The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-10-31
COLONEL sNEAD TAKES LEAVE.
"A Well-Known Georgian Joins tho Third
Party.

Thomson, Ga, October 25-(Special)
Colonel Claiborne Snead, well known in this
state as having been Il most active partici-
pant III democratic affairs, has written Il
letter to Hon. Q. II. Ellington, chairman
OF the committee on arrangements at the
recent mass meeting at Thomson, when
MI. Watson spoke, explaining why he could
not attend and also giving his reasons for
joining the populist party. The letter is liz,
follows:
ParneH, Ga, October 1s-Hon c. II. Filing
ton. Chairman Of Committee. Dear Sir: En-
gagements for this week Will prevent com
pIlance with your invitation to the popust
rally at Thomson next Friday, but | shall be
with You in sympathy.
Having ever been Il disciple of Jcffersonian
democracy, and never having voted other
than il straight democratic ticket, from the
time my maiden ballot was cast for stephen
4. Douglas until the present moment, you
may well imagine my regret in bidding alden
to party with which | have been 50 long
associated. This regret, however, is tenn
pcred by the reflection that the democratic
party, rs 1T present constituted, has only the
name without the prime pies; and the pledges
N its platform are regarded as mere "glttcr-
ing generaltilcS ito gull the people,, accord
nag to the authority Of Il distinguished demo.
cratic member of congress from the state Of
Maryland, who stands ia high favor with the
Cleveland administration.
On the contrary. | always WAS OF the or.n-
ion that the principles enunciated by party
in IT'S platform We're to be the guiding star
would be held as sacred as the ark Of the
covenant.
The main pledge in the democratic plat
form. and N which The people are vitality in
terCStod was the coinage of silver, one uf
the moneys Of the constitution, upon 4 parity
with gold, and without cost at the mint 70
the owners Of the metal; or in other words
the free coinage of silver.
This solemn pledge to the people which
mainly. contributed 10 the success Of H."
party. is being violated by the president under
a democratic mask in carrying ont republican
principles. al least so far a the currency
is involved. with such allies as that stalwart
republican. Thomas Il. Reed Of the house.
ana John sherman, of the senate the father
of the act dcmonctiZing silver which Senator
John G. Carlisle, now secretary of the treas
ury, denounced AS the moss infamous crime
Of this or any other age"
That pedg" has been violated by majority
of the democratic members Of tho house Of
representatives. by voting to strike d0Nn tho
only remaining statute left for the protection
Of silver, and consequently establishing the
single gold standard.
The people want the free coinage of silver
III order To stop that continual decrease in
values of labor. Of land and nj! the pruduc-
lions thereof, which has been stca lily in mo-
ton since its demonet;Zation in 1872 uutl
row. Our lands. especially in the rural dis
tfiniS, are almost without any marEet value,
while from the products Of the soil the costs
OF PRODUCTION, are barely realized This is
no fancy sketch. but stern. greWs0me fact.
The people cry ont for relief by this al
ditinnai currency. which cannot he controlled
ny The plutocratic gamblers Of Wall street
New York. and Of Lombard street. in London
they have asked for bread. and they are
e ven II stone, in the shape of bill to repeal
the election laws.
Wei do | remember the period when
fencral Grant was president. with all the
cclnt or conguering hero. with a large army
nushed with victory ut his hack and with 4
garrison in every county of this state and vet
orr manhood. despite these laws. arose in
It's might and rescued the old common
wealth from the contro! Of alien adyenturers.
These laws, which our people never favored
ana never feared. when no election Is now
near az hand arc repealed rs Il salve to
soothe and quiet the cry for mere currency
sufficient for the purposes Of business. and
mat Will enable labor and propcrtv both
real and personal, to receive their adequate
reward.
Was there eyer more miserable subtprfu.e
than this attemnt IL h0odwink the pcnnn? In
the language of Mr. Bland. of Missouri
have now reached "the parting road and
can go not further with Il party thus enlisted
in crusade for favored classes as against
the masses; and as your party in the main
more nearly comedies with the merits of
that democracy which was first expoundcd bv
Thomas Jefferson, and subsequently enlarged
and Illustrated by Andrew Jackson. I am
willing to strike hands with You for The
triumph OF those principles. Respectfully
your 0bedieut servant.
CLAIBORNE SNEAD.