The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-03-27
TiiIIman on the new Party.
Another Letter FGor0 "Caro'
l1na's CROMWELL"

Ex Governor Tillman is again talk
ing about the proposed new National
party, to be composed Of the people
Ct the South and West. In fact, he
has, from his home over in Trenton,
written another letter on the subject.
This time the letter is for the New
York World, and it reads as follows:
"In my judgment the organization
Of a new partv is inevitable; aud it
will present as the main issue the
restoration of bimetalIism and the
conduct of our finances in the interest
of the people. The poverty and mis-
cry wrought by the fall of prices,
directly traceable to the gold con.
spiraey and the contraction of the
currency, will break up both old par
ties-equalIy responsible for this
crime against humanity-and cause a
new alignment in politics.
"The South and West will natural
ly join in overturning a policy which
robs them and tends to pauperize the
producers and laborers for the benefit
of a few thousand bankers and mil
lionaires here and in Europe. Party
ties and sentiment will not hold men
whose resentment of wrong and
whose instinct of self-preservation
command them to seek new political
alliances
"Populism in the West was a pro-
test against Republican misrule and
Democratic %imbecility. In the South
it was largely a revolt against Bour-
bonism and bossism in State affairs;
but the progressive, restless element
of Southern Democracy is strongly I'M
bued with the idea Of national fnan-
cial reform, and nine.tenths Of the
Southern people are for free silver
and opposed to national banks.
"It was necessary, however, before
the Southern voters could be weaned
from the Democratic party to have
that party once contro! all branches
of the government, and be in a posi-
tion to do what it promised in its
platform. The test has been made,
and such a disgraceful spectacle Of
betrayal of the people and disregard
for the pledges made before election
has never been witnessed in u poll
tical history. The Senate and House,
with majorities elected as pledged to
bimetallism. demonetized silver at
the command Of the President, who
unblushingiy used the patronage of
his Office TO debauch the representa-
tives Of the people and carry out his
compact with the gold conspirators.
The tariff reform promised is an
abortive compromise, reeking with
the stencil of sugar trust deals, and
grants no relief from monopolies.
"The cowardice and treachery of
Congress; it's subserviency to White
House influences; the subser7iency
of the President to Wall and Lombard
streets. with its phases of partner
ship, and the disgraceful bond dicker
with its nine millions Of profit stolen
from the people: the whole scheme
of plumber involved in the issue Of
bonds in time Of peace. and the bra
zen and scoundrelly refusal to pro-
tect the treasury by payment of sill
yer certificates in silver and green
backs. or "coin," as provided by
laval these things have awakened
and opened the eyes CT the people to
the necessity for a new deal.
Party ties or pledges did not re-
strain or bind the so-oalled Demo-
Gratis OF the East and North In the
last Congress. They voted with the
Republicans on the tariff and money
questions. viii the Southern Demo-
Gratis and Western Republicans fol
low their example in the next cleo.
ton and vote together for the relief
o. the millions whose interests de-
mand more money and a bimetallic
standard-higher prices, in a word ?
Are we Southern and Western far
mers idiots to longer cling to the
shadow when the substance is gone?
"a Democracy which is not Demo
cratic and a RepubIicanism which is
piutocratic.
1T seems to me very plain case.
Five.cent cotton aud 6%fty.cent wheat
are arguments which cannot be an
swcred. The Populists will readily
merge their organization in the
party, once it gets we'll under way.
The manufacturers and merchants,
whose business has been so seriously
injured by the impoverishment of
the farmers and the destruction ofthe
..home Market" will, if not wholly
blind and besotted, lend their aid,
and we will see another revolution
like that oflS2S. Instead Of govern