The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-07-15
is What He Calls the Rction of the Chi
cago ConVention~-He Stands for
Principle and Advocates a
Union of Silver Forces.
Union OF Silver Forces.


Principle and Advocates a
Union of Silver Forces.
Washington, July IA. II. Turner,
who for the last four years has been
Secretary of the National Committee
of the Peoples party, in a signed state
ment urges Populists to support Bry-
an for President. He writes:
"The result of the late National
Democratic convention at Chicago is
undoubtedly the triumph of Popu-
lism. A large portion of the voters in
the Populist party in the South and
West were originally Democrats and
left the old party because it was DOM
mated in every National convention
by the Eastern Democrats who rep
resented Wall street and the monopo-
lists of New York and New England.
1t became quite apparent to every
thinking man that as long as New
York was allowed to make the plat
form and name the candidate Of the
Democratic party that tie great plain
people would have no show, and that
their rights and wishes would always
be ignored. Believing this, the thinking
men among the ranks and file deter
y
ganize a new party. Hence the exist
ence of the Populist party.
"The Democratic party at Chicago
simply purged itself, reorganized it
self and came out for true Democracy
and to all intents and purposes sub
stituted the Populist platform for the
old platform that the party has been
using for years and which were die
tated and foisted upon the people by
the gold bugs of the East. Mr.. Bry-
an, the nominee of that convention is
man who fits the platform. I have
personally watched his course for a
number Of years and l know that his
every impulse has been against the op-
pressors of the people and in behalf of
the great masses. For more than two
years he has acted with the Populists
of his own State.
"It cannot be successfully denied
that the principles advocated by the
Populist party have captured the Dem
Ocratic party and have driven out of
it's ranks that element which has al
ways been opposed to true Democracy
and which from the beginning has
been affiliated with the Republican
party, it's natural home. All Popu-
lists in these United States should re-
ioice that their principles have taken
such a hold upon the American peo-
pie that one of the great political par
ties of the nation has been compelled
to adopt those principles and nomi-
nate a ticket pledged to carry them
into execution. If the Populists think
more of their principles than thew do
Of mere party organization they will
be compelled to unite with the forces
going in the same direction, and there
by rescue our country from all the
dire calamities which we have predict
ed would befall it should the gold
standard be permanently fastened
upon us.
'As Secretary of the National Com
mlttee of the Peoples party for the
last four years, have labored in sea-
son and out of season for the up-
building of our party. love the as
sociations which have formed in its
ranks; but, while these are dear to
me, the principles of the Populist
party are much dearer. I feel that I
would be one of the worst enemies of
the Peoples party and of its princi-
pies should | not take the step at this
time that [ believe will eliminate in
the complete triumph of every demand
hAouC ny UliC pdIC we nave adVO-
Gated a union of the South and West
in order that we might bring about
the necessary financial reforms. Now
we have a chance of bringing all our
hopes and desires to a grand consum-
nation.
"The truth of it is that the oulv point
the Populists now have to decide is
whether or not they will take Mr..
Bryan, whom every gold bug in the
country has denounced as a PopuIist,
for our next President of the United
States or whether they will take Mr..
Mckinley, who represents everything
that the Populists have denounced
and just the opposite of everything
that they have advocated since they
have been party.
Looking at it from this standpoint.
and feeling that in the election of Mr..
Bryan Populism has triumphed, and
when I say Populism I mean the
great common people of the United
States, the masses, have triumphed
against the classes; and should Mr.. Nc
Kinley be elected the classes have tri-
umphed, the English gold standard
has been permanently fastened upon
the lines of industry in this country
and there will be nothing left for us
but serfdom that will undoubtedly
bring on bloody revolution in the
near future"
THE FTP ANCIC HTTTJApn cCIInnT