The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-08-23
WHAT DO BRYAN DEMOCRATS DESIRE?
PopuIist Help or PopuIist determination?
Letter From Dr. Cyrus Ihompsoa 10 Democratic Friend
IN tieorSjs,

We publish below the greater
part of letter written 10y Dr
thompson To q personal friend, 8
Democrat, In the State OF Georgia
This gentleman had written to Dr
Thompson, saying that he had ss-r
II stated In the Atlanta Constitution
that br. Thompson had oI-nly laid
that he would support McKinl-,
Tor the Presidency, and saying thai
he would not relieve the statemen,
unless he saw il over the D,rtor',
own signature. The gentleman IN
Georgia wrote a. follows: II can.
not believe. al this crisis, when
much may depend on North Caro-
tina's vote. that you would abandon
that combination Of principles which
contains the bs--t of the Denocrstic,
PoPulist and Silver Republican lar
ties. tue Kansas City platform j.
broad enough for every Ia,rio, Ia
stand upon; and especially il il
strong when il is supported by the
platforms Of two other grea, parties.
With full harmony in their work
ings, thee platforms will stand, and
give To u-, as you and both think.
the greatest men in American mai-
ern HISTORY for our next President. I"
The following, written in reply.
is well worth careful reading:
RALEIGH, N. l., ArG.I4, 1900.
My Dear Sir: ] am just la NJ
eeipi Of your favor OF the nth, and
will show my appreciation of il by
replying at once. OF cour-.. / should
vastly prefer an afternoon chst
with you.
AZ to the statement that you saw
In the Atlanta Constitution, Ia the.
effect that ! had openly said thai I
would support Mckinley, l have Il,
say that the statement il without
foundation in fact; no such Sta,e-
ment having been made by me.
openly OF otherwise. [ am moi a
Republican, and never have been. 1
have never pretended To he a Re-
publican, and whatever support Re
publicans have given me i'm the pa It.
has been given with full understand
ing nf my political views. 1 am
simply POpuiist--and / am a Pop
ulist because l am democratic, that
Is to say, JeffersOnian in my view of
things. And as | AN not q Repub-
iican, so also am / not a Democrat.
Eight years ago / would moi
choose between the two parties that
sham-battled every four years over
the tariff; and | see no reason WHY
should choose now between the two
parties that four years hence, if no,
| sooner, will be sham-battling over
something else. 81 am not ready to
return to the. Democratic party,
either in the nation or in the State
When ] can find no ticket to vote
but Democratic and a Republican
ticket, l shall ease myself up on the
top OF the fence and calmly watch
the dog fight, syWpathizing alwav.
with the under dog, provided he i.
reasonably honest.
In 1892, 1 refused to vote fu,
stevenson for Nice-President.
shall not vote for him I'm 1900. I,
L were ready to return To the Demo
cratic party l should vote for him;
and doing SO, should offer som.
apologies for my stroll from Tin.
ranks of the Democratic party eigh,
years ago. l have no apology Z.
make, ant no vote to cast for MIR
Stevenson.
If the Democratic party desired
Popt'iist help, and not Populist ex.
termination, Mr.. Stevenson would
not have been nominated at Kansa.
City; but TOwne would have been
accepted as the Vice Presidentia
candidate orthree parties whore vote
1t was desirable TO concentrate OF
Mr.. Bryan. But the Democratic
convention refused to nominate oI
endorse Mr.. Town., and now Mr.
rOwne declines the Populist nOmi
natiOn-suffers himself TO be per
suaded, they say. OF course fDl
himself, he can do as he will. mi
without necessary leading the Pop
ulists into the Democratic parf,
with him.
The POpulists went outside OF
their own party for both the Presi
'lential and the Vicc-Presidentia
candidate. They ought not 10 bt
expected to go To the DenO.rsti,
party for both. When they do g,
To the Democratic party for both,
shall begin to brush the seat of my
trousers, and look around for thu
fence; my purpose being 80 calmly
view the dog fight.
believe that the vast majority o.
POpulists in North Carolina, fee
about as have expressed myself. !