Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1894-07-25
Rude's Letter to Breidenthal.
BURDEN, KAs., June 80, 1894

BURDEN, KAs., June 80, 1894.
Hon. J. W. Breidenthal Chairman State Central
Committee Of the Populist Party, Topeka, Kas.:
DEAR SIB-As an old-time republican
who was a member of the republican state
convention from Cowley county, want to
say that have hoped against hope until
patience has ceased to be a virtue.
As read the history of my country, 1
note how English laws passed by the Ameri-
can Congress have driven from every sea
the American flag, and the commerce of
America upon the ocean is now in control
Of English seamen. have seen the Ameri-
can farmer and artisan pauperized by the
enactment of laws which placed us on
single, gold basis; this surreptitiously DONE
without a man or woman in America, either
In Congress or out daring to admit that
they we're favorable to it, while all parties
at all times, as we'll as their editors and
speakers, proclaim themselves bimetallists.
In the late state convention the republi-
oan party declared for a straddle that
didn't mean anything, and then, to en-
phasize it's want of candor and good faith,
promptly nominated Morrill, and Blue, one
a national banker and the other a willing
tool and henchman of that inhuence-one
for governor and the other congressman
at large.
have seen in the Congress of the United
States an almost solid republican party
cast its vote with Grover Cleveland for a
continuation of the gold basis, in the face
OF q positive declaration favorable to BIZ
metallism made in the Minneapolis plat
form of the national convention.
have seen the interests of the people,
their prosperity, peace, and happiness,
trampled under foot by both the republi-
can and democratic parties, manipulated
In suoh q way by English influences as to
destroy every effort to undo the wrong of
1873, by humping the heads of these two
parties together on the question of high
protection on the one hand and free trade
on the other, ending always in legislation
which protected capital and left bars down
for every mercenary hireling of Europe to
come into this country and by DOM petit
tion reduce the wages of labor to the verge
Of p0upOrism; and after Morrill's and
Blues nomination on that platform which
declared for the coinage of the American
product I witness their haste to rush to
Kansas City, Kas., on the 18th of this
month. in order to declare themselves, as
they then and there did, above and beyond
that platform, and for a continuation of
the Grover Cleveland goldb bug idea that
- Ny OOOh WIG par
ties of this nation.
sadly turn my eyes from the grand old
republican party of the past to the con-
temptation of that party as manipulated
BY the Shermans, Quays and Harrisons of
to-day, and am forced to the conclusion
1hat the poor and oppressed of my species
In this country of ours need expect no re-
lief at the hands of this gang; and while
am not prepared to indorse all of the
declarations of the populist party, yet its
vote In Congress on this money question
oonvinces me that it can be trusted so far
- that question is concerned; and here
and now notify you, and through you
your party, and all others as we'll, that in
6his campaign, SO far as 1 am concerned,
shall vote the populist ticket from head
70 heel, saving and excepting my right to
vote for any personal friend on the repub-
uoan ticket in this county who shall be
nominated.
was in Winfield on the 9th, and Hon.
". r. Hackney read me a letter written
By him to Blue on this very question:; a
letter which he informed me had received
AOrsply, and asked from him and obtained
copy, which inclOse herewith; and also
obtained from him a copy of letter writ
ten by him to Hon. T. L. Bond, at Salina,
which I inclose herewith, and you are
authorized to use all of them as you see
- Yours truly,
T. J. RUDE, NJ. D,