The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-02-04
AN ADDRESS
From the Chairman of the Peoples Party
State Executive Committee.
A SQUARE FIGHT FOR PRINCIPL

20 operation on 8n0IO principle, OuG
not for spoils. Co operation last year
was for principle on State issues. The
coming fight is a Presidential one,
and we must cooperate for principle
on National issues. The issue must be
drawn equarely between the people and
the British gold conspiracy. Let
patriots unite for the restoration of
American liberty and prosperity.
To the members Of the Peoples Party
and all other VOters IN North Caro-
lima eUhO are opposed to the single
gold standard:
The National Executive Committee
of the Peoples party, in it's session in
St. Louis on January 18th, passed a
resolution inviting all who r opposed
to the single gold standard and to the
present conditions created by the bad
legislation of the two old parties to join
them on the 22d day of July, next, in
a grand convention of patriots in st.
Louis to nominate a candidate for Presi-
dent and Vice President, who would
stand for the principles of true D3moc-
racy, as represented by Thomas Jeffer
son and Andrew Jackson, and for the
principles of true Republicanism, as
represented by Abraham Lincoln-a
ticket that would command the en-.
thusiastic support of every patriot in
America.
The conference of the silver forces
held in Washington on January 22l,
the following week, accepted the invi-
tation of the Peoples party committee,
and still other forces are expected to
accept the invitation and meet with US
at st. Louis on the day named. This
movement augurs we'll. It shows that
patriotism and wisdom have both com
bined to deliver the people; it means
that the voters of parties who r OPP
posed to present conditions will have a
chance to unite and nominate and vote
for the same candidate for President in
che coming campaign. It means more
than this it means that the peoples
candidate can be elected in spite of the
money power and a hireling press and
the politicians.
The line of battle has already been
drawn. In the coming fight every
voter must be on one side or the other.
He must line himself up with the gold
combine, with trusts, monopolies and
British tories, or he must line himself
up with the people in support of the
candidate who will be nominated at st.
Louis on July 22d.
The Democratic wing of the gold
party and the Republican wing of the
gold party will nominate candidates
who belong to the British gold trust
and who stand for the same evils that
now curse humanity. No Congress
will ever be able to give the people re-
lief and good government until an
American patriot is put into the White
House. The Presidents power of veto
and his command of tremendous pat
ronage will either be used for the PEG
pie OF against the people. Therefore,
in the coming campaign no patriot can
vote for a goldbug for President, or for
any candidate for the Presidency who
is not Internationally and unequivo
cally and avowedly pledged to the free
and unlimited coinage of silver and on
a platform which pledges the candidate
and binds the party to independent &C,
ton on this question. He must not
only be friendly to silver, but he must
represent the people on this great and
vital question. The people will not
again be deceived by fair promises or
e~quivocal platform declarations. The
issue between the single gold standard
and the free coinage of silver must be
made too plain for doubt or misinter-
probation. The peoples danger is not
in fighting an open enemy. The danger
is in a doubtful candidate, with false
promises on a straddling platform, who
has been secretly pledged to the money
trust.
Now, it is the duty of patriots in
every State, the patriots of all parties
in every State, to line up against the
common enemy, against both gold
parties, as outlined above. Let those
in North Carolina who are opposed to
the gold combine lose no time in get.
ting together and lining up for the
greatest struggle we have ever had for
American liberty and prosperity. The
Peoples party in North Carolina en-
dorses and stands ready to take the
same patriotic action that has been
taken between the reform forces in the