The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-10-29
AN ADDRESS TO THE POPULISTS
ISSUED FROM NATIONAL
HEADQUARTERS.
DEMOCRATS HAVE BECOME POPUUyIS
Therefore the Populsts Should Support
Bryan in His Herculean Task of
Saving the Country From Iron
Heel Of European Tyranny.

Washington, Oct. Ex-senator Butler,
chairman of the populist committee. to-
day issued the following address, written
by Ignatius Donnely and adopted by the
national committee of the populst party:
$40 the Members of the Peoples Party
Of the United States: Friends and
Brethren-Your national committee has
been doing all in its power to unite our
membership in one grand charge all
along the line during the closing days of
the campaign, in behalf of liberty, home
and country. We have been measureably
successful. All that is needed now is
that the people should realize the gravity
of the situation which confronts them
and the immense interests that are at
stake and move together as one man.
All thoughtful citizens stand appalled, be-
fore the tremendous power which the mil
liOnaires of the world, few in number and
individually insignificant have put forth
in this contest. Acting through the
newspapers, which they own, and the
politicians, whom they have bought,
they are covering the whole land with a
network of influences inimical to good
government. They threaten our defeat
unless met by concerted action of the
whole people. They seek continued
power simply to increase their posses
sions. The good Of mankind has no
place in their purposes. They come to
spoiled and made n land of princes and
manners whore Drput Unulth and
poverty stand perpetually facing each
other, where hireling armies preserve the
peace and protect the robbers from
their victims. They are rapidly bring
ing this great free republic to the same
condition. Our ancestors fed from the
old world to the new to escape the
dreadful doom which injustice had in
ticted upon them. Whittier will our
children fly when the full flower of this
hideous abomination blossoms forth in
perfection? Oppression peopled the
new world is oppression to unpeople 1t?
Or is our noble civilization to sink in
against power, striking wildly and wound
ing itself? We stand for preservation
of humanity in the highest estate of
which it is capable on earth. The good
God who made the universe and main
tains it gave us this grand continental
arena for the development of man-not
of a metal. Every instinct of philan-
thropy, every teaching Of religion, every
impulse Of wisdom. every dictate of
craftsmanship is with us in this mighty
struggle and urges us forward to save
the republic and the human race.
I'm so far as the precious metals are
to be used as the basis of our exchange
of commodities, we insist that both
metals shall be used.
in burst of general enthusiasm and
through the pangs of civil war, we ac-
complished the enfranchisemcnt of an
other race but in the slough of despond.
from which we plucked the black man.
the black and white are now alike strug-
CLING. Having saved others, we seek
now to save ourselves. The issue is
mightier than any fought for in the past
We have the noblest of leaders. Our
has proven himself one Of the great men
of the country. The conditions which
gave us Washington. Jackson and Jeffer-
son have. by almost miraculous events,
brought him from obscurity to the front
of affairs. He is more than an orator.
He is a profound thnker-a logician.
born statesman. He is striving to the
last verge of human endurance-and ut
the risk of his life-in campaign which
IL one DTOlOHpeu anu tremendous DEBATE.
to save his country. Is there any honest
heart that does not 20 out to him in this
great struggled We see him almost
alone. like knight in armor armed
cap-a-pie, with truth and righteousness,
battling against the gigantic powers that
now have possession of the world. Shall
We not sustain him. Shall any petty
)lea turn us aside! Let us follow
where he leads and strike where he
strikes. Almost without a newspaper
without wealtl-he takes upon his shield
| thousand spear points and strides for
ward. laughing. to beat down the swarm
ng hosts of the enemy. Let every
,opulist in the United States cry out |
Master, go on; and we will follow thee |
o the last gasp with truth and loyalty |
eve are no less fortunate in our can
lidate for vice president, Thomas Wat |
'on. He is fit TO stand by Mr.. Bryan !
md hold up his hand. A scholar, an |
luthor. an orator, a hero, fery-souled |
son of the gallant south, as wise and as
Just as he is brave
''But do not take encouragement from |
he fact that there are two candidates |
or vice president in the field. marching |
lnder Mr.. Bryan's banner. There will |
)e two months between the date Of cleo |
ion and the day when the electors are
'equircd by law TO cast their votes. Sure |
Y there is wisdom enough in the two ]