People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1896-08-21
To the National Reform Press
and National Legion.

ana R6tI0H6l AeSIOHs
The great battle is ever, and it is
our duty to calmly look ever the
situation and see what we can do to
continue the fight for cur sacred
principles. We have warned the
people over and over In May l IS
sued a circular of warning that con-
tanned the whole truth. We urged
you in February, at meeting OF Re
form Press, and repeated it many
times, for you to elect delegates OF
approved loyalty to that convention.
You tried, and over eight hundred
were instructed to abide by the fun
damental truths Of the Omaha plat
form, and nominate 8 straight ticket
You know the truth and it is unne-
cossary to dwell upon it, Our pa
pers have told the story. We won
the fight on the platform, and have
named the gallant Tenn Watson as
our candidate.
Il was our firm belief, after care
full survey Of the situation, that we
could have polled mere votes against
the gold power by making straight
nominations and adopting some kind
of 8 union on electors, go that the
whole vote eeald be combined. But
our se-calIed leaders went into q
mad race to get into the band-wagon
and prevented that results The Re-
form Press and Legion did their
whole duty, Out OF nearly three
hundred papers represented, only
twenty protested against a straight
ticket, and were for Bryan and
SewalL
Now that the smoke has cleared
away, the question arises, "Whai
ahnll we do to be saved?" For oRe'
I say, "stapd by eur principles.
Keep ON educating the people; hold
together Like the heroes of old, and
win in 1900"
Our papers and speakers can reach
a vast hoat Of people who would not
heretofore attend our meetings OR
read our papers.
We have the only editors and
speakers who understand and can
readily discuss the St, Louis or Chi
cage platforms. Adheripg always
to the ST. Louis platform we can
win millions to our creed, and gain
the victory as early as any Of the
olearest sighted over predicted.
If the Democratic Committee full
ly aAa iqr0raly rsnoSaiz7 ear a=a-
didate, Tom Watson, by the with,
drawal Of Mr.. Sewall, we can all
afford to hoist W. J. Bryan's name
to Cur masthead. It wculd be a an
ion On honorable terms. II would
hold the identity of our party, and
enable us to stand before the country
in 9 way that would command the
respect Of all parties. We can thus
educate the whole Democratic party
and their allies, the republican silver
men, and if this combination fails we
can band the whole mass into a
fighting phalanx in 1900. | will not
lose he&rt or hope. L am proud that
went almost al one from Nebraska
snd confronted delegation OF
Bryan men, part of whom slandered
nae every hour, and stood with the
"middlle of the road" Populists to
the la st, and joined with the glorious
Texas delegation when our flag went
dSwn.
|. We maintained our honor and
gained the undying respect of all
trae Populists. We were branded
as HHsnna man," and assailed with
III The epithots known to wild and
wicked mer, bat We never wavsred,
and We will not abandon cur faith
ROW and let the last hope of our
faithful people perish.
Oar newspapers FAUST not die; We
must held up and support these
faithful EeRtinels on the watch tower.
Thoy mrus5 not give up. They can
x;St5G vsas ha.aSaT1 of new people
and cur literature rs The only kind
that can be used to educate the mas
seq. We have al abundant chance
to keep Give. We can get advertis-
ing. The faithful men and wem6n