The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-05-04
Thos. F. Brantley. Candidate for
Congress.
To the Voters of ,oe Seventh Congressional
District:

To the Voters of ,ae Seventh Congressional
District:
~ candidacy for Congtess having beeu
very kindly mentioned by the various papers
of the district, and believing that it is now
time that the people should know definitely
my intea,ions, and the platform of principles
| upon which shall make the race, and in or
der that they may have time 10 consider for
themselves whether or not the principles for
which I stand are for their best interests,
now give my reasons for msking the race to-
getner With sn embodiment OF the platform
upon which stand.
7 will make the race because | believe the
people Of this district. being desirous of c
change, wish 10 have me represent them 10
the lower house of Coogress, and because |
am ambitious to return to the oational Cap
i,al empowered with authority to Yindicate a
righteous cause for which was rebuked by
the traitors of Democracy and returned to
nv people at home. | believe that my ac-
ouain.ance with the national affairs for three
years in Washington will enable me to hon.
estly and effectively discharge the duties de-
yo!viug upon this high Office in the interest
of the people, and assist in no small way in
brisgipg abou, needed reforms in finance,
trade and taxatioo that shall ipure to the
welfare of pur people, and bring relief to all
classes who labor for an honest dollar by
honest toll.
believe the financial question will te par
amount to all othersin thecoming Congressioa.
al contest throughout the Uoited States. ~
ideas upon this question are TOO we'll known
by the people to need an explanation now.
am uualterably opposed to monomettalism
i believe ia gold and silver-''the dollar of
our daddies,'' the honest dollars that
were given to as by the fathers
of our government through our constitution
when tbey declared that gold add silver COIN
ed free at a fixed ratio shall be the money of
our constitution am bimettalist. am
in favor of the free coinage of silver and gold
at the ratio Of 16 to l, without begging the
consent OF any foreign power. am as
booest ani conscientious in my belief now as
was in the last national campaign, when |
espoused the cause of true democracy and
fought in the Interest of the great common
people upon every stump ie the valleys Of
West Virginia.
We need retrenchment aud reform in na-
tional politics, we need yonng men, bold,
aggressive and conservative, from the ranks
of the people, who can Stand uncofrupted
before the syndicates of monopolies and
trusts aod speak in uosuncertain tooes Of
the evils and wants of the latofing masses
Ny untiring energy aud Efforts shall be freely
given to loosen the sdackles of British gold, /,
that have been riyeted upon ua through the
treachery of American plctocrats in high
places of honor, which they have detained
shall leave nothing undone to foster po-
li,ical revolution in America revolution
that shall pressage the dawn of a brighter
period for those in the furrow, in the factory
and in the shop.
I ana not a protectionist by any means, but
I believe with the Chicago platform that
tariff duties should bear equally upon every
section of the union. and as near equally as
possible upon all classes aod conditions Of
men, believe that we of the south are as
much entitled to tariff or bounty on our
raw cotton as the manufacturers who weave
it into cloth l believe the man who digs
iron is as much entitled to tariff on that
raw iron as the nah who re6nes it into steel.
do not believe in free raw material for the
South aud protected manufactured product
for the North. This is the class legislation
that has enriched the North and impoverish-
ed the South.
In my opinion the income tax will play no
small part in the coming campaign. | am
heartily in favor such tax, for By such a
system of national taxation the bardens of
taxation will rest as well upon the vast cor
porate powers of wealth as upon the man
who labors for hisdaily bread.
believe that Congress should repeal the
10 per cent. on State banks and in this way
reestablish the old democratic form of State
banks that we may have an elastic currency
contracting and expanding in unison with
The volume Of Grade and business Interests of
the producers as we'll as the consumers, thus
allowing ioans ct easy rates of interest dur
ing those seasons of the year when those who
till the soil most need financial relief. In this
way we can have relief at home without
bowing down to the great money centers OF
the wofld.
In conclusion, as the question has been
often asked me, will say that am not 9
factoual candidate. 1t has always been my
policy to support those men regardless of
faction who believed oQt honest and cap
able of filing positions of trust and honor.
did this conscientiously, always having In
view the welfare of the entire people. If |
am to be elected simply because may belong
to one or another faction, say plainly that
l would rather remain in private life, for II
that is all that can commend ne to the people
of the seventh district, desire 20 remain as
am private citizen. The candidate for this
high Office who can not stand upon his merits
as man but depends for success upon fac
tional animosity aud intrigues of scaeming
politicians is neither statesman nor patriot
and deserves the contempt Of an honest peo-
pie. shall know or recognize no faction
but shall try to make an honest, brave, cold
fight, declaring from every stump the eternal
truths of Democracy as understand them in
the interest of an honest hearted, God fearing
and upited people.
Yours sincerely,
THOS F. BRANTLEY,
Orangeburg, s. c., April z6, 1898.