The record-union., 1896-11-12
He Pours Hot Shot Into the Demo-
cratic Camp.
Charges That the Party, Having
Found Itself in Dying Condition,
Resorted to a Desperate Remedy
to Save Itself From Dissolution
Steals the Populists' Principles,
and Succeeds in Tearing the
Peoples Party into Factions,
EiopeIessly Destroying 1t.

fGOEtG - fdl ~ hiSo >@0s
HopeIessly Destroying 1t.
ATLANTA, Nov. 11.-Thomas E.
Watson's letter accepting the Vice
Presidential nomination of the Popullst
party has at last been given to the pub
lie 1t was written October l4th last
to Chairman Butler, manager OF the
Populist campaign. 1t was suppressed
by Senator Butler during the campaign
from reasons that are obvious from
perusaI of its contents. The letter
makes seven columns in a newspaper.
Mr.. Watson publishes the letter in full
III his paper, which comes out to-mor-
row. Below are some extracts:
Hon. Marion Butler, Chairman ex-
officio of the Notification Committee:
Your letter giving me formal notice OF
ny nomination by the Peoples Party
for the office of Vice-President has been
received, 1t is solely because or my
promise to do so that | accept the nom-
nation. The unusual conditions con-
fronting US must be my excuse for sub
mitting to the public a fair statement
of the facts touching this remarkable
campaign. in order that all unprecedented
minds may reach just conclusions.
"As the time for beginning the Presi-
Dental campaign of 1896 approached,
the Democratic party found itself IN
dying condition and il resorted to des-
perate remedy to save itself from dlS-
solution. 1t publicly renounces the Ke-
publican policies which it has already
enacted into law, and espoused the Pop
ulist creed which it had bitterly asSalled.
Having closed the doors of the mlnts 10
silver. and having sustained Mr.. CleVe-
land in his refusal to allow the selgnof-
are coined; having condoned his issue
of bonds in violation OF law; having ac-
olliaSred in his contracting policy of de-
stroviue the greenbacks; having helped
10 favor the trusts by the passage of the
Wilson-Gorman-Jo bill, the confi-
dence and patience of the people it de-
terrrifned to anticipate the triumph OF
Populism by a public confession Of po-
litfcal guilt. an earnest assertion of
change OF heart and devout acceptance
of Populist principles, and modest de-
mand that the Peoples party should va
cate its quarters and surrender its po-
luical possessions.
a very staggering piece OF polltlcal
impudence was this. 1t was not MI
nority of the Democratic party which
murdered silver in 1893 1t was a ma
iority that did it-a majority in the
House. a majority in the Senate. Ana
the men who committed the deed cannot
now promise more solemnly to undo
their work than they promised in lS9Z
TO do it.
During the dreary years of ls92.
1894 and 1898, when Republicans ana
Democrats alike were falling over each
other in the effort TO be first at the
Nall-street feet. the lowest in the dust
of nolitical self -abasement to the
trusts, the national banks, the rail-
roads the bondholders and the gold
speculatcrs. the Peoples party was the
one champion of the peolpe. 1t stood
fearlessly against the hungry hordes OF
class legislation. 1t proclaimed con
stantly it's undying antagonlsm t.
Wall street and its policies. 1t held
aloft the sacred banner of peoples
rights and called for patriots to arise
and save the Republic. Since the bugle
note of Roderick in the house sped
from mountain to glen, and from glen
to hamlet, there has been no such spon-
taneous outburst of popular enthusiasm
as marked the growth of the Peoples
rartv One creed, one purpose, one
hope. one inspiration moved us all, and
had we sterrly put temptation aside
and named a straight Populist ticket
at St. Louis, one man from the West
ard one from the South, we would have
sv,eDt this land from sea to sea-
AT Chicago the Democratic man.
ayers. having adopted the leading Pop
Mist principles, named for the first
nlace on the ticket a candidate whose
name indorses these principles
Mr. Watson cites the fight In the
Pon,1lfst convention at st. Louis be-
tween the Bryan Populists and the mid
dla-of-the-road men. lie proceeds:
IT was asked to allow the use of my
name TO harrnonize all the differences
which existed in the convention, and
consented upon that express condition.
..-rbare is no doubt that among the
voters Of the Democratic party, South
and West. there was an earnest de-
sire that the Populists should be met
halfway. They wished for union among
the advocates Of silver, and they felt
that union could not be accomplished by
demanding any 3DJSCl SUI tttttNN' 'NN N'iN
hands of the Populists. The leaders OF
the Democratic party, however, Sc
cured Populist Endorsement Of Mr.. Bry~
an by direct vote in the convention. de
termined to secure it for Mr. SewaH
also, and for this purpose they have
resorted to the policy OF fusion. In
stead of meeting the Porulists half
way, the Democratic managers have
demanded that we furnish all the pa
triotism which the occasion requires,
and they not only refuse to make any
concessions at a /, but they treat with
public insult tie party whose votes are
necessary to sIccess. BY listening 10 the
overtures Of Democratic managers our
party has been torn into factions, our
leaders deceived and ensnared, and the
cause w represented permanently en-
dangered If not lost. The labor Of
many years is swept away. and the
hopes OF thousands OF good people are
gone with ii.