The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-07-18
THE REASON
Why the Writer IL y POpulist-A
Strong and Pointed Letter.

Why the Writer IL y POpulist-A
Strong and Pointed Letter.
ELLENDALE, N. D.. July 9, 1S9E-Editor
Representative: helped make the Republi-
can party, but am now an Independent
l claim to believe today-in the main-as
I did twenty-five years ago. I hope and
shall never forget the great principles of
political economy taught by Lincoln, Stew
ems and other leaders Of the Republican
party Now let us see whether l have left
the Republican party as the Republican
party has left me. The Republican party
used to believe in making greenbacks a
legal tender. now they oppose it. but am
still in favor of it. The Republican party
used to believe in free coinage of silver,
Is to /, I still believe in 1t, but the Republi-
can party demoralized silver in 1873 and
helped annul the Sherman law in 1894 The
Republican party Of twenty-five years ago
believed in having $50 per capita. believe
in it now. but the Republican leaders of
today do all in their power to curtail the
volume of money in circulation. The Re
publican party used to oppose human slave
ry Il oppose 1T now, but today they put
men in power who rivet the shackleS on
ldDOT stronger a nunQreQ times imam tney
were riveted the African slaves before
our civil war. For their under the law
their masters had to feed, clothe and care
for them as long as they lived. This re-
sponsibility they could not shrk by setting
them free in their old age. But how is it
with you my white brother, you work all
your lives and the mortgage and interest
are constantly increasing, more than three
to one to what they were twenty-five years
ago. and this is not all when you are worn
out with taxes, interest, mortgages and
old age, if you can't take care of yourself
you may starve or go to the poor-house.
When 1 ask the Republican and Democratic
farmer and laborers if they are not in favor
of $50 per capita, free coinage of silver and
a graduated income tax they answer Yes,
by all means Then l say to them your
representatives in congress use every
means in their power to prevent the above
from becoming law. They admit that the
great majority of their representatives turn
traitor to the promises made before cleo
ton and go over body and soul to the
money power. Our wish and what they do
are exactly opposite. The Independent
party has not a single traitor in congress.
Each and every one of them have been true
to their trust. Now my Republican and
Democratic friends, come and help us elect
more of them, and they will enact laws to
make it easier to get the wherewith to pay
off mortgages. interest, taxes and our ma
tional debt and prevent our loved ones from
becoming slaves of the money power. Why
is it that the rich getting so rich, and
the poor are getting so poor? l beg of you
before you vote read and reflect whittier
you are drifting. Now l ask for you, my Re-
publican friends which has left the Republi-
can party, you or 1? You have the name
while have the merit Who is the crank,
you or L? 1 stand today on every plank of
the good old Republican platform of TWEEN
ty-five years ago so far it went, while
how n Ia n
peat, who is the crank you /?
r. d. BARTLETT