 Ramba uchiverenga ndima iyi - Tillman aidavira kuti nyika yakanga yava pedyo nokuchinja kukuru kwezvematongerwe enyika, uye kuti aigona kusarudzwa kuva purezidhendi muna 1896, achibatanidza vatsigiri vane sirivha vokuSouth neWest. Akanga achida kufunga nezvechikumbiro chechitatu kana Cleveland akachengeta kutonga kweDemocratic Party, asi akanzwa kuti maPopulist, nekubvumira maAfrica maAmerican kutsvaga hofisi, akange aparadza kuvimbika kwavo pakati pevachena vekumaodzanyemba. Kutaura kunorwadza kweSeneta weSouth Carolina kwakamuunzira mukurumbira wenyika, uye neDemocratic National Convention ya1896muChicago zvichida yaidzorwa nevatsigiri vesirivha, Tillman akanga achitaurwa nezvake somunhu angangova mukwikwidzi wapurezidhendi pamwe chete navamwe, vakadai seaichimbova mumiriri weMissouri Richard P. Bland, gavhuna weTexas James Hogg, uye aichimbova nhengo yekongiresi yeNebraska William Jennings Bryan. 