The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-10-28
NORTON FOR BRYAN.
AN ELOQUENT AND PATRIOTIC
APPEAL,
Turn Every Gun Upon the Com.
mon Enemy!
IN. Marion Butler, Chairman Peoples

have differed at st. Louis as to the correct
policy to adopt; however much some of US
may still believe that mistakes were made,
under existing circumstances there Is on
ly one course to pursue, and that is to 10y
ally and earnestly support Mr.. Bryan-not
so much for the sake of elevatng him 10
the presidency, for the purpose of de-
feating what may appropriately and most
expressively be termed Mark Hanna Re-
publicanism. Although some of us may
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 1t as the manager of
the Republican campaign. never real
lied before how highly Republicans have
always respected and "honored' the
Populist party It'll it fused with the Dem
ocrats." If any consolation is needed,
however, for this loss of Republican es-
TEEN. 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 as fairly they
ought in the matter of representation Of
vice-presidental electors: and this seems
to be the chief cause Of complaint, for L
have not yet to meet with a Populist who
does not admit that Mr.. Bryan is tho
ableSt and most fearless champion of re-
form principles that reformers themselves
have chosen in the last 20 years. 1t is an
event in history to find a man backed by
four million votes, who has the patriotism
and courage to stand up front faced be-
fore the combined money power of the
world and hurl in their teeth the burning
words of defiance: You shall not cruelty
mankind upon a cross of golu.' Mistakes
ha haaO mi
have been done, especially in the South
ern states. where the flower of the Pop
ulist army is to be found, but this Is
not the time to settle accounts. adjust
wrongs, discuss differences, or correct
mistakes We are in the face of the
enemy, we are upon the field of battle,
the welfare of our country is at stake.
sacred cause is trembling in the bal
ance, our opponents are dangerously
we'll equipped and thoroughly organized.
and the contest is fierce and relentless:
all personal ambitions, therefore, should
be suppressed, all personal grievances
should be forgotten, and all minor diff
ferences should be deferred till the bat
tie is won or lost Every gun should be
turned upon the common enemy.
Whether Mr.. Bryan is a Populst or not
one thing Is absolutely certain, every en-
envy winch reIOrmerS nave encountered
during the last 20 years we find today
among his bittereSt and most relentless
opponents. Every monopolistic corpora
ton, every oppressor of labor, every land
grabber, every trust and combine, every
robber syndicate, every millionaire stock
jobber. every subsidized newspaper. every
well paid corporation lawyer, every Million
aire coal baron, every shylock creditor, and
every plunderer of the worlds wealth pro-
ducers-all of these old time enemies,
whom reformers have met many bat
tlefelds, are today Mr.. Bryans enemies.
If they are his enemies he must be our
friend. His success is their defeat; their
defeat is our victory.
We the pioneer workers, have all fond
ly hoped that we might have the satisfac-
ton and glory of carrying to victory the
time honored battle SCARED flag of reform
which the old guard has held aloft so
bravely and heroically all these long and
trying years, and anxious solicitude
to the outcome may be excusable. But let
us not be unnecessarily be ARMED about
the future of the reform movement. 1T
has passed the danger point. 1t Is capa-
BILE of taking of itself under any and
all circumstances. Traitors cannot be-
tray it: time servers cannot sell it OUT
feat cannot demoralze it, it's opponents
however powerful and crafty, cannot crush
it; even the gates of hell cannot prevail
against it. For 20 years, although SUBJ
jected to all the dangerous pitfalls, perils
and quicksands incident to the develop
ment of a new party, it has grown to be
the greatest factor in the arena of Amer
lean politics today. And if elected. I be-
lieve that Mr. Bryan will not be slow to
recognize this fact, and that he will soon
learn to rely upon the counsels and support
of the new party which has revolutionized
the politics of the country, forced to the
front new and vital issues. and made it pos
sible for the people instead Of office seek
ing politicians to place a champion Of pro-
gressive ideas at the head of the govern
ment 1 believe that he will appreciate the
fact that we will have placed in the hollow
of his hand not ony the unseltish hopes
and patriotic aspira tons of the Populist
party, but the most sacred cause that was
ever entrusted to living man, and that he
will not betray that trust
In conclusion permit me to say that II
my 20 years of work entities me to the con-
fidence of my co-workers, let me ask them
to lay aside every other consideration and
help elect Mr.. Bryan-not for his sake, but
for the sake of the principles which all
hold dear and sacred. If success is achiev-
ed the Populist party can never be denied
the glory Of the victory. If defeat awaints
and our standard bearer falls. let there
be no populist arrows found either In his
breast or in his back Let the responsible
ity rest upon other shoulders than our
own. Sincerely yours,
$. F. Norton.
Chicago, Oct. IL, 1896.