The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-05
He is Surprised at Populists
Asking Him For Place. 3"
NO PULL WITH M'KlNLEY
y Will Have Nothing to Do
With Federal Patronage.
TO TAKE PLACE NOW 70 YIELD
If Any Popuiist FIas Made Up His Mind
10 Seek Patronage From Mckin-
ley He Has Surrendered to
the Enemy.
Washington, Jan. /, 1897.

Editor Progressive Farmer: A Few
Populists have written, asking my assist
ance to get post office, revenue office,
or some other Federal Office under the
Mckinley administration.
/ have been very much surprised to re-
ceive these letters, yet / feel sure that
the writers had not considered the mean
ing Of their requests and the consequences
that would necessarily follow If they got
the places referred to. Permit me,
through the columns Of your paper, to
state my views and position about this
matter of Federal patronage.
, In the first place, / will have no infiu-
ence with the Mckinley administration,
and if | did, it would be proof that had
bartered the principles of the Peoples
party, my own convictions and the inter
ests of the people for Federal patron
age. This is what certain so-called silver
Democrats did under the Cleveland adj
ministration Would our people trust
or tolerate any Populist Senator or Con-
gresham 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 under the next adj
ministration viii be men who must bow
to the win of Mckinley, or rather to the
viii Of Sherman and Mark Hanna.
Cleveland used the patronage OF the gov
eminent in this way. Vance could not
get patronage from President Of his
own party, because he refused to bow to
the order of Cleveland and help him TO
~: H. I,Sf aNI %b,
campaign to the gold syndicate and mo-
nopolies. But Ransom was not made of
the same kind Of stuff He changed his
views so that Cleveland understood him,
and hence became head waiter at the
North Carolina section Of the Cleveland
pie-counter.
The policy and methods Of the Me-
Kinley administrati ton will be in the
main, the same as Cleyelands. The
same monopohes, the same trusts, the
same foreign gold syndicate that elected
the one, elected the other Therefore |
will oppose the one as l have opposed
the other | will have nothing to do with
its Federal patronage. 1t belongs to
those who voted for Mckinley, and who
are ready to support and apologize for
his unAmerican policies and measures.
In the second place, and for the same
reasons, no Populist. unless he is ready TO
join the Republican party, can afford to
accept Federal patronage from the Nc
Kinley administration. We did not CO.
operate with the Republicans on the
Presidential ticket. We did not help elect
Mckinley. We have nothing in common
with him or his policies. There are doz-
ems of Republican candidates for every
Federal office-from revenue gauger up.
If place is offered to any Populist over
the heads of these Republicans, it will
be because the Republican machine thinks
that the Populist office-holder will become
Republican and bring recruits; or be-
cause they expect him to stay in the
Peoples party as a spy to serve the in
terests of the Republican party. OF
course when q Federal office is offered a
Populst he will be assured in the
most friendly and patronizing manner
that he will not be expected to make any
sacrifice Of principle in accepting it, etc.
But if any Populist is beguiled into
accepting McKinley's patronage, he will
find that if he ever opens his mouth to
criticise the administration or express
his honest convictions that complaint will
| that-the local Republican boss will wait
ON him and clay down the law"
We must remember that Cleveland and
| all his hackers and criminal conspirators
worked earnestly and desperately for Me-
| Kinley's election. He will be controlled
| by the same infamous influences and
must travel the same road Of spoilation
| and oppression. Therefore, Mckinley
| administration cannot bring prosperity
but will infiict upon the country -four
more years Of Cleyelandism. The peo-
pie will grow poorer while the bankers
railroads, trusts and monopolies will
| grow richer and more powerful. Public
sentiment will grow against him and
| his party from the day that he steps into
| Clevelands shoes.
Therefore, the Peoples party, the piOn.
eer and moving force in this great reform
movement must continue to lead aggres.
sively the fight against McKinleyism as
| it has against Clevelandism. Ii there
is any Populist who has no heart for this
| fight then let him no longer masquerade
| as a Populist If there is any Populist
who has made up his mind to seek for pa.
tronage from Mckinley he has already
| dropped out Of the fight; he has deserted
the people in their struggle to redeem
| the government and restore prosperity;
he has surrendered to the enemy. If he
gets Federal job, he will soon be apol-
ogizing for Mckinley for doing the same
! things that he condemned Cleveland
for doing If there is any such Populist
| God forbid it, then let him make haste to
| openly join the Republican party and get
n revenue office if he can as the price OF
, his surrender and betrayal.
Yours respectfully,
MARION BUTLER.