The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-10-24
DUTY OF ALL SILVER MEN.
Bryan's Defiance of Worlds
Money-power Unparalleled.
ARE I'M THE FACE OF THE FOE.
Every Gun Should be Turned upon the
Common Enemy--My Twenty Years
of Work Entities Me to Conf
dence of Popuists.

Norton, of Illinois, on the political
situation.
Tt will be remembered that he was
understood to be against the action
of the Populist party when it nomi-
mated Mr.. Bryan to the Presidency,
and that he was the candidate of the
middle-of- the-road men for President,
and received more than three hundred
votes. In Texas and other States where
the ddle-of-the-road men refused to
submit to the action of the convention,
they have had up Col. Norton as the
ideal Popuhst leader, and said to the
people: Here is a real Populist who
will do to tie to in any and all emer-
gencies." This letter in full will have
great weight with those Populists who
have been inclined to follow the mid
e-of-the-road men. Col. Norton
writes:
Chicago, Oct. Is, 1896.
Hon. Marion Butler, Chairman Peo-
Plies Party Committee:
NAV have differed at St. Louis as to
the correct policy to adopt; however
much some of us may still believe that
mistakes were made, under existing
circumstances there is only one course
TO pursue, and that is to loyalty and
earnestly support Mr.. Bryan-not so
much for the sake of elevating him TO
the Presidency, as for the purpose OF
defeating what may be appropriately
and most expressiyely termed Mark
Hanna Republicanism. Although
some of us regret certain fusion ar
rangements which have been made, it
is a noticeable fact that no other man
in the United States is SO much trou-
bled about it as the manager of the
Republican campaign. / never realized
before how highly Republicans have
always respected and .honored' the
Populist party till it fused with the
Democrats If any consolation is
needed, however, for this loss of Repub-
lican esteem it may be found in the
and Palmer have become the legatees
thereof.
MISTAKES MAY BE HAVE BEEN
MADE.
''Our political allies in this campaign
may not have treated us as fairly and
Justly as they ought, in the matter
of representation of Vice-Presidential
electors; and this seems to be the
chief cause of complaint, for have yet
to meet with a populist, who does
not admit that Mr.. Bryan IS the ablest
and most fearless champion of reform
principles that refoTmers themselves
have chosen in the last twenty years.
It is an event in history to ind man,
backed by more than 100000 voters,
who has the patriotism and courage
to stand up fron.-faced before the
combined money power of the world
and hurl in their teeth the burning
words of defiance: You shall net
cruelty mankind on cross of gold!'
Mistakes may have been made and
injustice may have been done, espe
cially in the Southern States where
the flower of the Populist army is to be
found, but this is not the time to set
tie accounts, adjust wrongs, discuss
differences or correct mistakes.
1--WE are in the face of the enemy,
we are upon the field of battle, the well
fare of our country is at stake, a sacred
cause is trembling in the balance, our
opponents are dangerously well equip
ped and thoroughly organized and
the contest is fierce and relentless; all
personal ambitions therefore should be
suppressed, all personal grievances
should be forgotten, and all minor diff
ferences should be deferred till the
battle is won or lost. Every gun should
be turned upon the common enemy.
MIR. BRYAN'S ENEMIES.
Whether Mr.. Bryan is Populist or
not, one thing is absolutely certain,
every enemy which reformers have
encountered during the last twenty
years we find to-day among his bitter
est and most relentless opponents.
Every monopolistic corporation, every
oppressor of labor, every land grabber,
every trust and combine, every robber
syndicate, every millionaire stock
iobber, every subsidized newspaper,
every well-paid corporation lawyer,
every millionaire coal baron, every
Shylock creditor and every plunderer
of the worlds wealth. roducers-all
of these old-time enemies, whom re-
formers have met on so may battle
fields, are to-day Mr.. Bryan's enemies.
IF they are his enemies he must be our
friend. His success is their defeat;
their defeat is our victory.
THE FUTURE ALL RIGHT.
We, the pioneer workers, have all
fondly hoped that we might have the
satisfaction and the glory of carrying
to victory the time-honored and battle
scared flag of reform which the old
guard has held alofb so brayely and
heroically all these long and trying
years, and anxious solicitude aus to the
outcome may be eNcusable. But let us
not be unnecessarily alarmed about
the future of the reform movement
Dt has passed the danger point. 1t is
capable Of taking care OF itself under
any and all circumstances. Traitors
cannot betray it; time-seryers cannof
sell it out; injudicious friends cannot
destroy it; defeat cannot demoralizt
it; it's opponents, however powerful
cannot crush II; even the gates of hei
cannot prevail against it.
For twenty years, although subject