Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-10-27
GENERAL BRAGG TO DEMOCRATS,
Every Democratic Vote for Sawyer is an
Endorsement for BRYAN in 1900.

LHuOi ioGilGl,t lOi bryan III IJUUu
Fond du Lac, Oct. 22.-El!is B. Usher,
Editor Chronicle. My Dear Ellis:
Nothing but absence from the stale has
prevented me from writing you word of
graduation and good cheer, as the color
bearer of the ''old democracy" in lead
ing the attack upon the affirmance of
the Chicago platform of 1896 by the So
called demOcl attic convention in Mil
Waukee in 1898.
"Coin clipping" was crime at com
mon law. Debasemeut of currency, is
a crime against the people; a CRIME
against honest government, crime in
morals: violation of recognized prin-
ciples of right; violation of economic
laws; Reputation of national credit
and honor.
"Mobocracy" strikes at the founda-
ton of all restraint and government,
except the qualification of an excited
maddened desire and purpose.
The right Of secession and revolution.
All these heresies are adopted as demo-
cratic principles, when you swallow
Bryan and the Chicago platform.
The electors Of Wisconsin by over
100000 majority, refused to recognize
these heresles, and large part of that
majority was the vote Of honest demo-
Gratis who refused to bow the knee to
the Nebraska Baal. and 80 per cent. Of
the vote cast for Bryan was the result
Of hatred Of the republican theory of
protection, and in response to the claim
of Irregular nomination."
4 SH
in Wisconsin. should have been an
effectual one to deter conventions from
trying, Il second time, to force the nox-
iOus dose down the party throat. But
so 1t is, that smarting under the rebuke
given them in 1896, but learning moth
ing therefrOm, the men who wrought
the great defeat Of '96 have been ever
since charging 1t upon every cause but
the true one, imbecility and dishonesty,
in endorsing as true democracy what
they knew and acknowledged, believed
and had taught, as being not only false
and heretical, but an absolute repudia-
ton Of democratic doctrine. The morn
ing sun sound them at the Chicago con-
ventiOn, in 1896, with flaming sword
guarding the Instructed delegation Of
this state, lest they might weaken in
the support Of sound money, as they
had been instructed by the convention
and coached by the member of the
National committee from Wisconsin.
Sunset found them deserting principle
and croWding for a front seat in the
Bryan band wagon, denOuncing there
and ever since as untrue to principle
each and every democrat who stood to
his guns and defended the castle of
democracy from the assault and inroad
attempted upon it by "Spirits in white,
spirits IN black, spirits in blue and
spirits in gray" being held in fellow
ship only by ''the cohes i've power Of
hope for public plunder."
Every democrat who hopes for
united democratic party in the campaign
Of 1900 must resist al the tender beguile-
ments attempted by the Bryanites who
betrayed the party Of Jefferson, JACKSON
and Cleveland in 1896, to induce gold
standard democrats to forget 1S96-not
to think what 1900 Will bring forth if
Organism is strengthened in Wisconsin
in lS98-and refuse to swallow in 1898
what they rejected in 1896.
Every democratic vote for Sawyer is
an endorsement OF Bryan for presiden-
tial candidate in 1900 Be not deceived,
my dear Ellis-abate not one title in
denOuECing bastard democracy, put out
in the platform of the late Milwaukee
convention. They say the party is reu-
nited and stands again on common
ground, against common enemy; that
the battle must be fought on state issues
all very well-sweet talk-but why do
they hang ont a Is to l BRYAN flag at
every recruiting station? Why have
they everywhere in the country, sena-
tOrial and assembly conventions, refused
to recognize democrat who believed in
"hOneSt money?
Have you anY idea Ellis, that any
gold standard man in Wisconsin can be
humbugged into forgetting the gangre-
nous stuff that was expelled from the
stomach of a whilom labor and pOpu-
listic leader in the Milwaukee conven-
ton against the lawyer. the estimable
citizen. the soldier patriot Kingston
because he did not support Bryan?
These people may Hand COO" as they
like, but 1t goes without saving thai it is
merely in change of terms the song of
the spider to the fly.
One more thorough drubbing NAV
produce a favorable change in the
political health Of the great leaders Of
the democratic party of 1898. The po-
litical cancer must be cut out, root and
vigor, political treatment will only pro-
long the evil
Keep your guns shooting, my dear
boy. The indianapolis democracy aud
eyerv other conservative thinking man
and lover of truth Will say amen at
every round. As ever your friend,