Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-10-07

make friends, and not enemies. and he
| thought the picture OF Mr.. Cleveland
should simply be placed In some less con-
spicuous position. and offered a substi-
tute to the original motion to this effect
The substitute was then adopted by a
vote OF q to 7.
MR. MEREDITH's LETTER READ.
Colonel Bigger then read letter from
Mr.. Meredith. which he had received Just
before he went 10 the club, and had not
| had time to consider before. Colonel Big
ger stated that the letter was in reply
to one written by him to Mr.. Meredith
on Monday He explained that I'm that
letter he had stated TO Mr. Meredith
that, according TO the constitution Of
the club, he thought Mr.. Mederith ceased
by his own act to be a member of the
organization when he declared that he
would not support Bryan and SewaII. for
the constitution OF the body provided
| that every member should support all
Democratic nominees; and. therefore that
Mr.. Meredith had himself cut the ties
that bound him TO the club. and was be-
yond their action.
Mr.. Merediih's letter was as follows:
Richmond. Va. October 6, 1896
John Bell Bigger, Esq:
Dear Sir,-Yours of the 9Th was received
and read yesterday. but / was too un-
well to answer it then. / would postpone
my answer still longer, but that the Pow
hatan Club meets tonight, and you show
some anxiety for an answer. You ask to
know my wishes and expectations as to
the disposition" Of my res gnation. As TO
the expectations 1 have none as
leave to the club 10 say what disposition
II will make OF H.. AS to my wishes"
you already know that / have tried to
L.. Al LII
as TO the Bryan and Sewall ticket know
ing its divided sentiment. and believing
that any declaration Of support of that
ticket would erdanger the future continu-
ance OF the club. But as there has been
Of late some demand by certain members
of the club that it should pledge it's sup
port 70 the Bryan and Sewall ticket. |
sent in my resignation that my position
and views might not hamper them in get
ting the club TO decide which course II
would pursue. But ii is my positive ana
earnest desire that II the club shall in
any manner endorse the nomination OF
Messrs. Bryan and Sewall my resigna-
tion shall he accepted.
But you inform me that II I have deter
mined not TO vote for those candidates
have thereby severed my connection with
the club, as its constitution requires that
all Of its members shall support the nomi-
nees OF the Democratic party as long as
they remain members OF the club. and
cannot resign. but that my Office Is va
cant. | cannot for a moment accept such
an unfounded and unjust theOry-that
man. before doing an act. but merely I'm
anticipation thereof, cannot resign 20 as
10 be free TO do the act. | do not pro-
pose 10 discuss further the correctness OF
such an idea, but merely to say that tt
such a course OF treating my resignation
has been determined on, as YOU seem 70
think, ] regret that you should advise
mo. IL L.
light OF such possibility I should quietly
allow my resignation TO remain whore 1t
Is. and II IL meets with the treatment
which you expect. but which ], In justice
10 the club. do not anticipate, simply ig-
more such treatment.
SEVERELY CRITICIsES MR.. BRYAN.
You ask NE to tell you whether 1 am
going 10 vote Tor Mossfs. Bryan anu
SeNall. II you had asked me that ques-
tion before yesterday 1 could not have
answered ii. Just after Mr.. bryahs nom
ination l, without giving SUFFICIENT con
sideration 10 the question as 10 how lar
any Democrat could be pound By the un-
Democratic Chicago platform, stated that
| would have TO vote Tor him because oil
the pledge required in our primary Tor
delegates to Staunton. As l had taken
such an active part in that primary 1
preferred TO solve any uoubt in favor OF
the binding nature OF that pledge. short
ly afterwards Senator Jones. chairman OF
the Democratic party, is at 81. LOUIS
seeking TO have the Populist convention
nominate Mr.. Bryan, with the knowledge
and consent Of Mr.. Bryan, for he Is IN
Geographic communication with him. MI
Bryan was nominate JOn the BOpullsl
platform, which contains additional
theories equally as radical and threaten
ing to good government as those con
tained in the Chicago platform, for II adj
vocates governmental ownership OF rail-
roads and telegraphsy~ contains also
demand for "A just. equitable, and EN-
cient means of distribution. direct TO the
people" of the money of the government
which Is exactly the language or the
Populst platform of 1882 except that
the former demanded that the people
should not pay more than per cent for
IL. In other words. II Is the old Popunst
demand for the loan of money upon
wheat corn. &c Mr.. Bryan did not I'M
mediately decline to stand upon such a
platform. although the same convention
had virtually insulted Mr.. Sewall, VINO
was his associate on the Chicago ticket.
After such conduct I claimed. and claim
now. that | could and cannot be obligated
TO vote for any man who would seek ana
stand upon platform so opposed 10
Democratic principles, and about the
making OF which 1 had no part, and
which IS so obnoxious to me. But / de-
termned TO wait and see whether Mr.
Bryan would decline 10 stand unon any
such platform so far as II opDoses Demo
propose to be deceived and tricked by any
determination not to notify him officially
OF his nomination and thereby relieve him
Of the necessity Of expressing his views
upon the subject. / determined not 10
vote for him unless he should decline 10
stand upon so much OF the Populist plat
form as was antagonistic to Democratic
principles. ! have waited since then for |
some expression on the subject from him
have withheld my decision, although in |
ha fft1a
been shown why no Democrat should be
expected 10 vote for him IL has been |
since shown that he has shown no hesi-
fancy I'm bolting n Democratic nomination !
whenever he chose. IL has been since |
shown that from his own declaration. ne |
would have bOlted the Chicago 'Omlna- |
tion IN a sound-money man had been nom |
mated. IL has been since shown that in |
1892 he did not vote the Democratic ticket, |
but voted for the Popuist nominee for |
presidency II is true that ne fllowed the |
excuse for that act to be given that he |
so voted. at the request OF the Democratic |
managers In order that the State of Ne |
braska might not go Republican. TO my |
mind such an excuse is more shameful |
than the act itself. II clearly indicates |
that I'm such a person party principles lie |
very light and the Willingness TO act In |
such a way at the suggestion of other |
persons shows that success Is regarded |
by him as Of more importance than the |
means by which II Is won. He has for |
weeks allowed his associate on the Chi
cago ticket. Mr.. Sewall, TO be abused.
vilifed. and treated with great contempt |
by his associate on the Populist ticket.
He has uttered not a word OF censure at
such conduct without one word of OBJ
lection he has allowed his associate on I
the Chicago ticket 10 be betrayed I'm
nearly all the Western and Southern |
States. In each OF those States. while
each and every one of the electors are in |
favor of his Rryan's) election. yet In