The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-22
RALLY CALL TO REFoRMERS.
NORTON URGES ALL TO FALL IN
UNDER BRYAN'S BANNER.

The Present No Time For Settling
Friends of Reform.
Washington, Oct. 2.-Col. S. F. Nor
ton of Illinois, who was the candidate of
the middle-of-the-road populists at the
st. Louis convention, has written to
Chairman Butler the following communi-
cation:
Chicago, Oct. Is, 1896. Hon. Marion But
ler. Chairman Peoples Party Committee
Dear Sir: However much populists may
| have differed at st. Louis as to the cor
rect policy to adopt; however much some
of us may still believe that several mis-
takes were made, under existing circum-
stances, there is only one course to pur-
sue, and that is to Loyalty and earnestly
support Mr.. Bryan-not so much for the
sake of elevating him to the Presidency
as for the purpose of defeating what may
| be appropriately and most expressively
termed Mark Hanna republicanism. AL
! though some of us regret certain fusion
! arrangements which have been made, it
is noticeable fact that no other man in
| the United States is so much troubled
about it as the manager of the republican
campaign. l never realized before how
| highly republicans have always respect
ed' and "honored" the populist party till
l fused with the democrats. l fancy if any
consolation is needed, however, for this
loss of republican esteem it may be found
in the fact that Messrs. Cleveland, Car
| Isle and Palmer have become the lega-
| tees thereof.
Our political allies in this campaign may
not have treated us fairly and justly as
| they ought, in the matter of representa-
| ton of vice presidential electors; and
this seems to be the chief cause of COM
plaint, for have yet to meet with pop
| ulist who does not admit that Mr.. Bryan
is the ablest and most fearless champion
| of reform principles that reformers them
selves have chosen in the last twenty
| years 1t is an event in history to find a
man backed by more than 100000 voters,
who has the patriotism and courage to
stand up front-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 the
| cross of gold"
| Mistakes may have been made and in
| justice may have been done, especially in
the southern states, where the flower of
|
is not the time to settle accounts, adjust
wrongs, discuss differences or correct mis-
| takes.
We are in the face of the enemy; we are
upon the field of battle, the welfare of our
| country is at stake, a sacred cause is
trembling in the balance; our opponents
| are dangerously well equipped and thor
oughly organized. and the contest is fierce
and relentless; all personalities therefore
| should be suppressed, all personal grev-
| ances should be forgotten, and all minor
| differences should be deferred till the bat
| tie is won or lost. Every gun should be
! turned upon the common enemy.
| Whether Mr.. Bryan is a populiSt or not,
one thing is absolutely certain, every enc
my which reformers have encountered
| during the last twenty years we find to-
| day among his bitterest and most relent-
| less opponents. Every monopolistic cor
! poratio every oppressor of labor, every
! landgrabber, every trust and combine,
! every robber syndicate, every millionaire,
| stock-jobber, every subsidized newspaper,
| every we'll paid corporation lawyer, every
| millionaire coal baron, every Shylock cred
| itor and every plunderer of the world
| weaIth-producers-all of these old time
enemies, whom reformers have met on so
| many battlefelds, are to-day Mr.. Bryan's
enemies If they are his enemies, he must
be our friend. His success is their defeat; ;
their defeat is our victory.
We the pioneer workers, have all fond
lv hoped that we might have satisfaction
and the glory of carrying TO victory the
time-honored and battle-scarred nag or
REFORM which the old guard has held
aloft so bravely and heroically all these
long. irving years, and anxious solicitude
as to the outcome may be excusable. But
let rs not be unnecessarily alarmed about
the future of the reform movement 1t
has passed the danger point 1t is capa-
bic of taking care of itself under any and
all circumstances. Traitors cannot be-
tray 1t; defeat cannot demoralize 1t; its
opponents, however powerful and crafty,
cannot crush it; even the gates OF nell
cannot prevail against 1t.
For twenty years, although subjected to
all the dangerous pitfalls, perils and
uuicksands incident to the development
of a new party, it has grown to be the
greatest factor in the arena OF American
politics to-day. And if elected, l believe
that Mr.. Bryan will not be slow to recog-
nize this fact, and that he Will soon learn
to rely upon the counsels an support of the
new party which has revolutionized the
politics Of the country, forced to the front
new and vital issues, and made a possi-
bic for the people, instead Of office-seck-
ing politicians to place a champion or
progressive ideas at the head Of the gov
ernment / believe that he Will appreci-
ate the fact that we have placed In the
hollow of his hand not only the unselfish
hopes and patriotic aspirations of the
populist party, but the most sacred cause
that was ever entrusted to living man,
and that he win not betray the trust.
In conclusion, permit me to say that II
my twenty years OF work entities me to
the confidence Of my co-workers, let me
ask them to lay aside every other con-
sideration and help elect Mr.. Bryan-not
for his sake, but for the sake OF the prin-
ciplcs which we all hold dear and sacred.
If success is achieved, the populist party
can never be denied the glory OF the vic
tory. If defeat awaits u.s. and our stan
dard-bearer falls, let there be no popullst
arrows found either in his breast or in his
back. Let the responsibility rest upon
other shoulders than our own. Sincerely
yours, S. f. Norton.
A MOONsHINER SHOT.