The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1904-05-03
REAGAN TO BRYAN
Teri o. Letter From me AOId Gen.
moaer" 10 me 'YSsns CsmmeaG."

ter. This letter and its wise sugges.
tions are well worth the most serious
consideration of every democrat in
Texas and the country generally:
Palestine, Texas, April %, 1904
Hon. William j. Bryan, Lincoln,
Neb. Dear Sir: Your letter of the
22d inst. is received. / send pos
tai money order for 81 to renew my
subscription to the Commoner.
generally read it before other papers
which come by the same mail. In
your public conversations and
through the Commoner you have
done great work in the interest of
good government and of the Ameri-
can people; and l have often said
that, while might not approve your
views in everything, ! regarded
you as one of the ablest statesmen
and best Democrats and as the tru-
est man to the interest of the people
among our political men. And If /
could name the president of the
United States it would be William
j. Bryan.
| think you will know that L could
not descend to unmerited f1attery
and / make the above statement in
order that you may not misunder-
stand what / am going to add.
If were asked what / regard as
the most serious menace to our
constitutional system of government
and to the rights and liberty of the
American people l would say:
l. The disregard of President
Roosevelt for the constitution and
for political morality, his selfish and
reckless partnership and his failure
to enforce the criminal law against
trusts and monopolies.
2. The policy of the Republican
party in substituting the will Of q
popular majority of the people Of the
union for the provisions and limita-
tons Of the constitution of the
United States and its class and mo-
nopoly legislation, including high
protective tariff, the trusts and mo-
nopolies fostered byit, andthe noto-
rious political corruption which has
grown out of it's policy.
If / were asked for remedy for
these dangers | would say the de-
feat Of Roosevelt for the presidency,
the reversal of republican policies
and the restoration of constitution
al, honest and economic government.
II / were asked how this is TO be
done, l would say:
BY the adoption By the National
Democratic convention, when it
meets, of a platform covering the
recognized cardinal principles Of the
party, and leaving questions Of diff
ferences sof opinion among Demo-
Gratis to be settled within the party
after il shall have gotten the control
of the government, uniting the whole
strength of the party for this pur-
pose and offering this inducement to
the floating vote of the country and
to dissatisfied Republicans. This
plan would open the whole field for
political discussion; and it seems to
me offers the only possible chance
for the success of the Democratic
party in the coming national cleo
ton.
If we go into the contest with con-
testing factions in the party, defeat
is inevitable; and the practices of
Roosevelt and the policies of the
Republican party Will have four
years more in which to become crys-
talized; and that would be the end
Of constitutional government and
the enforcement in its stead of a
government of classes, money, cor
porations and trusts.
/ believe as earnestly as You do in
the great body of the doctrines you
have been advocating, but | am not
so afraid of the limited numbers of
Democrats who disapprove those
policies as TO be afraid to 90 into a
convention with them. Surely 6,-
000, 900 Democrats need not be afraid
of 800 900. While 300, 900 may not be
able to elect q president, they, with
the influences they can command,
can surely defeat the election of any
one on a platform antagonizl9Sthe
views.
With me it is not >a~dhestion of
ZneI Der " can Defeat and punish
any faction of the Democratic
party, but whether we shall, by
uniting all Democrats, secure an
election which will restore the con-
stitution, good government and the
best interests OF the people of this
great republic.
You will understand that / do not
write as an interested politician.
My political race has been run. l
am now s. years Of age. / have no
political honors to expect or to de-
sire. But love my country and
i