The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-12
WATSoWS VOLCANO OF WORDS
THE LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE
MADE PUBLIC AT LAST.

Out POpuIist Ticket Would Have
Swept the COuntry-Bnd Treatment
of the Populists All Through the
Campaign Alleged.
Atlanta, Ga. Nov. 1.-Thomas Il. wat
sons letter accepting the vice presIden-
tial nomination of the populist party has
at last been given to the public.
1t was written on Oct. IA last to Marion
Butler, chairman of the notification COM
mirtee and manager of the populist cam
palgn. 1t was suppressed by Senator But
Ter during the campaign for reasons that
are obvious from a perusal of its con-
tents.
The document would make seven col
umns In newspaper.
Mr.. W@tson will publish his letter in fun
in his official organ. the Peoples Party
Paper, which comes out tomorrow:
Below are some extracts:
Hon. Marion Butler, Chairman ex-Ot-
ficio for Notification Committee: Dear
Sir-Your letter giving me formal notice
of my nomination by the peoples party
for the office of Vice President has been
received 1t Is solely because of my prom
ise to do so that 1 accept the nomina-
tion. The unusual conditions confront
ing us must be my excuse for submitting
to the public fair statement OF the facts
touching this remarkable campaign. In
order that all unprejudiced minds may
reach just conclusions.
"As the time for beginning the presi-
dental campaign of 1896 approached, the
democratic party found itself in a dying
condition, and It resorted to a desperate
remedy to save itself from dissolution. 1t
publicly renounced the republican poll
cies which it has already enacted into
law, and professed the populist creed.
which 1t had bitterly assailed. Having
closed the doors OF the mlnts to silver.
having sustained NIr. Cleveland in his re-
fusal to allow the seigniorage coined, hay
ing eondoned his issue OF bonds in vicla-
tlon of law, having acquiesced in his con-
traction policy Of destroying the green
backs, having helped to feed the trusts
by the passage of the Wllson-Gorm
Jones tariff bill, the democratic party.
realizing that It had lost the respect, the
confidence and the patience Of the people.
determined to anticipate the triumph OF
populism by public confession Of politi-
cal gilt, an earnest assertion Of change
Of heart and devout acceptance of pop
ulist principles and modest demand that
the peoples party should vacate it's quar-
ters and surrender its political possess
sions.
"A very staggering piece Of political i'm
nIdAnpa If WI min nrif
of the democratic party which murdered
silver In 1888 II was q majority that did
TIA majority In the House, a majority In
the Senate. And the men who committed
the deed cannot now promise more solemn
ly to undo their work than they promised
in 1882 to do It.
During the dreary years of 1897, 93, ,'94 and
'95, when republicans and democrats alike
were falling over each other In the effort
TO be first at Wall streets feet and lowest
In the dust of political establishment to
the trusts, the national banks, the rail-
roads, the bondholders and the gold specu-
lators the peoples party was the one
champion of the people. II stood fearlessly
against the hungry hordes Of class leglsa-
tion. II proclaimed constantly its undying
antagonism to Wall street, and its policies.
1t held aloft the sacred banner OF a peo-
ples rights and called for patriots to rise
and defend the republic. Since the bugle
note OF Rhoderlck woke the Highlands,
and the fiery cross sped from mountain to
glen and from glen to hamlet, there has
been no such spontaneous outburst OF
popular enthusiasm as marked the growth
of the peoples party. One creed, one
purpose, one hope one inspiration moved
US all. and had we sternly put temptation
aside and nominated straight populist
| ticket at st. Louis, one man from the
west and one from the south, we would
have swept this land from sea to sea.
"At Chicago the democratic managers
having adopted the leading populist prin-
ciples, nominated for the first place on
the ticket candidate who indorses those
principles"
Mr.. Watson recites the fight in the pop
ulst convention at st. Louis, between the
Bryan populists and the middle-of-the-
road men.
Il was asked to allow the use of my
name to harmonize all the differences
which existed in the convention, and con-
sented upon that express condition.
There Is no doubt that among the vot-
ers Of the democratic party, south and
west, there was an earnest desire that the
populist should be met half way. The
people wished for union among the advo-
Gates of silver and they felt that union
could not be accomplished by demanding
an abJect surrender at the hands OF the
popullsts.
''The leaders Of the democratic party.
however, having secured pOpullst lndOfSe-
ment of Mr.. Bryan by direct vote in the
convention, determined to secure IL for
Mr.. Sewall also and for this purpose they
have resorted to the policy Of fusion.
Instead OF meeting the populists half
way the democratic managers have de-
manded that we furnish all the patrlot-
ism which the occasion requires; and they
not only refuse to make any concessions
at all, but they treat with public insult
the party whose votes are necessary to
democratic success.
'By listening to the overtures OF the
democratic managers, our party has been
torn into factions, our leaders deceived
and ensnared and the cause we represent
permanently endangered II not lost. The
labor of many years is swept away ana
the hopes Of thousands of good people are
gone with it.
"The democratic managers, however,
not only claim the populist vote for Mr..
Bryan, who is our nominee, but they
claim II also for MIR. Sewail. who is not
our nominee, and who was overwhelm-
ingly rejected when offered to the st.
ftns4