Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-09-01
MARTINSBURG. w. VA, SATURDAY SEPTEN
BRYAN TO POPULISTS.
maIly Accepts the Nomination
For President.

William j. Bryan received the official
notification of his nomination for the
presidency by the Populist party at To-
peka on Thursday. Thomas NJ. Pat
terson Of Colorado acted as m0uthpiece
of the party in making it. Mr.. Bryan
was at the same time informed of the
Endorsement of his candidacy by the
United States Monetary league, this
notification being given by A. w. Rucker.
The ceremonies occurred in the spacious
and beautiful grounds Of the state capt.
tol and were witnessed by a large num-
Der of people
In his reply to the addresses of Messrs.
Patterson and Rueker Mr.. Bryan held
the close attention of his audience.
He said in part:
In accepting the presidential nomination which
you tender on behalf of the Popust party | de-
sre to give emphatic recognition to the education
al work done by your party. The Populist party
as an organization and the Farmer alliances and
the labor Organizations from which they sprang
have done much 10 arouse the people to study
OF economic and industrial questions
desire also to express my deep appreciation OF
the hborality Of opinion and devotion to principle
which have led the members Of your party to en-
ter the ranks OF another party in the selection OF
a candidate.
In 1896 the money question was Of paramount
Importance. and the allies in that campaign unit
cd in the demand for the immediate restoration OF
silver by the independent action of this country
at l6 TO /, the ratio which had existed since 1884
They were defeated but that did not end the dis
cussion. The Democrats were defeated in 1883, but
| that did not put end to tariff reform The Re
publicans were defeated in 1892 but that did not
| permanently overthrow the protective tariff. De-
! feat at the polls does not necessarily decide a
great problem Experience, and experience alone,
settles questions II an increase in the volume of
I oIt rHrRVaVf GDhl k
the Republicans and unexpected has brought i'm
! prcvement in industrial conditions, this improve
! ment instead Of answering the arguments put
! forth in favor of bmetallism only confirms the
! contention of those who insisted that more money
! would make better tiges.
II is true that the populists believe in an ire
| deemable greenbaok, while the Democrats believe
! in a greenback redeemable in coin, but the vital
! question at this time, far as paper money IS
i, concerned, is whether the government or banks
shall issue it. There viii be time enough to dis
cuss the redeemability of the greenback when the
| greenback itself is saved from the humiliation
| which now threatens it. The Republican party is
/ now committed to currency system which neces-
states a perpetual debt, while the Populist finds
! himself in agreement with the Democrats, who be-
1 ieve in paving off the national debt rapidly as
| possible
| In 1896 the Populists united with the Demo
Gratis in opposing the trusts, although the question
at that time appeared like cloud scarcely larger
| than a mans hand. Today that cloud well nigh
! oyerspreads the industrial sky. The farmer does
| not participate in the profits of any trust but he
] sorely feels the burden of them all. He is de-
| pendent upon the seasons for his income When
| he plants his crop. he knows not whether II will
! be blessed with rain or blighted with drought; he
| knows not whether wind will blow it down or hail
| destroy it or insects devour it, and the price OF
his crop is as uncertain as the quantity. Ii pri-
! vate monopoly suspend production and fix the
| price of raw material well as the price OF the
| finished product, the farmer, powerless TO protect
| himself when he sells, is pundeTed when he pur.
| chases Can any farmer hesitate to throw the in
huence Of his ballot upon the side Of those who
desire to protect the public at large from monop'
| olies?
| The fact that the trusts support the Republican
party ought to be sufficient proof that they expect
/ protection from it, The Republican party cannot
be relied upon to extinguish the trusts SO long
it draws its campaign contributions from then
| overlooking vaults.
| The prosperity argument which the Republicans
bring forward to answer all complaints against the
! administration will not deceive the farmer He
! knows that two factors enter into his income
first the size of his crop, and, second the price
which he receives for the same. He does not re
! turn thanks to the party in power for favorable
| weather and a bountiful harvest, and he knows
| that the Republican party has no policy which in
slres permanent increase In agricultural prices.
! II is not strange that the Populists should OPP
pose militarism and imperialism, for both
tagonstic to the principles which Populists apply
| to other questions Looking at questions from
| the standpoint Of the producer of wealth rather
than from the standpoint of the Spectator, the
| Populist recognizes in militarism constant and
| increasing burden, The army worm which occa
| soually destroys a field of wheat is not nearly SO
| dangerous an enemy to the farmer a large
sanding army, which inyades every field Of in
/ dustry and eXacts toll from every crop
At the present rate we will spend annually upon
the army approximately half as much spend
for education in the United States, and this i'm
mense sum is wrung from the taxpayers by sys
! tens of taxation which oyerburden the poor man
and undertax the rich man. In the presence OF
such an issue as militarsm it is impossible that
! any Popu'ist should hesitate TO his party But
even the menace of militarsm is but part of the
| question Of imperialism. The policy contemplated
! by the Republican party utilities every principle
| set forth in the Declaration Of independence,
| strikes a blow at popular government and rohs
! the nation of its moral prestige Already the
more advanced supporters OF the colonial idea
! point TO the economy Of a system Of government
which intrusts all power to an executive and does
/ away with the necessity OF legislation.
There is no middle ground between the Ameri'
/ can policy and the European policy II this ma.
ton remains true to its principles, its traditions
and its history, it cannot hold colonies II 1t en-
ters upon a colonial career it must repudiate the
( doctrine that governments derive their just pow
ers from the consent Of the governed.