The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-06-13
IRvINGToN oN-HUDsoN, N. Y,
May 9th, 1900.

Dear MIR. Bryan-Upon every hand
the next presidential election is re-
garded as likely to be the most impor-
tant in the history Of the republic.
The question which will be uppermost
is not simply question of good or bad
legislation, but the 6nality, Shall the
republic give place to form of govern
ment which will be the equivalent of a
monarchy or worse--shall Democratic
forms of government be replaced by the
rule of the few unscrupulous who have
no regard for the general welfare nor
love Of Republican institutions?"
With the Democratic party alone the
hope Of rescue remains. The man who
by his error of judgment makes the
success Of that party impossible may
be responsible for the downfall of the
republic. The Democratic party rep
resents all that there is in concrete
form of opposition to the dangerous
state of affairs which now threaten;
upon it depends the preservation Of Re
publicans institutions. To succeed it
must have the vote of the great msjori-
ty Of honest men.
In such crisis the worst enemy of
the Democratic party and of the couD-
try is that man who would narrow the
platform and creed under which voters
must act upon lines which may exclude
those who are sincerely anxious for the
public welfare. To repeat, the success
of the Democratic party is necessary
for the preservation Of government by
the people.
There are many issues for which the
Democratic party stands; but there is
only one issue upon which the voters
are certain to be united. Imperialism,
trust rule, militarism, allmean but one
thing-all represent but one issue, and
upon this issue every Lincoln Republi-
can and every Jefferson Democrat may
unite.
The finance issue, while Of immense
importance, must have no place Ia this
cam mpaign; its introduction will endanger
more vital interests.
No mar has better ri 6 ht to say this
than l, who twenty-five years ago made
it part of my contract in taking
charge of The Washington Daily Chron-
icle, that l should be allowed to ad-
yocate the reconciliation Of silver, and
in the Buffalo convention Of 1896 wrote
and secured the adoption Of the clause
indorsinp the Chicago platform.
am in a position to know what men
are saying and thinking. With large
personal acquaintance and correspon-
dence scattered all over the country, l
am satisfied that those Democrats who
were most earnest in urging the adop-
ton of the Chicago platform Of 1896
and are most anxious for the success Of
Democratic institutions today, look at
this matter in the light which have
indicated.
You have reson to know my belief in
your great personal fitness to represent
the interests of the people in the next
campaign. | trust your sincerity,
your imperviousness alike to fear, to
fatterv, to purchase. TRUST your wis
dom to conduct the affairs of the nation.
But your leadership will be dearly
purchased if in order to secure 1t We
must adopt a platform which, however
lust in its enunciation, is unWlse and
which must result in driving away
those votes which are necessary to per-
petuate Republican institutions.
Yours faithfully,
John Brisben Walker.
Hon. VIM. j. Bryan, Lincoln, Neb.