Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-10-07
SEWALL'S LETTER
In Which He Accepts Vice.
Presidential Nomination.
The Rich ShipbuiIdsr and Owner to
the Poor Laboring People.
Nothing But Free Silver Can Better Theil
Present Condition.

Bath, Me-, Oct. 6.-The following is
the letter of acceptance of Hon Arthur
Sewall, the Democratic nominee for
Vice President of the United States:
Bath, Maine. Oct 6.
Hon. Stephen H.. White, Chairman,
and members of the notification
Committee: Gentlemen:
l have the honor to accept in writing,
as l have already done verbally, the
nomination rendered by you on behalf
of the Democratic party, as its candi-
date for Vice President of the United
States In so doing | am glad, first. to
express my satisfaction that the plat
form of our party which has command
ed my lifelong allegiance, is honestly
ileges and especially of the absorbing
and fully declaratory of all it's priv
financial issue upon which as you say.
| took my stand, when the hours of
triumph seemed remote and when
arrogant money changers throughout
the world boosted that the conquest of
the American masses was complete"
These principles have been of late
in allegiance. only because those whom
we trusted to maintain them. have
tailed to do so-these principles can
never die. We have rescued our party
from those, who. under the influence of
the money power, have controlled and
debased it. Our mission now is to res
cue from this same power. and its
foreign allies. our own beloved country
This is the first and highest duty i'm
posed by our party's platform: and
| tho ~
other reforms must wait The test of
party principles is the government they
assure; the proof of good government
is contented and happy people. and
the supreme test of both Is the ability
to guide the country through a crisis as
well as to administer the government
in ordinary times.
Our people now face a crisis. a crisis
more serious than any since the war
To what party shall they turn in then
dire emergency? 1t is true that the
present crisis may not involve ali
equally: there are those who do not
suffer now, and who may not suffer
should the crisis threatened by the gold
standard come on in all its fury. Hp-
man seifishnesS makes these deaf to all
appeals. but to these fortunately. the
Democratic party has never needed To
appeal to win its battles, nor does il
now. save as there are some amona
them VINO can rise superior to self In
sacrifice which such a crisis demands
of every patriot
we are told that the country has
prospered under the present monetary
standard; that its wealth has enor-
mously increased. Granted. But in
whose hands? In the hands of the foil
ers, the producers. the farmers. min
ers. fahricators in the factories. Gre
ators of the nations wealth in peace.
Its defenders in war; Have thev the
prosperity which was theirs So late &c
even 20 years ago? l deny it, They
deny it. None affirm it. save those
whose interest it is to do so. whose
prohts would diminish as prosperity
returns to those on whose distress they
thrive.
All is indeed right between capital
ana capital. The best money in the
world IS none too good for those who
nave got it; but how is it with 80 per
cent. of our people. who have got il
10 get How is it with those who
must buy this best money in the
world with products of their own la
Dor? These are the people for whom
the Democratic people would legisIate,
What is the best money for these is
the question for all to ask for who
really love this land. How also can you
increase labor's purchasing power, but
by increasing the price of labor's pro-
ducts? Is it a fair measure of value
that in our great producing section, 10
bushels of potatoes must be paid for a
dollar. 10 bushels of oats for a dollar |
six bushels of corn for dollar three
bushels of wheat, and all other pro-
ducts of soil and mines and labor of |
all wage earnest, at the same ratio? |
Does any fair mind say that this is |
honest money that forces such an eX-
change, and if it is not fair exchange,
is 1t honest, is it less than robbery?
This is the condition to which the
single gold standard has brought us.
Under it, the appreciation of the best |
money in the world" has increased the |
wealth of the rich, and for the same |
reason has increased the debt of the |
debtor. So it has been, so under the
present standard it must continue to |
be. With these object lessons around |
uo, llttlC Hctu HAVE we IOE history ana |
statistics and the studies of scholars. /
Little satisfaction it is to us that they |
have warned US long since of the dead |
ly evil of the gold standard 1t has |
brought us at last to the parting of the |
ways.
Whittier shall the people go? In the |
way that has led to their enslavement |
or into that which offers them their |
only chance to regain Individual lib |
erty, lasting prosperity and happiness? |
Let not our opponents charge us with |
creating class distinctions. Alas for |
the republic, they are already here, ere
ated by the Republican policy Of the |
last so years; created by the very sys- |
tenn we would now overthrow and de- I
stroy. Nor do we raise sectional issue
The nomination you tender repels the |
charge. None know better than l that |
this nomination is meant as no per-
sonal tribute, but as an assurance that |
our party is a non-sectional party. Not !
by our policy. but only by the continu-
ance of a gold standard can sectional
ism be revived. Neither shall our op-
ponents be permitted to terrify the peo-
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