The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-02
AN URGENT APPEAL.
John Brisben Walker Begs Bryan to
Drop Silver

New York. June John Brisben
Walker, according to the New York
World has written a letter upon the is
sues of the campaign to William Jen-
nings Bryan.
The letter is dated at Mr.. Walkers
home at ngton-on-the-H Hudson, n.
Y, and is as follows:
Upon every hand the next presiden-
tial election is regarded as likely to be
the most important in the history of the
republic. The question which will be
upperTnOst is not simply a question of
good or bad legislation but the finality
shall the republic give place to a form
of government which viii be the equiv
alent of a monarchy or wOrse2 Shall
democratic forms of government be re-
placed by the rule of the few unscrupu-
lOus men 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 sue
cess Of that party impossible may be
responsible for the downfall of the re-
public. The Democratic party repre-
sents all that there is in concrete form
Of opposition to the dangerous state OF
affairs which now threaten: Up on it de-
Ponds the preservation of republican in
situations. To succeed it must have the
vote of the great majority of honest
men.
In such a crisis the worst enemy Of
!
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 means the preser-
walton 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, all mean but one
thing, all represent but one issue and
! upon this issue every Lincoln RepubIi-
can and every jefferson Democrat may
unite. The finance issue, while of inn
! menSe Importance. must have no place
/ IN this campaign; its introduction will
1 endanger more vital interests No man
mas a better right to say this than I,
! VINO 70 years ago made it a part of nv
I contract in taking charge of the Wash
/ lngton Daily Chronicle that l should be
! allowed to advocate the RECOMMENDATION
of silver and in the Buffalo convention
! of 1896 wrote and secured the abortion
/ OF the clause indorsing the Chicago
4 platform.
I know what men are saying and
/ thinking. With a large personal &C
/ qualntance and correspondence scatter
4 ed all over the country 1 am satisfied
/ that those Democrats who were most
! earnest in urging the adoption of the
/ Chicago platform in 1896 and are most
anxious for the success of Democratic
INSTITUTIONS To-Day look at this matter in
the HSht which have here indicated.
/ You have reason to know my belief in
/ your great personal fitness to represent
/ the interests of the people in the next
! campaign. I trust your sincerity your
/ lmperviousness alike to fear, to f1attery
/ to purchase. I trust your wisdom to
/ conduct the affairs of the nation. But
4 your leadership will be dearly purchas-
ed # IN order to secure it we must adopt
/ a platform which however, Just in its
enunciation, is unwise and unnecessary
| at this time and which must result in
4 driving away those voters which are
necessary to perpetuate republican in
| situations"