The state chronicle., 1886-11-11

CYRUS b. WATSON, ESQ, of Winston,
writes: We have had many local troubles.
| The general assembly has made many radi-
cad changes in existing systems, notably
by the no-fence laws. Though good in
themselves have been pressed against the
current of strong opposition. The pco-
pie are slow to recognize the good and
quick i'll magnifying the evil.
Low prices of farm products causing
what the people are fond Of calling, "hard
times, are always charged to the party
in power
Small politicians have in many instances
used our present system Of county Cover n
ment as q machine for the promotion of
selfish ends, thus converting a wise and
bereticent system into local curse.
We have heretofore promised tariff re
form to the people of the east and internal
revenue reform to the people Of the west
Our House of Representatives fell between
Randall and Morrison and failed to redeem
the pledges made and the people kicked.
Many votes were lost.
Two years ago we talked much with Onr
mouths in advocacy of the Blair Bill, that
has all the time had two big sides to it,
The loud talk offended one side, and the
failure of the measure in the House dsap
pointed the Other-vOtes We're lost.
Our party is composed Of thinking peo-
pie TO great extent. They are alarmed
at the dangerous growth of corporate
power, and have begun to frOwn at our pub
lie functionaries executive, judicial and
legislative are continuously Y receiving
gratuities at the hands Of railroad corpora
tons which other persons dare not bestow
This is being discussed by the people and
votes are lost, especially to the judicial
tickets.
Our wise men have divided our people
"a candidate for Congress canvaSSed his
district declaring himself a Randall Dem
ocrat and in favor of internal revenue
reform He was followed by a grave Sen
ator or two who told the same people
that Randall was a traitor to his party and
that their salvation lay in the direction of
tariff reform the people got tangled IN
the traces and refused to pull.
Lastly and by your kind permission and
the permission Of your well-m Gaming breth-
ren Of the quill, the Democratic press of
the State must take their share of the
blame. We have a great many Democratic
newspapers in the State; thrice too many.
They have no settled we'll defined policy
each editor feeds his readers from his own
platter, and boasts Of his own indepcn-
dence. Some serve wholesome fare-soue
very bad bash: the people partake Of it
and suffer from political dyspepsia.
Many of our Democratic journals, (and
they are al this day the only teachers Of
the maSseS) never think to teach our risin 1,
generation OF voters the cardinal prlncI-
plies of the democratic party. Having no
foundation for their political principles
they are easily shaken by an unexpected
wind. Between campaigns our papers
grumble and complain, and diligently SOW
seeds Of dissatisfaction among the people.
They pursuade the farmers and industrial
classes that they need legislation which
they have not.
They iudiscrimlnately copy and publish
articles written by thrftleSs demagogues,
calculated and intended by the writers
to poison the minds of the people against
their most trusted leaders.
AS the campaign opens, their columns
are filled with the fulsome praise Of favor
ties who in many cases, sadly needing all
the puffs received, live only upon their
hattery.
The stomach of the people has weaken
ed on this food, Indigestion has eau ;ed
irritability and we have been stricken as a
party by party friends, in broad open day
light The Republicans did not do it for
they '.knew not what they did" We
were stricken tull in the face by friends,
not so much in anger as by way of correc-
ton We will be all right, hale and
hearty, in 1888. For as a party, we have
l6arned a wholesome lessun.