The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1897-01-07
POPULISTs AND FEDERAL PATRON
AGE.

AGE.
A few Populists have written asking
my assistance to get post office,
revenue office. or some other Federal
office under the M'Kinley Admins
tration.
have been very much surprised to
receive these letters: yet, l feel sure
that the writers had not considered
the meaning of their request, and the
consequence that aid necessarily
follow if they got the places referred
to. 1 take this means of replying to
such letters, and of stating my views
and position on the question of Fed
eral patronage,
In the first place, will have no in
fluence with the Mckinley Admins
tration, and if 1 do it will be proof
that have bartered the principles of
the Peoples party, my own convic-
tions, and the interests of the people
for Federal patronage. This is what
certain SO. called silver Democrats did
under the Cleveland Administration.
Would our people trust or tolerate any
Populist Senator or Congressman who
would do this:
Administrations use patronage to
build up their own parties, and also to
force Congressman and Senators to
vote for their measures and schemes
Those who handle the patronage un.
der the next Administration will be
men who must bow to the will OF
M'Kinley, or rather to the will of Sher.
man and Mark Hanna. Cleveland
used the patronage of the Government
in this way. Vance could not get pat.
ronage from President of his OWL
party because he refused to bow to thu
orders of Cleveland and help him tt
deliver the goods promised during thu
campaign to the gold syndicates ant
monopolists. But Ransom was no
made out of the same kind of stuff
He changed his views 80 that Cleve
land understood him, and, hence, be
came head waiter at the North Caro-
lima section of the Cleveland pie coun
ter.
The policies and methods of tn
M'Kinley Administration will be, il
the main, the same as Cleveland'f
1.-THE same mcccpo!;stss; the sam
=. dsts; the same foreign gold syndi
Gates that elected one, elected tn
other. Therefore, I will oppose tn
one as l have opposed the other.
will have nothing to do with its Fed
eral patronage. 1t belongs to thos
who voted for Mckinley, and who ar
ready to support and apologize for hi
3 policies and measures.
In the second place, and for tn
o same reasons, no Populist, unless he
ready to join the Republican part.
!, can afford to accept Federal patror
age from the M'Kinley Administers
ton. We did not cooperate with tn
' Republicans in the Presidential elet
ton. We did not help to elect M,
b Kinley. We have nothing in commo
: with him or his policies.
There are dozens of Republican car
@ didates for every Federal Office, fro,
revenue gauger up. If a place is O
fered to any Populist over the heads
s these Republicans, it will be becaul
i. the Republican machine thinks tn,
the Populist Office holder will becon
Republican and bring recruits, or b.
= cause they expect him to stay in Il
q Peoples party as spy to serve the il
% terests Of the Republican party. {
70 course, when Federal office is offer,
y to Populist, he will be assured in Il
10 most friendly and patronizing mann
ia that he will not be expected to NAL
Al any sacrifice Of principle in accepti1
y 1t, etc. But if any Populist Is b
guiled into accepting Mckinley pa
- ronage, he will find that il he ev
- opens big mouth to critlcise the q
- ministration, or expresses honest 90
q victions, that complaint will be FL
against him at headquarters, or til