The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-01
PRINCIPAL ABOVE PARTY
Men of This Character Needed More
Than Platforms.

IMAM Platforms.
The time has arrived when the masses
are thinking for themselves. and the
parties must be honest and positive in
| their declaration of principles The two
old parties have so often deceived the peo-
pie by their doublemeaning platforms
that we now look more to the candidates
than the party pledges. We demand men
who are rooted and grounded in the faith
of social democracy and are firm believers
in the eternal fatherhood of God and the
universal brotherhood of man. With
such we can trust our affairs without n
platform. If the old parties have not
such men we cordially invite all who
honestly endorse the reform movement
OF the Peoples party, recently approved
and endorsed by the Virginia Democrats
at their Staunton convention, to meet
with us in ST. Louis on the 22nd of July.
and we pledge them to place our stand
ard in the hands of candidates thoroughly
lmbued and permeated with Jeffersonian
principles-men who have never wavered,
but who have always placed principles
above party and fought for what they
believed to be right, regardless of party
name. Men who left the Democratic
party in1S7S and who united with a little
band of Republicans who left their party
for the same reason, when John Sherman
played false to his country-these men
who united under the name of the Green
back party and accomplished much good
and sowed the seeds, which, after years
of cultivation, are now being reaped by
the same sewers under the name of the
Peoples party. Some ignorant people
who don't read party platforms call
this changing parties. And when their
party appropriates the views and plat
form of the reformers, they say, Come
to us and endorse our nominees at Chi
cago and we can win" Yet they have
no assurance that their party will pro-
mitigate their views or endorse their
principles, and are such political towards
that they are ready toscry out, MY party
right or wrong, my party
The gold wing of the party, either from
selfishness or principle, is more honest,
and say they will leave their party for
what they believe to be right and for the
country's good. 1t is the intention of the
other wing of the party to DECEIVE the
people, and thus aid Cleveland, Sherman
& Co. in fastening n single gold standard
upon us. For who can hope to receive
relief frcm parties who have broken every
pledge for the last twenty years?
Did they not promise us better times
and financial relief in 1892? When or
where have they done it? Their promise
OF free silver means worse than nothing
1t is a pitfall, a snare, a confidence game
With one accord they howl wrathfully
against the gold standard candidates, but
with one accord they say that if the party
dominates gold standard candidate they
will support him. What have we to ex-
pect from men who have no test of truth
and right save the caucus dictates of DO
litical bosses. How can party of such
record ask the reformers to trust them
and to surrender all, and assist in secur-
ing the one idea. free silver?
Gentlemen, remember that we can only
win when principle, truth and Justice
win. w H. TI\SLEY.