor. Sometimes doubts of the good
faith of our leaders would present
themselves to our minds, only to be
cast aside as unworthy to find an
abiding place in our loyal hearts.
Unquestioning faith matchless de-
,@votion!
IS We have seen our once fair coun-
try almost stripped Of the old set of
noble men and women who were
once free to pursue happiness and
wealth wherever they chose, driven
by increasing hardsbips to flock to
the city, their places filled by strang-
ers. We have witnessed our prop
erty and homes snatched from us by
process Of law.
We see daily enforced idleness
among our city workmen, men beg
gipg work, women desperate and
working for only enough to keep soul
and body together-misery, want and
rags!
Yet we are told that the country
was never more prosperous. Posi-
bly, it may be just right for the money
bugs, but to the workers slavery
nothing more, nothing less. No SEN
sible man will deny that our country
has reached a crisis more blasting
in it's far-reaching effect than any
that has ever Detailed this once pros
porous land.
Legislation adverse to the interest
of the people, is acknowledged by all
intelligent and fair minded men, to
have caused this depression which
hangs like a pail over our country.
That it has fallen heaviest on the
toiling masses no candid man will
deny. Compelled by stern necessity
to bend our every energy to gain our
daily bread, trusting while we
Notwithstanding over our rights
listening to the siren voices of these
leaders 'to work on and leave to us
the management of the government
and all will be right" we have at
last awaked from our Rip Van Win
kle sleep, only TO find our goodly
heritage gone and the welfare of a
trusting people betrayed.
We see now we have needed too
long their cry for office, beguiled
into returning them to office only to
be repaid by fresh treachery. The
republican bosses tell the Northern
and Western farmers and laborers
to vote for the G. o. p, the friend of
the people, and that they will get
their demands, and that the demo-
cratic party is the cause of all their
ills. Our democratic masters tell US,
"Stick to the old ribbed, unter-
rifed democracy, boys, and you shall
have everything you want and more
too; the republicans have made all
these laws which have hurt you so
send us back and when we get full
swing and little larger working
majority we will set 'em up right"
Have we not tried in every way
in the past to get relief before taking