Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-08-28
WHO ARE BOLTBRS9

"
cago convention as a candidate Tor the
Presidency, there are none which the
people generally can more heartily APP
nroye than the following extracts from
A letter alleged to have been written by
him to Geo. NJ. Garden OF Dallas, Texas
on Feb. 18th 1896.
"As early as 1898, when the Demo-
cratic State Convention OF Nebraska,
controlled by candidates for the Federal
offices. endorsed the Presidents imam
cial policy, stated that would not 1Hi,
low the Democratic party to gold
standard. l..
my best judgment l shall use that VoVe
TO defend my rights protect my iaml,y'
and advance the welfare OF society. NO
Convention can rob me OF my conylc-
tions. nor can any party organization
drive me to cOnspire against the pros
peritv and liberty of my country.
.sMen who honestly differ upon the
paramont p~blic questions cannot anoru
to he harmonized by National Conven-
tion. Mr.. Cleveland would not support
the free-silver candidate for the Presl-
dencv. and he should not do so II ne
really believes that free coinage would
ruin the country because mans uuty
to his country is higher than ms dutyi u
his party ""'J' DRY An
"No convention can rob me OF my
convictions, nor can any party organl'
zation drive me to conspire against the
prosperity and liberty ofm country.
Men who honestly differ on the
paramount public question cannot al
ford TO be harmonized by a National
Convention"
Such are the sentiments OF W. D.
BRYAN, We do not publish them TO con-
denim them. Wo publish them in order
to endorse them, and to show men VINO
but few short months ago were lopu
and clamorous in their support OF
sound and honest standard OF values
and who now have been "harm0nlzed
nv q National Convention" the position
in which they stand in the estimation Oh
their own candidate for the presidency
Editors who propose to be honest can
not afford to change from one side to the
other of so momentous a question, with
out giving their readers some gooa
reason for the change, outside OF the
dictations OF party convention we
propose TO advocate what we believe to
be right. without regard to the dictates
of any party and with supreme indiflsr-
ence for the opinions of those who AFRO
gate to themselves the privilege OF WELD
ing the party whip.
Upon this question it so happened
that cur views were in harmony with
those of the democracy of Shenandoah
We advocated those sentiments with sli
the ability which God has given u.s.
But to-day because we advocate the
same views and are true to the principles
unanimously adopted by democratic
convention. we are denounced by the
very men. who voted for resolutions ex-
messing the same sentiments as a
"bolter." ian alder of Mckinley" "a re-
publican and an enemy of dimocracy.
Let us see Whist the principles Of the
Democratic party upon this momentous
question were but, few woek ago.
The following resolution persented by
a committee composed of NJ. L. Walton
J. G. Neff and w. f. McIlwee, and
unanimously adopted by the democratic
convention Of Shenandoah, expresses
the sentiments which we then advocat-
ed and which we are neither ashamed
or afraid to advocate to-day.
Resolved Tha: we believe and shall
maintain that the general government,
under the terms OF the constitution, owes
to the people of this country.
A circulating medium the intrinsic
value of which will pass it current In any
country where its citizens desire to use
If. and which can only be accomplished
by rigid adherence to the views OF the
present democratic administration, and
we repudiate the populistic theory OF
free unlimited coinage of silver, l6 to /,
as being antagonistic to the best interests
of the people, as vain delusion and a
snare"
Whose language is that? 1t is the free
and untrammeled expression OF the
democrats Of Shenandoah, in convention
assembled, on the 23d of Nay 1896. Die
YOU not then, in Convention assembled
endorse the wise and patriotic admins
tratiOn of the present democratic presi
dent of the United States?
Doyon object to the name OF populis
when you are today boldly advocating
theory which was denounced us "a
populistic theory" by the democrat
of Shenandoah, in convention assem-
bled!
You, the protested democrats OF Shen
andoah resolved to maintain the princi
! pies WHICH VIC lO-udg SAN "N'~~''' >
How long did you propose to maintain
them? VAST to be only 50 long as you
views we're not opposed by Nationa
Convention? Did you resolve to you
selves the high privilege Of repudiatin
your owl sentiments so publicly ex
pressed? Were you honest in the e'
preston of those sentimentS If ,yo
we're, can you not appreciate the lar
gusgs Of your own candidate when h
saws: MEN who honestly differ on tn
paramount public question cannot amor
: to b halmonized by a National ConveI
ton"
Who are the boilers from the dem'
cratic partyg Are they the men VIII
steadfastly and honestly maintain tn
principles which they as party III
animously resolved to maintain Al
they the men who still continue to d
fend and support the honest and patri'
. tic administration of the present demo
49,