West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1896-10-08
AN OPEN CHALLENGE
TO Hon. G.. w. Atkinson, BY Col. Nat
Ward Fitz-Gerald.
TERRA Alta, W: VA.

Hon. q. " .4ikinsOn, Wheeling,
Vest Viry'nia:
Dear Sir You want to be gov
ernor of Nest Virginia. "There
are others" in the same boat. You
represent the gold standard and II
rs IA such representative that i
should attack your right To be gov
ernor of u free people. The gold
standard represents not freedom
but slavery; it would if successful
make US nation of all slave states,
instead as before the war-only
part slave. Then twas slavery of
four million blacks, while IL the
party you represent shall succeed,
1t will be the slavery of seventy
million white serfs. You repre-
sent party which has stricken
down one of the money metals of
the constitution, thus depriying us
of one half Of the money of the
people. placing us in the power of
the gold Shylocks and jew Brnkers
Of London and New York, with q
dedr money which has cut the
prices of our lands and products in
half, and doubled our debts and
taxes. You represent the party
which. though heretofore for bi
metallisn. has in its ST. Louis plat.
form, boldly thrown off its mask,
and announced its adherence to the
gold standard. until England shall
graciously allow us as its subjects
TO return 70 bimetallism. In the
midst of plenty, we are in want.
Helpless children. and the best
womnnhood aud manhood in Amer
ica appeal To us for release from u
bondage that is destructive to life
and liberty-bondage to the gold
standard. 1t threatens the de-
structlon of our country and the
ruin of our people. 1t has already
cnnfiscatcd more than one-half of
all the values of our property. 1t
has made millions Of tramps. 1t
has made thousands of suicides; il
has ruined thousands of homes; 1t
has brought hunger and want to
widows and orphans; it is DESTROY
ing the honest yeomanry of our
land, the bulwnrk of our nation.
yea, it has brought this once great
Republic To the verge of ruin.
where 1T is now in imminent dan
ger of tottcring to it's fall. Your
party hns done for us what hos
tile army of u million men invading
our shores could not have done.
what he waIships of the whole
world bombarding our COASTS could
not have made us surrender-the
money of the people, of the toiling
millions, and substitute in its place
the money Of the rich. The party
Yon represent IL by its rninous gold
standard enabling Engl md to
make peaceable conquest Of the
United States. What she failed To
do with shot and shell. in the early
part of this century, she is doing
with the gold standard now. You
represent the party which has taken
away the right arm of the people
their silver-conpeling them 20
ihObI lOT ~ living Wild I no ifIL arm,
G gold stnndArd) only. You rep
resent legnlized robbery. which Is
transferring the property of the
many TO the hands of the few.
You represent "trusfs." "cOm
bines" and corporate greed. !"
which having robbed us of one half
our money aud controls the other
half. is rObbing us OF our property.
You represent the vampires that
are sucking ont our commercial
LIES blood. Now, in order that
all the points in this canvass may
be properly placed before all the
people of this state, / therefore
challenge you to meet me jointly,
tdat we may make canvass OF
the state. in special cur, over all
the railroads. The papers would
sufficiently notify the people of
our routes and dates, and all might
hear us.
Please let me hear from you ut
once, so that we can arrange for
the joint canvass, aud cblIge
Yours very truly.
NAT WARD FITZ- GERALD.