The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-10-30
THE BATTLE OF THE BAL
LOTS.
MILLIONS AGAINST THE PEG
PILE.
Bryan and Silver the Only Hope
Plenty and Prosperity with a
Change of Financial Govern
menC.


Before another issue of the CITIZEN
the great battle of the ballots will
have been fought and won. Seldom
have the American people witnessed
such a struggle as has char acterized
the campaign through which we have
lust passed. Tomorrow will practi-
cally end all the great meetings, ana
on Monday the last chance will be
given the people for calm and sincere
reflection bef.re the day of election.
The Republican party entered the con-
test in triumph and boldly asserted
their Indifference as to what the Chic
ago Convention would do. The Demo-
cratic party of the nation, after the adj
iournment of Congress, a'd indeed be-
fore the asse ubling of theR conven-
ton, had practically admitted that
they saw but little prospects of success
before them. The Chicago Conven-
ton placed it's nominee before the peO-
pie and adopted a platform upon
which they were to make their fight.
Many of the ablest leaders of the
party severed their connection with
Democracy and Joined in putting up a
b ,lting convention, which placed their
nominees in the field. Other Demo-
Gratis openly joined the Republican
ranks, and repudiated both the regu-
lar Nominees of Democracy as we'll as
their platform. Such was the condi-
ton of affairs which confronted the
party of Jefferson and Jackson. Bry-
an, the standard-bearer of the true De-
mocracy, at once started out to pre-
sent the cause to the American people.
Other Presidential candidates had at
tempted to swing around the circle and
discuss the issues of the campaign di-
rectly before the people. In every case
failure was the result Alone in all
the history of Presidential nominees,
VIM. Jennings Bryan has been the one
man whose ability, courage and phys.
ical endurance has enabled him to ac-
cOmplish the greatest feat ever attempt
ed in this country. Through the east.
the north, the south and the west.
from ocean to ocean, from Maine to
Texas, has the great apostle of the PEG
pie addressed his constituents, giving
them living evidence of the faith that
was in him, and making such convinc-
ing arguments, as prevented his oppo-
nents from even attempting to place
him at a disadvantage. Twenty aud
thirty speeches day, addressing hun
dreds of thousands of people, riding
thousands upon thousands of miles
since the great convention which Sc
lected him as the real and true candi-
date of the American people. Who
has stopped to consider this wonderful
achievement? Who has followed this
remarkable man, who has read bis
wonderful speeches but will not be
willing to to accord to him the credit
of having made the most creditable
and wonderful campaign ever heard of
in the annals of American history. In
the face of millions; against the COM
bined influence of corporations, banks
and Wall street spectators, he has
fought his great fight and depended
upon the honor and integrity of the
people alone. Let the farmers stop to
realize that this is their battle, that
this is their rightful leader. Will they
let him go down by the influence of
the goldsmoney from the stockholders
of banks and corporations, or will they
stand like men repudiating the base
assertion that they can be bought like
slaves in the market space and thus
lose the great battle fthelr lives? The
bankers and corporations have cast
aside all former political ties and have
united that they may have four more
years of class legislation; four years
more of trusts and monopolies, whilst
hardships will be fastened more secure
ly upon those who for twenty years
have asked for relief from the oppres-
sion forced upon them by this selfish
policy. One day more for reflection,
one day more TO realize what the fu-
ture must bring them if Hanna, the
agent of Mckinley and corporate power
is given four more years of despotic
sway. If the men who run the en-
gines upon the great thoroughfares,
the brakemen, the conductors, the labor
ers are willing to sell their manhood
and acknowledge that they belong
body and soul to those who give them
work, then it will be foolish to talk of
American independence, and the serf-
dom of Russia would suit them just as
well as the boasted freedom of Ameri-
ca. This is fight in which the peo-
pie have right to demand recognition.
In the election of Bryan all classes will
be fairly treated. No class legislation
but government of the people and for
the people will be established instead |
of government for corporate power
and individual ACKNOWLEDGMENT. We
therefore appeal to all fair-minded men,
whether Republicans or Democrats, to
unite in this great contest and secure
for their own sake and the sake of
their families, the election of the man
who will stand for the rights of all