The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-10-27
CHAIRMAN BUTLER ISSUES AN
ADDRESS.

10 the Peoples Party Voters of North
Carolina:
The diff cult and laborious duties
that have developed upon me as the
National Chairman Of our party have
prevented me from taking part in the
campaign in North Carolina. But I
am intensely interested in the outcome,
and therefore take the liberty Of ad-
dressing this brief communication to
every friend and CO worker in nv
/ State.
Having been stationed On guard at
National headquarters, I have been in
a position to see and to realize the
scope and the meaning of the tremen,
dous political struggle through which
we are passing better than I probably
could have done if I had been in North
Carolina fighting in the ranks with you
In this campaign. The issues at stake
are of such magnitude, and the results
to follow victory or defeat are of such
tar-reaching consequence to our party
principles, and, therefore, to our com
mon welfare and prosperity, that I
would feel that 1 had fallen short of
my duty were I not to frankly and
earnestly present the-matter to you as
l Gee it.
-Four years ago, [ ~canvassed North
Carolina in the face OF the most terrific
opposition, warming the people that
the election of Grover Cleveland would
mean the triumph Of a foreign
gold syndicate, and, besides, the
triumph of every trust, combine,
and privileged class that has fettened
upon the substance Of the people
through unjIs5 legislation. l warned
the people that Grover Cleveland, If
elected, would betray them lst as
John Sherman and Harrison had done,
and that he would serve the same mas
tiers that they had served. In that
campaign I told the people that it was
no longer a fight between parties, but
that it was 5 struggle from now on be
tween the people and the enemies of
the people. It was q struggle of Amer
lean independence and manhood
against g heartless and desperate com
bination Of monopolies and trusts,
backed by a foreign gold syndicate.
l warned the people that this cOmbina
ton was not only trying to rob us OF
u prosperity, but was also trying to
destroy the liberties purchased for US
by the blood of our ancestors in the
Revolutionary War. further told the
people that within the next four years
we would tear the mask off Of these trait
Ors and hypocrites, who were then
masquerading under the names Of Re
publican and Democrat, and that in
the next campaign John Sherman, Ben
jamin Harrison, and Grover Cleveland
would be openly supporting the same
candidate of the money power, as they
had in the past secretly served the
same money power under different
names. This we have done. The issues
between the p9ople and ~plutocracy are
now clearly drawn. I regret that Cir
cumstances prevent me from going on
the stump in North Carolina this year
and facing the same audiences that I
faced four yearsago, and again pointing
out the deadly enemy of American in
situations, and again appealing to the
patriotism Of the voters of all parties
to come together for the common safety
and welfare. But / take this means Of
saying to you and to the people of the
State that every evil inf Ience that has
operated to control and debauch the
party as we'll as the Re-
publican party in the past, that every
evil and corrupt Influence that forced
Cleveland's nomination at Chicago four
years ago, together with every evil and
corrupt IL f1ence that has backed up |
John Sherman and his Infamous policy, !
are to day united and combined in the
support of William Mckinley for Presi
dent; every combine, trust, and mo
nopoIy, money grabber and Spectator
that the Peoples party was organized
to fight are to- day solidly joined to-
fighting William J. Bryan. !
Every enemy of good government and
the peoples prosperity were staggered
and alarmed at his nominations; and
for the reason his nomination and bril-
liant canvass should thrill with hope
and enthusiasm every follower Of JEFF
and Lincoln, and every man
who believes in the great and immortal
principles of the Declaration of indie
pendence. The election of Mckinley
g that we surrender the manage