The Louisiana populist. [volume] (Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, La.) 1894-1898, 1896-08-07
Brabster Vests Letter.
How to Settle the Vice Presidcn-
tial Muddle-Prospects Are
Good for Bryan, But Doodle
Will Have to Be Fought.

We reformers in Washington are
pestered with jocular inquiries from
gOldbngs and cuckOOs as to our
choice for Vice President. They
wish or affect to wish to know
whether we favor Sewall or Wat
son. Doubtless the venal and ig-
nOrant throughout the country fire
the same inquiry at refOrmcrs, and
think that they have propOunde a
question which Is a poser. All
your readers should reply as l do,
that a higher power is running this
campaign for financial independ-
ence and the rights of men, and He
will take care of the Vice Presiden-
tial muddle, while meanwhile all
reformers, whether POpulists, sill
yer Democrats, or silver Republi-
cans, will devote all their time and
energy to the election of Bryan.
After all, the matter of the Vice
Presidency is comparatively unim-
portant. To the government the
presiding officer of the Senate is
about as important as the fly which
gets into the cab of an engine is to
locomotive. Let MS elect Bryan
president, which will give us con-
troll of the Treasury, the Army,
and the Navy, and we will hold a
hand which will range in the pot.
One old gentleman, who was
Republican, but is now supporter
of Bryan, said to me yesterday that
it is a pity that the Constitution
will not permit of Sewall and Wat
sharing the office, aud exercising
its functions on alternate days, like
the two claimants to the throne in
sThe Tar and Tartar" 1t would
indeed be funny to see one OF the
two approach the other at mid
night, if the Senate were holding
an all night session, and in tones
of thunder demand the chair and
gavel, However, even if the Con-
stitution could be strained to per-
nit of such an equitable settlement
of the matter, confusion would re-
arise when Sunday came bringing
one days work for ministers and
one days rest for the balance OF
mankind.
1t would never do for both to
wear Vice-Presidential dignity on
that day and to attend the same
church. Just fancy the preacher
praying for "Our Vice-President
and the two claimants each trying
to look dignifed, as though he were
the one recommended to the care
of the Almighty 1t would be a
sight worth travelling to see, but
l am afraid we shall never see it.
The Republicans are badly scar
ed by the marvellous revivificatiOl
of the spirit of 1776. The people
have for so long permitted them
selves to be humbugged, have 81
long been content to eat at the swil
barrel while the usurers and poll
ticians lived on the fat of the land
that Hanna and his bOOdling crew
thought until recently that McKin
ley was virtually elected, and tina
everything was over except TIN
shouting. Now they realize thel
error, and every beneficiary OF tin
gold standard and other monopo
lies is having the fat fried out o
him as it never was before. Al
enormous campaign fund is beln'
raised, but if the people can be III
duced this year to sell their birth
right for a mess of pottage, 1 an
much mistaken in my estimate Q
the situation.
The Republican managers inten'
to hire bicyGllsts in all the doubt
tul states and send them out t
scatter lying literature and ute
falsehoOds. All who openly espOus
, monetary reform and American in
dependence are to be cOerced, thei
notes protested, their credits r.
; fused, and be III every way modest
ed by the money power. The gold
hug dailies are to offer their week
ly blanket sheets of lies and mis-
representations for less than tn
cost of the paper upon which the
are printed. Money will be spen
like water, because the usuiers {
Wall and Lombard streets, wb
yearly rob the people of ever $500
100000, can easily afford to spen
500, 100000 to secure continue
ton OF the system which enriche
: them and impoverishes the people
The Republicans and gold Den
, ocrats in Washington make no 81
cret of their Intentions, they Opel
| ly boast of them, and laugh whe