Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1896-10-29
MIDDLE. OF ROAD CHOICE
FOR PRESIDENT WRITES
BUTLER.
CALL TO WORK FOR BRYAN.
:
ssLet Every Other Constellation
Be Laid Aside''-Let PeO-
pies Party Members, With
out Exception, Help to Elect
the Democratic Leader.

In DS1AAOS1 GUN ASetNASA
Washington. D.. G. October 81.
Colonel S. F. Norton, of Illinois,
who was the candidate for Presi
dent of the Middle of>the-R Road
Populists at the ST. Louis con-
ventlon, has written TO Chairman
Butler the following communica-
ton:
Chicago, ILL.,, Oct. Is, 1896.
Hon. Marion Butler, Chairman,
Peoples Party Committee:
Dear Sir: However much
Populists may 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 cir
cuInstances there is only one
course to pursue, and that is to
oyally and earnestly support
Mr.. Bryan-not so much for the
sake of elevating him to the pres
idency, as for the purpose of de-
feating what may be appro
priately and most expressively
termed Mark Hanna Republican,
ism. Although some Of US re~
greet certain fusion arrangements
which have been made, it is a no.
ticeable fact that no other man
in the United States is SO much
troubled about it as the manager
of the Republican campaign, |
never realized how highly the
Republicans have always res
spected' and 'honored' the Pop
ulist party till I fused with the
Democrats. If any consolation
is needed, however, for this loss
of Republican esteem, it may be
found in the fact that Messrs.
Cleveland, Carlisle and Palmer
have become thr legatees thereof.
Our political allies in this
campaign may not have treated
US as fairly and justly as they
ought to i'll the matter of res
presentation on the vice>presi-
dental electoral ticket, and this
seems to be the chief cause of
complaint, for I have yet to meet
with a Populist who does not
admire that Mr. Bryan is the
ablest and most fearless cham>
pion of reform principles that
reformers themselves have cho-
sen in the last twenty years. It is
an event in history, to find a man,
backed by more than 1000, 900
voters, who has the patriotism
and courage to stand up fronts
faced before the combined money
powers of the world, and hurl in
their teeth the burning words of
defiance: You shall not cruelty
mankind on a cross Of gold
Mistakes may have been made,
and injustice may have been
done. especially in the southern
States, where the flower of the
Populists army is to be found.
but this is not the time to
settle accounts, adjust wrongs,
discuss differences, or correct
mistakes.
1--WE are in the face of the
enemy, we are upon the field of
battle, the welfare of the coun>
try is at stake a scarced cause is
trembling in the balance, our OPP
ponents are dangerously well
equipped and thoroughly or>
gained, and the contest is fierce
aid relentless. All personals
ties, therefore, should be sup
pressed, all personal grievance
should be forgotten, and all
minor differences shonld be de-
ferred until the battle is won or
lost. Every gun should be turned
upon the common enemy.
whether Mr.. Bryan is a
Populists or not, one thing is
absolutely certain, every enemy
which reformes have encountered
during the last twenty years we
find to day among his bitterest
and most relentless opponents.
monopolistic corporation,
oppressor of labor, every
trust, and combine. every robber
syndicate, every millionaire
stock jobber, every subsidized
newspaper, every well-paid cor
poration lawyer, every millionaire
every shylock credi>
tor, and every plunderer of the
worlds weaIth>producer-all OF
these old-time enemies, whom
reformers have met on so many
battle fields, are to>day Mr..
Bryan's enemies. If these are his
enemies he must be our friend
His success is their defeat; their
defeat is our victory.
We, the pioneer workers,
have all fondly hopel that we
have the satisfaction and
,he glory Of carrying to victory
,he time-honored and battle
Scared flag of reform, which
he old guard has held aloft so
oravely and heroically all these
ong, trying years, and anxious
as to the outcome may
De excusable. But let US not bel
unnecessarily alarmed about
he future of the reform move
nent. 1t has passed the danger
It is capable of taking
are of itself under any and all
Traitors cannot
it. time-seryers cannot
ell it out: injudicious friends
destroy it; defeat cannot ]
lemoralIze it; its opponents, 4
however powerful and crafty,
crush it: even the gates