The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-11-17

nj UlkS 4CA PO&ASg
the cause of silver, rather than make
anv concessions to National Populism,
itappears that the democratic managers
would be willing to make q sacrifice OF
! both Bryan aud silver, if they can but
! destroy Populism.
In your letter, Senator, you say ours
is the first political party that ever de-
| manded abolition of banks Of issue,
monopolies, etc. In this you r mis-.
taken. The National platform Of the
! Greenback party Q878) contains every
principle for which PopuIism now
| stands. The Greenback party was
murdered by false promises and treach
erous fusions. Let US take warning
! from it's fate. In every State Of the
Union where Populism has organic,
| ton We should see to it that the Nationi |
Populist ticket is represented by Popu,
list electors.
It is hardly necessary for me to say
that I heartily endorse tie platform
upon which I was nominated. In
speech, in editorial. in pamphlets I
have discussed for several years every
issue P0pulism raises, and my posi-
tion upon them all is go we'll kno IN
that I need go into no discussion OF
Pupuliet principles here.
The position taken in this letter will
be bitterly assailed. Would that the
pathway of duty were always carpeted
with flowers. Il rarely is. By max
ing myself and the great party l rep
resent, a mere footmag for Democratic
politicians to wipe their feet upon, l
could win much applause from that
quarter.
But if I were now lacking in the 10y
atty which was expected Of me when
chosen, [ would grieve the men VINO
have honored me, trusted me, defended
me and loved me.
In this reform movement, to which l
have devoted eight Of the best years of
my life, I have lost much-but my own
self respect has not been lest, nor the
respect Of these whose principles I rep
resented and whose battles I have
fought.
Throughgood reportand evil, through
sunshine and throught storm, [ have
been true to this great cause, and 1
shall not dishonor it now
I did not seek this nomination, nor
desire it. Had I asked the Presidential
nomination of the Peoples party and
gone to st. Louis to claim it, no power
Of the Democratic Cmissaries could
have kept it from me.
It was out of a heartfelt desire to
help unite all the reform forces, and at
the same time to savo my party and
it's principles from utter wreck, that l
agreed to accept second place on the
compromise ticket.
stood ready to j Din hands with Mr..
Bryao, and to aid MIN in harmonizing
Populisrs and silver Democrats, and in
uniEing South and West, to the end that
we might achieve a victory against
Mckinley and Mckinley ism. Fusion
with Bryan means 10 sacrifice of prin-
ciple; fusion with SeweI does.
NJ me regrets mere profoundly than
I do that the Democratic managers
have SO shaped the campaign, that the
South has again been told that she
must grovel in the dust and let an
E astern pEutocras put his foot upon her
neck. Nor does any che regret more
than I do the Democratic managers
in shaping their fusion deals, have con
sidered these Populists, only, who
were getting loaves and fishes They
have lost sight OF the great army of the
privates, whose honest hearts and sin
cere souls forms the strength of the re
Enforcement Mr.. Bryan needs. These
PopuIists Of the rank and file have the
spirit of crusaders, and they would die
for a principle more quickly than they
would sell it.
These men will not vote for Sewall,
nor for Sewall electors. If Senators
Jones and German really wish to de
feat Mckinley let them lose no time in
realizing this truth.
Yours, etc.
THOs E WATSON.
Thomson, Ga. Oct. IA, 1896.
There is quite a building boom now