The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-03-03

1t ought not to be so, either. L beg all
Populists to stand by the st. Louis One
Omaha) platform until the people, In
their regular conve ltiOn, change that
platform. No one has the right to say
we must go into a new party on a
single idea, but the people a say SO
if they wish, and when they do I'll go
ard not before. So | beg all Popullsts
in North Carolina to stand by last
platform until we change 1t Don't
let soma man lead you into the wilder
ness. l denounce III chairman, and
he is a most noble man, for trying to
usurp the prerogatives that belong to
rs 600 intelligent voters in our State
by pledging them to a new party
without even a conference of its mem
bers. 1t is against the spirit of our
party, against the fundamental prin
ciples of our party, against the natural
instincts of our people for n man to
run the whole party in every particu
lar. And 80 1 appeal to the paople to
bbh6 DL1t1Sc h46GGCIS LA 0AN AAAO
National Executive Committee ap
pointed July 22nd as the time and st.
Louis as the place for Our National
Convention. So far, so good, but there
their power ends. They cannot die,
tate the platform to be put up, or say
who shall and who shall not attend
that convention, yet from their proc
lamation it seems they would do both.
The Peoples party is not going to de
clare for the gold standard then why
all this noise about our being given an
opportunity to vote for a silver man.
OF course we will vote for a silver
man and a Populist both at the same
time, and one who stands On the St.
Louis platform. Our party Is too
broad, too great to be bound down to
a single idea, Mr.. Butler to the con
trary Notwithstanding. Our most
noble champion says the old parties
were false to their pledges and then
turns right around and tries to carry
his people over to them, but the con
ventiOn will speak, and then will be
heard the voice of the people in no
uncertain sounds, and l think it futile
to be trying to forostall their actions.
l must congratulate u noble chair
man on his great deeds as Senator
from North Carolina. God bless him
for his noble stand for the peoples in
terests. We can never forget such
things. He may be honest in his pres
ent attitude of opposing the wishes Of
his constituents, and l trust he will see
his error before it is too late, for the
people are going to run their party
no matter what he or anyone else says
Let US stand by our guns, stand by
our party, stand by u principles,
and if they are tst and right and we
think they are the people must come
to us. They have nowhere else to go.
Our noble Chairman says we CO oper-
ated IN "a to secure an honest cleo
ton law and home rule" Is it not
jIst as important to cooperate in 81
to prevent these things9 In the chair
mans long letter he says not Il word
ABOUT land and transportation, two Of
our great demands. While l am for
silver that is not the only thing in the
world; and while | am for Mr.. Butler,
when he is right, he ls not the only
man in the world. He bases his whole
plan on that convention-tkat imagi-
nary something-aEd, of course, a
fabric built on an unreal basis must
fall to the ground. If the people in
the convention decide to give up their
party, then very we'll, but let them
say 80 first. If Our noble chairman
had been made the short term S 9nator,
don't you think he would be a hot
fusioni5t2 You bet he would. But
then I believe he Will lin us when the
b8nd-wagon comes by in November.
He is lst trying to see how many
fools there are in the POpulist party,
and when he gets them spotted you'd
find Senator Butler with the people,
if he does have to take water just a
little bit.
My friends, 1 have no motive on earth
in writing this letter, only l think it
necessary for the good of our cause.
l cannot believe that this non partisan
business will amount to anything and
1 know that the Popuiist party can do
great things for the tojlers Of our
country, and l am loath to desert it.
II these non partisans persist in
numbering cur party, 1 would like to
correspond with all who are willing