The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-15
GENERAL SHELBY'S
OPEN LETTER
Criticises His Friend Crittent en- for For.
saking "SOund Monty"
WILL VOTE FOR MAJOR M'KINLEY
The Chicago Convention Con.
glOmeratiOn of All Parties with
POpulism and Anarchy in the As.
cendant.. The Platform Is POpulism
Sugar. .COated..Its Candidate a
Dangerous RhetOrician.

Washington. Aug. IA copy of an
open Letter from General J. o. Shelby,
Cleveland's marshal for the district of
Missouri, and the personal friend of
Senators Vest and COckrell. to eXGOv-
ernor Crittenden. now CONSUL general
to Mexico. in which the general criti-
cises his friend for forsaking sound
money" for the cause of silver and
declaring that he (Shelby) must vote
for Mckinley and Sound money" has
reached the Republican committee and
1t will be given a wide distribution.
The friendliest tone prevades the let
ter. but the general expresses his as
tonishment at the sudden flop" Of his
old friend, and his surprise that you
have, with hasty hand chained your
self to the triumphal chariot of three
governors. Altgeld. Stone and Tillman
turbulent trinity of strong political
petrels whose piping notes have al
ways presaged storm and shipwreck
to the Democratic party"
Referring to the convention, General
Shelby says that the Chicago conven-
ton was not Democratic. That is was
conglomeration of all parties.
btliiS Ill
ascendency. Democracy is rock-ribbed
and stands upon principal and cannot
be. swept from its feet by mixed meta
phors and graceful periods. Demo-
Gratis are not Roman rabble to be
swerved from duty by Nebraska
Mark Anthony"
After discussing the platform at some
length, General Shelby said:
I see the way clearly and shall follow
the old paths of Democracy as laid out by
the fathers of the republic. Is there one
line in the practical declarations OF the
Chicago platform that was ever there be-
fore? OF the practical living issues now
present, there is as marked an absence of
true Democratic doctrine in the Chicago
platform as there Is of vital piety in one
of Colonel lngersolrs addresses. You
must go to Ocala and Omaha to find the
progenitors of the vital issues presented
at Chicago Reputation of public and
private faith and social disorder will pe
the twin offspring of the unholy alliance
between the Populists and the Democrats.
whose bans were published at Chicago and
whose marriage ties were consummated
at st. Louis last month. The alien blood
imported from Omaha will taint the De-
mocracy and make the issue spurious.
Calling General Crittenden's attention
to the position he assumed at the out
break Of the war when he (Shelby)
and others besouht him to join the
Confederates, General Shelby con-
cludes as fololws:
/ will abandon friends, party and kin
dred rather than yield even implied con-
sent to such base assortment of polit-
ical heresies. A good patient will not
take a quack's medicine. If he does he
dies. and If the party swallows the Chi
cago prescription its days are numbered.
| its death certain. The Chicago platform
| is Populism sugar-coated. Its candidate
| is rising demagogue, a dangerous rhet-
| orician. who, for momentary applause,
would Hight torch and apply 1t to the
very citadel of American liberty. There
should be but two candidates. and we who
believe in sustaining law, order and sound
! currency. SHOULD vote for Mckinley.
Those who favor free and unlimited coin
age of silver disorder. misrule and ul-
| innate reputation, should support Bryan
| and take their choice between Sewall and
| Watson.