The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-11-11
CHAIRMAN BUTLER.
ISSUES AN ADDRESS TO THE
PEOPLE OF THE UNITED
STATES.
The Money Power and Cleveland Tried to Crush
Out Silver-Patriotic Action Of the Peoples
Party in Voting for Mr.. Bryan.

"A ~ IA vVtiu8 lQt Ar. bryan.
Washington, Nov. 7.-S,nator Ma
rion Butler. chairman of the National
Committee of the Peoples Party, to-
day issued the following statement;
In the remarkable campain lust
closed the Peoples Party was the only
party that supported SOlidly and unit
edly the great vital issues represe nted
in che candidacy of Mr.. Bryan. This
was natural, for the Peoples Party
came into existence to bring to the
the 'front.' and to press to victory the
principles of Lincoln and Jefferson, al.
ready long discarded by the two old
partles. The money power, feeling
reasonably sure OF its control and
domination Of the leaders and the con-
trolling influences in their party in
1892, gave it's support to the candidacy
OF Grover Cleveland for the especial
purpose OF having him, through the
use OF patronage and otherwise, to
crush out the silver sentiment in the
South and make the leaders in that
party as completely subservient as
those in the Republican party. Toac-
complish this purpose four cabinet
ministers were selected from the
South and an unusual amount OF pat
ronage was doled out, to the same
end. 1t will be remembered that Mr..
Cleveland demanded that the Demo-
cratic senators and Congressmen give
a decisive vote in the interests OF the
gold standard before he would even
give out the postoffices. This deep
laid plan might have succeeded had
not the Peoples party at this juno
ture sprung into existence, exposed
the plot, stood in the breech and ap-
pealed to the patriotic hos is of both
parties to check the scheme of the
peoples despoilers and rally to the
common defense. The Peoples Party
forced the Democratic organization to
repudiate Cleveland and to return to
correct fundamental principles. Not
only this, but the Peoples Party then
forced the Republican party to cease
hedging and stradling for the purpose
OF deceivlng the people.
Had 1t not been for the prejudice
against the Democratic name as well
as want Of confidence in Democratic
promises, for which, it must be frank
ly admitted, past experience furnishes
ample ground, majority Of the voters
Of the country, in spite of the tremen-
dous and unparalleled forces put for
ward by the Republican managers,
would have cast their vote for finan-
cial reform and American independ-
ence. The Peoples party, with high
patriotism and an unselfish devotion
to principle greater than ever before
exhibited by any other party, stepped
outside of its organization to throw
its 100000 votes for Mr.. Bryan.
Had not more than this number of
those who called themselves Demo-
Gratis in 1892 given their support to
Mckinley the cause Of the people and
American principles would have trl-
umphed this year. This class of Dem
ocrats will surely support the party of
mOnOpoliStS and trusts In the future.
Their places in the ranks Of the re-
form hosts maybe taken by patriotic
Republicans. In fact, Bryan would
have been elected In this contest had
even 25OOO more Silver Republicans
come to the rescue.
The election OF Mckinley and the
triumph Of the gold standar I'd does not
express the desire and sentiments OF
the American people. The majority
oppose the policy for which he stands
and will so vote whenever an oppor-
tunity is presented for proper align.
ment. The remarkable and brilliant
campaign OF VIM. j. Bryan would
have aligned these forces and march
cd them to a triumphant victory il
any candidate or leader in America
could have done SO under the Demo
of Mckinley cannot bring prosperity
to the American people. Tie mills
cannot be kept open, idle labor given
employment and general prosperity
restored and maintained until the
wealth producers receive their fair re.
turns for their labor and are thus en-
abled to purchase. The gold standard
and monopoly rule, to continuation
of which Mckinley stands pledged,
means four years Of falling prices, four
years more of lockouts and strikes,
four more years of reduced wages and
idle labor. This will cause the pa
triotic rank and file OF the republican
party to condemn and repudiatc Nc
Kinleyism as the patriotic rank and
file Of the Democratic party has con-
cannot believe otherwise, for I have
not less confidence in the patriotism
of this class of Republicans than the
rank and file of the Democratic party
has already demonstrated. There
fore, large per cent who, though not
fooled by the specious pleas Of "hOn.
est money" and promised prosperity,
yet would not in this campaign fight
under the Democratic banner will
surely join hands with the majority
Of the American voters outside Of the
old parties to over-throw govern
ment CT trusts and mOnopolies run in
the interests Of foreign capitalists.
The Peoples Party has made this pos
sible, in fact, inevitable. The posi-
tion OF the Peoples Party in this
great contest has convinced every pa
triotic American that the party can
be trusted to stand for the principles
uf good government and the interests
Of the people under any and all cir
cumstances. Therefore the Peoples
Party will be the nucleus around
which the patriotic hosts must and
will gather to redeem q betrayed re-
public and restore prosperity to an
oppressed and outraged people.