The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1896-01-24
Communication from Hon,
Josiah Patterson to
Capt. r. II. Wood.
Washington, d. @.
Jany. 18TH, 1896.
CAPT. r. II. WooD,
My Dear Sir:

/ fear the outlook for democracy
in Tennessee is not encouraging. /
regret very much the tone and tenn
per of the address issued by the
committee, of which Mr.. Head is
chairman. can but think it i'll adj
vised and hurtful to the cause of
sound money. Especially is this
so in view of the almost certain fact
that the national democratic conven-
ton will declare against the free
coinage of silver. Many of the adj
vocates of free coinage with whom
l have conversed concede that such
will be the result. For the state
convention to meet at Nashville and
declare for the free coinage of silver
at the ratio of l6 to l, and for the
national convention to meet a few
weeks later and declare against it,
would, in my judgment, place the
party in Tennessee in an attitude of
great embarrassment. But this is
not the most deplorable feature of
the case. PROFESSIONALLY, there is
very large number of democrats in
Tennessee who have ever been faith
full to the party, who stand with the
democratic administration on the
currency question, and comprise a
large proportion of the best citizens
of the state. l am not willing to
concede that they are in the minori-
ty as is confidently asserted. To
these democrats, Mr.. Heads commit
tee issues a note of defiance. They
are prescribed. The evident pur
pose is to drive them out of the
party councils and force them in OPP
position. This, in my judgment,
is exceedingly unfortunate. l be-
lieVe that there are great many
democrats in Tennessee, who favor
free coinage, who will not approve
of such policy. So far as l am
concerned it shall in no way effect
my course. ! have been a demo
crat all my life and intend to remain
so. The democracy to me means a
great deal more than the silver
question. have always regarded
that question as one of pure econo-
mics, about which democrats differ,
and have the right to differ. Ny
convictions on the subject are I'M
alterably fixed. The free coinage of
silver at the ratio of Is to l, in my
judgment, would be an appalling
calamity to the country, and l have
no though it will ever prevail. How
ever, | have never been disposed to
run my convictions down the throats
of my fellow democrats who differ
with me. / have earnestly, but re-
spectfully, reasoned with the demo
Gratis upon the subject without any
purpose of prescribing any one, l
shall continue this course in the par
ty and nowhere else, and if my par
ty shall differ with me, l shall not
abandon it. l am determined to
fight for the cause of sound money,
in this spirit, to the end. / would
not, if 1 could, engraft my views in
state platform to the injury of the
party, and neither shall l permit
Mr.. Heads committee to prescribe
me, and the democrats who believe
with me without protest.
We ought to call a state convention
and send our best and wisest men to
the national convention and wait for
the action of that convention before
precipitating a conflict of opinion in
our ranks. Let us look to the COM
mon good of the party and see that
the democrats elect good govern
or. We have vital questions to
settle in the State, and it seems to
me that we ought to unite our for
ces. l sincerely hope the demo-
Gratis of Tennessee will, in this
emergency, show spirit of justice
and forbearance. This is not the
time to apply the knout to the backs
Of democrats. The interest of the
party imperatively demands moder-
ate council and patriotic action.
Yours Sincerely,
JOSIAH PATTERSON.