The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-04-07

Therefore, while we take the liberty OF
publishing 10, We withhold the name
This is one OF many similar letter. re-
ceived. Undoubtedly il expresses the
sentiments of ths rank and file OF the
Democratic party. 1t is n follows:
n. G, March, -, l-9..
HoS. MARION BUTLkR,
Washington, u. C.,
DKAK SIg:-f received some time
ago = marked copy OF the Arena, which
contained an article from you on
Trusts. / presume that l am indie bted
to you for this, and thank you for your
kindness in remembering me. lien
joyed the article very much, and felt
after reading II, very much like. the
man did who after hearing q political
speech which expressed his views
much better than he could have him
self, shouted to the speaker. "You have
made my speech The fight all OVERT his
country is not for free silver nor for
any other one thing except as . means.
as one blow, towards destroying the
clutch which skillfully organized capi-
tai has upon the throat of the govern
ment. This fight will be kept up all
along the line, but it may be that it is
the part OF wisdom at this juncture to
concentrate our main strength at the
strategic point, which | believe is the
silver question. Either plutocracy or
the people Will rnte this land, and it
is sometimes disheartening to see
good men, intelligent and Ordlna-
rily conscientious men, upon the wrong
side of the question, simply because
they have vague idea that in order to
be eminently respectable, they must
agree with the money interests, money
being in their eyes respectability it
self. as incapable of working harm as
the kings used to be when a king
could do no wrong"
1t is dlscOuraging to see men and
political papers SO blinded by pre- ju-
dice or seifishness that they will not
honestly acknowledge plain truths, as
for instance, that it was the Farmers
Alliance which first agitated this ques-
tion, and set men to thinking about
their rights and wrongs, and their du-
ties as good citizens. believe that the
Democratic party purged itself at the
last National Convention, and l trust
to God that it may. keep itself clean in
the future, but we have too many Dem
Ocrats and all of our Democratic news
papers who are not honest and brave
enough land it would be too much to
say, ought to be grateful enOugh) to
give the credit with thanks to the Far
mers Alliance and the influence it set
in motion.
Without the least intention of fiat
terry, you can permit me as an old
friend, to say that | admire your con-
sistency and courage, especially for
the last three or four years. At per-
sonal sacrifice, at sometimes tremend-
Gus risk, you have stood by the truth
and the principles you profess. You
have been bold through storm and
stress and every danger, you have kept
the rudder true, and yet | do not be-
the State which has the fairness and
unselfshness to say that you have
done your duty, or to give you credit
for any high duty bravely performed
like the needed fight you are maxim g
a reflection on the administration. In
stead, many of them prefer to withhold
all mention of these things, and to cir
culate every slander and false report
which comes to their notice. 1t all
slckens and dlscourages me. If l did
not know that the people must in the
end pass final judgment upon all ques-
tions of honesty and fairness and right
in connection with public service, 1
would give up in dlspair. The time
may be long and the work heavy, but
believe in the end the truth will pre-
vail. No man can be good citizen
who does not, without reservation
trust the people with perfect faith to
do Justice when the time comes.
Ii we are all honest, and our intent
ions are good, why in the name of all
decency, can we not work together for
the same thing? We must destroy
Trusts. We must emancipate the gov
ernment Let the details 20. Let US
take any party name or no name. Let
who will keep up what party organi
cations they will; no harm in that
But the man or party that stands in
the way of the reforms which can and
ought to be accomplished in this and
the next campaign, lin due course Of
time ought tt. be and will be damned
by the people.
| But pardon the personal tone as well
as the length of this letter, + began
simply ITO, thank you for the Arena
and "ran away with myself
| Very truly yours,