Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-15
POPULISIS TO BRYAN.
FORMALLY NOTIFIED BY LETTER
OF HIS NOMINATION.
Due to His Financial views-Not
Expected That He VIII Accept All
the Declarations of the Peoples
Party Platform.

MADlSON, NEB., september li.-Sena-
tor Allen. chairman of the Populists'
committee to notify William J. Bryan OF
his nomination for the presidency, to-
night gave out his letter TO the nominee.
The full text follows:
Madison, Neb.. September IA, 1896.
To Hon. William ]. Bryan. Lincoln. Neb.:
Dear Sir,-At a conference of the Peo-
pies party. held at st. Louis from July
22d to 18th OF the current year, you were
unanimously nominated for President OF
the United States. 10 be voted for at the
approaching general election. 1t was
known at the time that you had been
nominated by the Democratic party at us
convention, held at Chicago, a few days
before that time. and that you would, In
all probability, accept the same in for
NAL manner. Your nomination by the
Peoples party was not. therefore, MADE
with any thought that you were fopu-
list, or that you accepted al! the doc
trines declared by the st. Louis PLATFORM
IL WAS due largely to the fact that tne
money question is the oyershadowlng po-
litical issue Of the age. and because you
have at all times been an uns"erVihg'
able and fearless advocate OF the free
and unlimited coinage of silver and gold
on terms of equality at the mints OF Inc
United States at the ratio 10 TO /.
1t was thought also that the Observance
of a patriotic duty required a union "i
all Of the reform forces, and the conVeh-
ton took the liberty, without something
or consulting you, OF placing your haine
before the people as Its acknowledgements.
THE convention has, In doing so, guided
hv deem solicitude for the common well
fare and acting on its own motioh,
prompted alone by a desire to bring about
the best attainable results.
THE CRIME OF 1873.
So much has been said respecting the
rehabilitation OF silver by again placing
IL In our coinage acts IN the position II
occupied when steathily demonetlZed by
the act of 1873. that IL would be idle for
ms 10 discuss the question. You VIII OBJ
serve by the closing language or the 81
Louis platform that the convention re-
cogniZed the money question as the great
issue Of the day. and because Popullsts
believe that you are in accord with tnSni
on this question you VIII receive lneir
ballots in November 1t has at no uine
been expected, or is II now. that you
will abandon your adhesion 10 the Chi
cage platform, or that you will accept all
that is declared by the Peoples party
platform. however gratifying the latter
would be to all Populists. II must be
understood that the party does not aDate
one lot or title OF loyalty to its princi-
pies We have declared ourselves In
favor of many important reforms, ana go
farther than you or your party has gone.
Those reforms, in our judgment, are es-
- tf1t, Of hn
from the present unjust and Ubiquitous In
dustrial bondage. In accordance with the
precedent of our party, we take this
method of notifying you of your nomina-
ton.
We shall not send a committee accord
ing to old party custom. In sending this
letter of notification of the great honor
that has justly been conferred on you
by our party, it is needless for us to
assure you that you have the confidence
and esteem of all. Your splendid abili-
ties. known integrity. competence. and
eminence fitness for the position justly
entitle you to a high rank among the
great statesmen of the nation.
CERTAIN OF ELECTION.
We feel that in the event Of your cleo
ton. which now seems certain, you will
carry into execution the principles of
monetary reform. to the end that tine
people shall enjoy better industrial con-
ditions. 1t is not anticipated that this
can be done with undue haste. or so sud
denly as to wrench or disjoint the bust
ness interests Of the country. but that
it will be done gradually. and in way
to infuse confidence and hope Of better
conditions for all.
The Peoples party will exact OF you
h.. IN
your public utterances and exemplified
in a life devoted to the welfare OF the
race; nor will we ask you TO abandon
the party of which you are an honored
member. In your nomination our party
has risen above mere partisan surround
| ings, adopting a high plane of patriotism
believing that a division of forces would
result i'm the election of William McKin.
ley. the foremost advocate OF a deeply
burdensome and unnatural taxation, and
the criminal policy Of the single gold
standard. resulting ultimately. II not
in some manner checked. In the complete
destruction and disintegration OF our
| form of government.
PEOPLES RIGHT TO GOVERN.
Your elevation to the CHIEF magis-
tracy OF the nation would be regarded
as yindication OF the right Of the peo-
pie TO govern. and we entertain no doubt
that you will prove a worthy successor
of the immortal Jefferson and Lincoln
and that your public life, like theirs
will illustrate the purity and loftiness
of American craftsmanship. Your ex-
tensive and intimate knowledge of pub
| lie affairs and the duties the office viii
| impose. gained in a life that has beer
devoted to unfolding the cause of tbs
people as well as your keen insight into
the condition of our country highly
| qualify you TO bring about a change ir
way that will work injury to none anc
| Justice to all. thus making our govern.
ment in fact, as II is now in form only
government Of. by. and for the peo-
| pie"
We have the honor to be your mos
obedient servants.
WILLIAM VINCENT ALLEN,
Chairman.
The names OF each OF the members OF
the Notification Committee follow thai
of Senator Allen.