Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-08-06
lest gave that as his reason for vot

Ss h. ~OSbEA Il EtShehSfsts
Vest gave that as his reason for vot
ing against it, knew these things,
but | did not know Governor Stone
would deny the power of the federal
government to enforce a federal
statute. | did not know that he
would openly advocate reputation
of federal judgments and decisions.
| did not know he would repudiate
the very platform on which he was
nominated and elected. | did not
know he would condemn, without
cause, the gallant leader who headed
the ticket and made his own victory
openly devote his whole time and
exert the power of his Office to CAP.
rying the Democratic party into the
Populist camp. l did not know he
would become the boon companion
and co-worker of Altgeld aud Till
man. / did not know such a trium
virate was even in contemplation. |
did not know he would use all the
police boards, asylum boards and
reformatOry boards of the state
merely as SO many political machines
to carry forward his own views and
overawe and suppress public senti-
ment. | did not know that it was a
cardinal principle of his political
creed to be false to every principle
of honor or friendship if he could
advance his own cause thereby. l
did not know that his personal creed
was such that it required him to
sacrifice his friends whenever neces-
sary to placate his enemies. If had
known these things when l was in
Audrain and Galloway counties ad-
vocating his nomination | would
not have asked my friends to rally
to his support. These matters have
become known during the progress
of his development" | was mistaken
in the man and frankly confess it.
Because this is true, however, do
not say / am inconsistent in not sup
porting the Chicago platform. My
like or dislike for Stone has nothing
in the world to do with my position.
1t is a matter of conviction with me.
There ire thousands of people in
this state who believe Stone is a
demagogue in politics, a Judas in
friendship and a Pharisee in religion
who will vote the Bryan ticket. AS
toi my friends in Audrain county
who took an active part in securing
his nomination no one of them, SO
far as l am informed, is his personal
friend today. 1t is only those who
oppose him, whose favor he has
courted, who now hold him in high
esteem. | had occasion to say once
before in a letter to you that Gov
ernor Stone had done more to de
bauch politics and lower the stand
ard of Democracy in the state than
any man in its ranks. No one knows
better than yourself the condition of
affairs he has produced in Kansas
City.
AS another reason why | al not
support the socalled Democratic
ticket this year is that, with a full
knowledgeOt Stones acts as above
outlined, every convention persists
in giving his administration a ''cor-
dial support and hearty indorse,
ment." Any party which has
become SO insensible to good gov
eminent as to condemn the admin
istration of the great and peerless
Cleveland, and then follow it up by
indorsing Debism and the admins
tration of Stone, can not have my
sanction or support.
| greatly regret to part company
with you and other good Democratic
friends in all parts of this state
whose good opinion / esteem. 1t is
more in sorrow than anger that /
can not agree with you. 1t has
been resolved upon deliberately,
and as the result of honest convic-
u ioN - HuC5lIOu VI ultlu~
tanning national credit, national
and the established order.
| construe your platform and
the circumstances attending its
adoption, these things can not be
obtained except outside the Demo
cratic party as at present consti-
tuted. So believing, / shall not by
my vote aid in the election of candi-
dates running upon a platform
which means reputation, national
degradation and possible revolution
and anarchy. However much we
may differ in politics / assure you
that as a personal friend you have
now, as always, my highest per-
sonal regard. Respectfully,
T. b. BUCKNER.