The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-10-27
COL. NORToN'S PATRIOTIC AD-
DRESS TO POPULISTS.

~ a. 4AC La VI -4NS6O SaA0A4S$S
at st Louis.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 21.-Col. s. e.
Norton, of Illinois. who was the candi-
date of the middle of the-road Populists
at the st. Louis Convention, has writ
ten to Chairman Butler the following
communication;
CHICAGO, Oct. Is, 1898.
Hon. Marion Butler, Chairman PEG
pies PGrty Committee:
DEAR SIR:-However much POpu
lists may have differed at st. Louis as
to the best policy to adopt; however
much some OF us may still believe were
made, under existing circumstances,
there is only q course to pursue, and
that is to Loyalty and earnestly support
Mr.. Bryan-not so much for the sake
Of elevating him to the Presidency, as
for the purpose of defeating what may
be appropriately and most expressively
termed Mark Hana's repUblicanism.
"AIthough some of US regret certain
fusion arrangements which have been
made, it is a noticeable fact that no
other man in the United States is SO
much troubled about it as the manager
Of the Republican campaign. never
realized before how highly Republicans
have always respected and 'honored'
the Populist party till 1 fused with the
! Democrats
IF any consolation is needed, how
| ever, for this loss Of Republican esteem,
it may be found in the fact that Messrs,
Cleveland, Carlisle and Palmer have
! become the legatees thereof.
Our political allies in this campaign
may not have treated us fairly and
justly as they ought, in the matter Of
representation of Vice Presidential
| electors; and this seems to be the chief
! cause Of complaint, for I have yet to
meet with a Populist who does not ed
nit that Nj. Bryan is the ablest and
most fearless champion of reform prin
! ciples that reforrners themselves have
chosen IN the last twenty years.
1T is 81 event in history to fed a
man, backed By more than 1000, 900
voters, who hes the patriotism and
courage to stand up front faced before
the combined money powers Of the
World end hurl IN their teeth the burn
ing words Of defiance: 'Yoy shall lot
cruelty mankind Oh a CROSS OF gold
"MjsGakes may have been made and
il Injustice may have been done, especially
in the Southern States, where the
fo7er Of the PopuIists' army is to be
found, but this is not the time to settle
accounts, adjust wrongs, discuss d:t
f9renc6s Or correct mistakes.
1--WE are in the face of the enemy.
We are upon the field Of battle, the
welfare OF cur country is at stake, g
sacred aus is trembling in the bal
aoce, our opponents are dangerously
well equipped AMI thoroughly organ
lz8d, and the contest is fierce and re-
lentless; all personalities, therefore,
should be suppressed, all personal
grievances should be forgotten, and all
minor differences should be deferred
till the battle is won Or Lost. Every
gun should be turned upon the com
mon enemy.
whether Mr.. Bryan isa Populist or
not, one thing is absolutely certain {:
every enemy which reformers have en-
countered during the last twenty years
we find to day among his bitt8rest and
most relentless opponents.
Every monopolistic corporation,
every cppressor Of labor, every land
grabber, every trust and combine,
every robber syndicate, every million
ARE stock jobber, every subsidized
newspaper, every we'll paid corpora
zion lawyer, every millionaire coal
baron, ehylock creditor and every
plunderer Of the worlds wealth-pro-
~ducers-a1l of these old-time enemies,
whom reformers have met On so many
b~attlefelds, are to day Mr.. Bryan's
enemies. IF THEY ARE HIS ENE-
MES He MUST BE OUR FRIEND.
HIS SUCCESS IS THEIR DEFEAT;
THEIR DEFEAT Is OUR VICTORY.
1--WE, the pioneer workers, have ell
fondly hoped that we might have the
satisfaction and the glory of carrying
to victory the time honored and battle
SCARED flag of reform, which the old
guard has held aloft 50 bravely and
heoricaIly all these long trying years;
and anxious solicitude as to the out
come may be excusable.
"But let us not be unnecessarily
alarmed about the future OF the reform
movement. It has passed the danger