The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-18
ANOTHER CHAPTER IN OPEN LET
ART AND THyRsToN.
ASKED TO PRODUCE PROOF
SHOULD AT ONCE PROVE OR
APoLOGizE.
BRYAN MEANWHILE SAYS NOTHING
Defense of the Charge Against the
Nominee Left TO the Nevada
Senator.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17-Senator
w. M. Stewart has sent the following
letter in reply to that of Senator
Thurston published this morning:
observe in the papers this morning a
letter purportng to have been written by you
TO me. in which am pleased to note the fol-
lowing passage:
4 would be the last man in the world to
assail the character OF MIR. Bryan. l have
not done in any instance or by any word of
mine Mr.. Bryan is the candidate of a great
party. 1t is not just to the American people
that charges of this kind should go unan-
sWered. He is the man and the only man
who can make definite and conclusive an
swer.''
Mr.. Thurston. how you reconcile the
foregoing statement with your charge against
Mr.: Bryan, and against the silver producers.
Which is continued in the following language
used by you and to- which | have the honor
to call your attention in nay former letter:
The proprietors of the big bonanzas have
found II profitable to keep a large number
OF lecturers and other spokesman on the road
preaching to the people Among the many
VINO have thus been employed and carried on
the pay-rollS of the big bonanZas for num-
Der of years is William Jennings BRYAN of
Nebraska. a paid agent and spokesman of the
free silver combine
In the city of Omaha, where William j.
Bryan does editorial work, the Omaha Bee
has made the specific charge edtoriaily time
and again. 1t has never been met. | say as
an American citizen. having at heart the wei
fare of the people, that the man posing as the
advocate of the dOwn-tredden masses of his
countrymen, holding a crown of thorns' in
one hand and the bugabeo cross of gold in
the ether, owes il as a duty to every man
woman and child in this country to say
whether that charge is false whether it is
true.
Il do say, my countiymen. and I know
whereof | speak, that for three and a half
years, without regard to Bryan there has
been a selected corps OF orators and writer's
paid employees of the silver producers spread
ing their literature over this country from one
end to the other, telling the farmer that he
will have more for his wheat; telling the la
work.
Your disclaimer in connection with the fore
gong statement requires explanation FRO
yided you consider your reputation for truth
and veraeity valuable. But your disclaimer
that you would .'be the last man to assail
the character Of MIR. Bryan reflects either
upon your veracity or your knowledge Of the
law of libel If you are a lawyer. and the
TACT that you have been retained by the Tn
loE Pacific railroad for many years indicates
mat you are useful in some way to that in
stltution, you ought to know that repe ating
a SANDER or libel is equally as slanderous
or hbelous as the original matter
You are assuming that you are not assaiifng
ME- Bryan when you are quoting what ire
sponslble newspapers say OF him. and giving
TO such statements all the credit your high
o11cial position can confer. You beiittle your
understanding when you say that it is the
controversy with every hreling newspaper
scribbler wko is employed TO SANDER or de-
fame him. The people understand the aninlus
OF partisan newspapers, and make proper al
Iowanees for their assertions but when ven
clothe their SANDERS with your official robes
1t IS lame and coWardly defense On youT
part to protect yourself by skulking behind
miserable newspaper scribblers. | called
your attention 10 the injustice of your charge
not the charge of newspapers which | have
again quoted for the purpose OF calling yCur