The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1896-07-20
South Carolina Editor Writes a Strong
Latter TO The Constitution.
DIAGNOSES THE SITUATION
Points Out to the Populists That Bry-
an Is the Man To Be Elected
in November.

and Is thoroughly enllSteu III wv
our farmers. / ask the use of your Columns
10 Law my views before my populiS,
sr,a,ds IN Georgia. I would have addressed
this letter to MIR. Watsons paper but lot
the fact that through that med.um
wound not have time to reach the people
until too late to accomplish anything
claim the proud distinction of having
edited The Athens Banner. the only paper
In the United States that supported the
alliance cause when i'm its swaduilhs
clothes | also had charge of their state
organ. and I believe that the farmers of
Georgia will bear me out I'm the assertion
that / have labored for their cause faith
fully, fearlessly and uuselhshly. | could
have represented my district IN congress-
but felt that I could do the cause more
good with my pen and working in the
ranks
l would have been living in Georgia to-
day but for the fact that the alliance de-
cided to align itself with the populist par
~, and while | felt that l could not or
pose my former friends. at the same time
1 knew il was political suicide for our
farmers TO seccdc from the democratic par
ty and attempt TO build up a new and IN
dependent political movement in the south.
With our late slave owning states the
word democracy" means more than party
allegiance. il means the political suprema-
cy Of the Anglo-SaXon race. For the
whites to divide in the south makes of our
colorcd voters political arbitrators. And
1 further knew that the controlling MAORI
~ Of our black vote could be purchased
The men who constitute the alliance move
ment and now the peoples party are
poor. and have no money 10 spend in the
purchase Of votes Their opponents are the
men who have the doodle" aud that they
have used it To good purpose is clearly dem
onstratcd by the fact that when / LETT ''eor-
ElfH Frfa
hv more than a three-fourths majority,
and had elected their governor, as also SIX
members of congress. But when they
withdrew from their party organization
turning all the machinery and the ballot
boxes over to those who had opposed them
SO bitterly. they simply played to the
hands of their enemies. and nave lost
everything they had gained.
How Cleveland Was Nominated ir 81.
And not only this. but the popuilSt move
ment in the south is directly responsive
for the nomination of Grover Cleveland IN
lSa2 Had alliaucemen gone INTO our
democratic conventions and dictated the
delegates the friends of silver would then
have controlled the Chicago convention.
as was done last week, and man III INN
accord and sympathy with the masses or
our population nominated and elected. This
I know to be "a fact. Senator lrhy, of south
Carolina. stoted 10 me on his return from
Chicago thas had he the undivided delega-
tions of Cic, rsia ana Alabama at his back
Grover Cleveland would never nave
been nominated as president.
know that our southern populists are
actuated by pure and patriotic motives
and that hope delayed maketh the heart
sick They have been SO long deceived
that they were ready 10 follow any pohtcal
wiIl-o'-the-wisp that they thought would
lead them To relief. The last work ] did
am, -
NV alliance friends and brethren TO be
ware OF this populistic mirage. and con-
tinue 20 fight their battles from behind
the ramparts OF democracy. And Will
here add that Z have accomplished IN
South Carolina what I sought SO earnestly
10 accomplish n Georgia. In this state
the farmers absolutely control their gov
crumcut. they name every officer from
United States Senator down to coroner.
and neither are our voters manipulated
through coIrt house mass meetings nor
stat,hous- eottvcntions. hut We have direct
democratic prmaries. where every white
voter can repair TO the polls ard cast his
ballot for tho men of his choice. and ia"
tickst thus selected becomes the demo
cratic nominees.
was in attendance unon the late Chi
cago convention ] heard Mr.. Bryan's ad-
dress and could my populist friends
throughout this union have been present
ON that occasion. know that they would
heartily ANA unanimously lndorse our
standard bearer. DO was not SO much what
air BRYAN said. as the earncsiuess and
oloqueuce with which he uttered his words.
I believe that God has raised mp that
Young man TO break the golden shackles
which bind the people. and lead them to
victory and relief
our South Carolina delegates went 10
Chicago with the motto inscribed upon
thei~ banner. Free Silver or Bust" We
went, however. as Jeficrsou.au democrats,
Lut believed that bImetallism was the
fundamental principle of our party and
should "a British gold standard platform be
adopted it would be prostitution OF our
principles and "A betrayal of our party.
After casting her first vote, instructed,
Tor Is. II. Tillman the old Palmetto state
voted unanimously Tor William J. Bryan
until lac was chosen as the standard bearer
of the silver forces and such an outburst
Of enthusiasm as we have never witnessed
before. AMI perhaps will never be witnessed
again.
Will Not Anchor at Wall Street
] have closely read AIR. Watson's able
editorials and he has always conteuded
and boldly asserted. that he was a Jener-
Scnian democrat. but Withdrew from his
party because 10 was anchored 10 All
street ard controlled b. the money power.
/ admit that this has been true IN the
past, hut last week in Chicago those free
hooters and pirates that had captured the
ship of democracy were thrown overheard,
the decks secured, our sails set to the
silver breeze. and "A commander taken fresh
from the ranks of the common people, and
IN fun sympathy with every interest of
the masses. placed in command. Under the
guidance of William J. Bryan, Mr.. Watson
must confess that there is no possible
danger of anchoring at any Wall street
wharf ON the other hand. the British gold
standard, so-callcd democrats" have given
up all hope of regaining the power wrested
from them in Chicago last week. and are
now at work organizing a party Of their
own. And just here let me say that this
is just what we want those golbugs to do.
The advocates of the robber dollar have
had the friends of silver divided all along,
and now If We can get the sound money
democrats" to nominate third ticket
Bryan and free silver will sweep this
country in the ides of November.
But if the counsel of my friend, Hon. II.
+. Watson. is followed by the populists,
nothing but defeat is in store for silver,
that / can see. Read the columns of the
gold standard organs, and you Will see
their only hope rests i'm the St. Louis con-
venton Of populists regulating Bryan and
putting out a separate free silver ticket.
In fact I believe that all this talk about