Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-10-25

poi ~
Hon: Samuel w. Hopkins, Chairman, and
others, members of the Notification Com.
mmitttee, of the Silver Lincoln Republican
+o Gentlemen t / am in receipt of your let
SiITap 1noo for the presidency BY the
In accepting the nomination I beg to ex.
press pres my. my hearty appreciation of the sup
your party in the campaign of 1896, and Of
the fidelity shown by them during the four
gears which w have since elapsed The evil
ed anew at the last national convention
places me under renewed obligations There
IS consistency about the human mind
principles to new conditions, and / was
therefore not surprised to find that those
t who left the republican party in 1896 on
on the trust question, which has Increased
IN Importance since 1896, and upon mill
t .ais 1 and imperialism, the new questions
Mhlch the republican party has forced upon
the PUBLIC within the last two years.
Your platform, of which you enclose
City that it Is not necessary for me to take
up the planks in detail. enclose the fol-
LOVING tIYg documents, and make them part
!. My speech at Indianapolis, in reply to
the democratic notification committee, deal
resolution expressing sympathy for the
Beers.
2. Ny letter formally accepting the dem
oeratlc nomination, covering other planks
B.. My speech accepting the populist nom
nation, dealing with those Issues upon
which me democrats and populists occupy
common ground.
4; My speech delivered at st. Louis, the
10Th 1T. Of September, on the trust question.
| Ihese documents have already been wide
| ly published In the press of the country
and the members Of your party are fully
informed In regard to my views on the
In 1899 the money question was the ques-
ton OF paramount Importance, but the re-
publican party by its disregard OF the
cacy of policies repngnant to the doctrine
Of self-government, has left us no choice
Put put to summon Al lovers of the Declare
that sacred document and the constitution
! framed In accordance with 1t.
IN your letter you ,quote several .appro-
pirate extracts from Lincoln's speeches. I
find In speech by Lincoln In 1858 de-
Tense of the Declaration Of Independence,
accompanied by q feryent and patriotic APP
peal TO his countrymen not to abandon the
principles therein enunciated. 1t Ia SO ap-
piicable to the present time and SO In har-
mony with the references you have made to
Lincoln's words, that / quote the following
extracts: -. .
Nov, my countrymen, If you have been
taught do. doctrines conflicting with the great
ence; II you have listened to suggestions
which would take away from Its grandeur
and mutilate the fair ,symetry of its pro-
portions; IL you have been inclined to be-
iieye that all men are not created equal
in those inalienable rights enumerated by
our chart t. of liberty let me .entreat You to
come back Return to the fountain whose
waters spring close by. the blood of the
Revolution. Think nothing of me; take no
thought for the political fate of any man
whomsoever, but come back to the truths
that are in the Declaration of Independ-
enee: 19 s may do anything, with me you
w fhs sefcs sfcTea
PIT me to death; While pretending, no In
be actnated in this contest by something meth g
higher than an anxiety for office. I charge
you to drop every paltry and Insignificant
ing. But do not destroy that immortal
emblem of hnmanity-the Declaration of
| American Independence"
| How harsh the contrast between the lof-
| ty sentiments expressed by Lincoln and the
sordid, nnercenary appeal now made to the
ehas aaw
ship which would sacrifice life itself In de-
Tense of that immortal document which
| 1t was promulgated, and the commercial
ism which would sacrifice every noble and
holy purpose in pursuit, Of new. markets,
can be purchased with human blood-a doc
| trine advanced by those who want to give
syndicates chance to exploit distant col
onies.
In response to the hope whicn you ex-
political obligations are due entirely to the
plain people, who ask no special privileges
mand only equality Of rights and an OPP
portunity to enjoy life, liberty and the pur-
suit of happiness under the nag. of re-
producers In time Of peace and the ma
| tion's warriors in time of war, have al
ready done for me more than can ever
repay. Whether am elected or not It
shall be my ambition to protect their
rights and advance their interests by every
means within my power.
Very truly yours,