The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-09-17


Neb.-Dear Sir-At convention of the
peoples party held at st. Louis from
July ~ to % of the current year you
| were unanimously nominated for pres
| ident of the United States, to be voted
for ut the approaching general election
1t was known at the time that you had
been nominated by the democratic con-
vcntion. held ut Chicago few days be-
| fore that time, and that you would III
all probability accept the same. Your
nomination by the peoples party was
not. therefore, made with any thought
| that Won were Il pOpuliSt or that YOU
! accented all the doctrines declared by
! the ST. Louis platform, 1t was largely
| due to the fact that the money question
| is the ovcrshadoWing issue of the age
! and because YOU have at all times been
an answering. fearless and able adVo-
cate of the free and unlimited coinage
| of silver and gold on terms of equality
ut the minis of the United States ut Il
ratio of rs to |. 1t was thought also
that the observance Of Il patriotic duty
required Il union of all forces and the
convention took the liberty without con-
sulting you of placing your name before
the people MS its standard bearer. The
convention was, in doing so. guided by
deep solicitudc of the common welfare
and acting on its own motion. prompted
alone by a desire to bring about the best
results. So much has been said respect
ing the rehabilitation of silver by again
placing it our coinage acts in ihC posi-
ton il occupied when stealthily dcmone-
TIED by the act of 1873. that it would
be idle for us to discuss the question.
You will observe by the closing Ian
guage of the st. Louis platform that the
convention recognized the money ques,,
ton as the great issue of the day. and
because populistS believe you are i'll nc
cord with them ON this question you Will
receive their ballots in November. 1t
has at no time been expected that you
will abandon your adhesion to the Chi
cago platform nor that you will accept
all that is declared in the peoples party
platform. however gratifying the latter
would be to all populiSts. 1t must be
understood that the party does not abate
one jot or title from its principles. We
have declared ourselves in favor of
many reforms, in our Judgment, essen
tial to the liberation of the people from
present unjust and ubiquitous and in
dustrial bondage. In accordance with
the precedent of our party we take this
method of notifying you of your nominal
ton. We shall not send Il committees.
according to old party customs. In
sending this letter. it is needless for us
to assure you that you have the conf
dence and esteem of all. Your splendid
ability, competency and fitness for the
position justly entities you to Il high rank
among the statesmen of the age. we
feel that in the event of your election.
which now seems certain, that you Will
carry into execution the principles of
monetary reform to the end that the
people shall enjoy the better industrial
conditions. 1t is not anticipated that
this can be done with undue haste or so
suddenly rs to wrench or disjoint the
business interests of the country, but
that it would he done gradually and in
Il way to infuSe confidence and hope of
better conditions for all. The peoples
party will exact of you no promises fur
thcr than those made in your public ut
terances and eXempliticd in life de-
voted to the welfare of the race, nor
will it ask you to abandon the party of
which You are an honOred member.
In your nomination our party has risen
above mere partisan surroundings,
adopted high plane of patriotism, be
lieving that Il division of forces would
result in the election of William Mckin-
ley, the foremost advocate of unnatural
taxation and the criminal policies of the
gold standard, resulting ultimately, if
not in some manner checked. in the COM
plete destruction and disintcgration of
our form of government.
Your elevation to the chief magistracy
of the nation would be regarded as Il
vindcation of the people of II right to
govern, and we entertain no doubt that
you would prove Il worthy successor
of the immortal Jefferson, and that your
public life. like theirs. will Illustrate the
purity and holiness of American states
manshp. In your extensive and init
mate knowledge of public affairs and
the duties that Office imposes, gained i'll
a life that has been long devoted to up
holding the cause of the people, rs well
as your keen insight into the condition
of our country, your Judgment is highly
qualified to bring about the reforms i'll
way that will work injury to none and
justice to all, thus making our govern
mcnt in fact. as it is now in form, only
government of. 'by and for the pco-
pie