The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-07-31
POLITICAL ADDRESS.
TO DEMOCRATIC VOTERS.
An Address by the Democratic State
Executive Committee.
RALEIGH, June 1G, 1890

At n meeting of the Democratic State
Executive Committee, held in this city Oh
the 10th inst, it was resolved that the
Democratic State Convention be held III
the city OF Raleigh on Wednesday, the
Goth of August, 1890.
1t will devOlye on this convention to
nominate for vacancies filled by appoint
ment OF the Governor, IL Chief Justice END
one Associate Justice OF the Supre ne
Court, and Judges of the Superior Co lrt
for the first, fourth, fifth, eighth and tenth
districts, also Judges OF the Superior
Court for the second, six, seventh and
eleventh districts to succeed the present
incumbents, whose terms expire, and to
adopt a platform OF principles and for
such other business lis may property
come before it.
The convention is called to meet later
I than in 1888 to suit the convenience OF
the great masses of the Democratic voters,
so that IL .uller representation, rejecting
IL more general sentiment, may be III
sured and it is very desirable that the
delegates shall attend.
The Democratic party cOngratulates
the people of the State upon the material
| and moral advancement made under its
! beneficent ar ministratiOn OF affairs, and
; having redee ned its pledges in the past,
presents its claims to them for cOntinu-
| ance of that confidence to which it is
Justly entitled, fully assured that they
| will be recognized and the interests of all
| classes thus subserved.
| The term for which Hon. ZebulOn b.
| Vance has been elected to the Senate OF
the United States will expire next March,
| and the legislature to be chosen this year
! will be called upon to fill it. 1t behOOves
us to see to i, that no Republican is elected
to the Senate from this State.
The committee most earnestly request
Il thorough early organization in every
township and county in the State. 1t is
essential that this preliminary work shall
be done at once, SO that we may be ready
for an active, energetic campaign as soon
as the convention adjourns. 1t will not
do to assume that our opponents, because
they are inactive now, have no life. They
can organize with alacrity, and stand
! ready to take advantage of any apparent
lethargy on our part, and, If we wish to
prevent opposition, we must demon
strate, by our OrganiZat on and strength,
it's futility. In 1882 over confidence and
apathy nearly resulted in the loss of the
State, and again in 1886 from the same
cause, the control of the House of Repre-
sentativeS of the State was lost to the
Democrats, and given to our opponents.
Such result must be carefully guarded
against this year.
tits important that the various county
conventions be called at such times as
will best suit the masses OF the party, to
the end that full and free choice of can
didates for the offices may be had and no
discomfort engendered.
The Republican party of to-day is the
same as in the dark days of reconstruct
ton, and only awaits the opportunity to
infict upon our people the same disgrace
and humiliation. It's action in the fed
eral congress indicates too plainly thatit
is party of force, without respect for
law or order.
The despOtic usurpatiOns of the petty
tyrant who has been placed by them in
the speakers chair only to dishonOr it
the deprivation of legally elected Demo-
Gratis of their seats in both branches of
Congress and the seating of Republicans
in their stead without the least vestige of
right, for partizan purposes, and the ef
fort to perpetuate themselves in power by
the passage of federal election law by
which the control of congressional cleo
tons will be transferred from the State
authorities to the hands of irresponsible
agents appointed at the dictation of I'M
scrupulous partizans at the national cap
ital, thus striking q serious blow at our
cherished institutions and the rights of |
the sovereign States: the reckless appro-
priatiOn of thepublic funds for illegal and |
unnecessary purposes, by which not only |
is the surplus left in the treasury at the
end of Mr. leveland's benign administra-
ton entirely swept away and a large de-
felt created, but also the opportunity of |
giving relief from the burdens of taxation |
is retarded; all admonish us that our
only safety lies in q return to Democratic
rule i'll the country and it's continuance
at home. Should they succeed in their
aims we might expect federal supervisors,
backed by federal bayonets, at the polls |
and a re-enactment of the scenes of 1868
i'll our own and our sister States.
Utterly Indifferent to the interests of |
the Southern farmer, all its legislation
has been at our expense for the benefit of .
other interests and other sections, and
the only hope of the agricultural South
is to throw off the Legislative shackles
that have crippled our prosperity and
bound us to poverty is to move forward
on the lines OF those great principles of
relief which the Democratic party has
steadfastly advocated. To attain these
Siuo 'hC Co-olJcl vi oil pdlIlOllC lllell
who have at heart the prosperity of our
agricultural and industrial interests and
the material welfare of our Southern peo-
pie is earnestly asked, and they are urged
to enroll themselves beneath the Demo-
cratic banner.
Let every Democrat realize the respon-
slbllity that rests upon him and meet it,
There can be no doubt of grand victory
if we do our full duty. Unceasing vigi-
lance is the price which we must pay for
success, but when we consider what de-
feat means to us the sacrifice is small
Over estimate, rather than under esti-
mate, the enemy and go into the fight de-
termined to win it. We must prove equal
to the emergency, and when the first
Tuesday i'll November shall have passed
victory will be ours, and whitesupremacy.
which is Synonymous with Democratic
rule, will be assured to us for further
term.
BY the committee.
ED. CHAMBERS SMITH. Oh mn.
b. {. BECKwITH, Sec'y.