The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-09-15

! tue betrayal OIL the people, SO vigorously
has it taught the principles of true Dem
| ocracy and true RepubGcanism that one
! OF these old parties has been forced to
! retrace it's erring steps and cast off, for
the time being at least, it's base and
treecherous leaders.
It was the Peoples party that brought
the all important and ,overshadowipg
question of financial reform to the front.
1t IVES the Peoples party that made it
keep III the back ground the real national
| issues while they fought sham battles
over the tariff and other minor local is
sues The Peoples party is the real force
the handspring behind the great political
revolution.
1t is the indomitable force that has
driven the Democratic party to make its
patriotic declaration in the Chicago plat.
form, and it is now the constant .ond
strengthening force that holds them up
to that declaration. If the patriotic and
elevating influence as an organized force
was withdrawn, then inevitably the evil
and blighting influences that have domi-
mated and corrupted the Democratic party
in the past would creep into it's councils
and control it again. Besides, there is n
considerable minority Of the Democratic
party who, for policy, are in u manner
supporting the action of the Chicago con-
Mr. Bryan and the principles which he
represents. These are the natural allays
of the bolting plutocrats of the Indianap-
oils convention, and will spare no effort
to dGeat the reforms which every princi-
pie of good government demands.
Thus the Democratic party-so long de-
bauched and divided, a party beset from
within and without by the gold and
monopoly Democrats who are planning to
tp,,l Il. I
out these reforms of the Peoples party
people. Therefore, there was never
greater need for the continued existence
and generous growth Of our party than
now. Without it the Democratic party,
II In power, could not redeem it's pledges
Without it the next national convention
of the Democratic party would repudiate
the platform which it SO recently adopted
at Chicago, and Mr.. Bryan would stand
no more chance of becoming it's nominee
than would Thomas Jefferson were he
again on earth.
In 1892 the Democratic politicians de-
nounced the principles of the Peoples
party. In 1886 these same men were
forced to purge themselves of their mod
ern false doctrines and return to the prin-
ciples of Jefferson and Jackson. That
party in its connection nominated for the
Presidency William j. Bryan, and was
ready TO reiuunce the false gods of cor
rupted Democracy, rs Henry NJ Teller had
renowned the false gods of corrupted Re-
publicanism. The Peoples party in it's
second national convention, held n few
weeks later, put country above party and
rose to higher plane of patriotism than
has ever been shown by any party. 1t
recognized in this young patriot of the
, West and who stands in the broadcast and
, truest sense for American institutions
/ and American principles-a man rs wor-
thy and rs true as an one within our own
| ranks and, besides, one who has already
several millions of votes pledged to his
support, and who, therefore, we could be
sure of electing in the present contest.
Thus was presented to us an opportunity
to elect this year IL man who would be the
1lrst friend OF the people i'll the White
House III twenty years, and man the
| Peoples party han scarcely hoped to elect
| before 1900. If the Democratic marty had
| been true to the people and its platform
in its selection of n candidate for Vice
| President we would not now have the
honor of addressing you, one of the wor-
! thiest and most beloved sons of the Peo-
| pies party, in this official capacity, for in
that event the Peoples party would ha sc
| nominated the whole Democratic ticket
| by even larger majority than it nomi-
mated Mr.. Bryan. But such was not the
case. 1t seems that the party was not
able at one effort to purge itself of its
modern heresies, cast off the plutocratic
| leaders and, at the same time it nominated
| Mr. Bryan, giving him n running mate
| who had earned in the arena of action,
! contending against the foes of the people,
| the Affection confidence and trust of the
masses of our people, as had Mr.. Bryan
himself. Had it nominated u man for the
Presidency who was known to all
| America as a chieftian and n leader in de-
tense of the toilers and producers of the
/ land--one who by the use of voice. pen
and means had endeared himself to the
American people-one with a past not
obscured with a silence suggestive of
! either ignorance or Indifference to the
struggle of the people with the money
) power, the occasion of this communica.
I ton to your worthy self would not have
[ occurred. The Peoples party, true to its
! principles and true to its teachings, nom
| mated for the high Office of Vice-Presi-
I dent man worthy to have headed the
! ticket a man who represents what Mr..
/ Bryan represents, and, therefore, pres
/ ents to the people to-day in the persons
of Bryan and Watson the best silver
ticket in the field-a ticket more repre-
| sentative of American interests than any
| other, ticket that stands for lust the
| opposite to that for which the Republican
i ticket stands.
If the people win this fight for financial
reform it must be accomplished by the
cooperation of the silver forces of all no
4 litlcal parties To secure sucb co.onaro