The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-28
North carolina's Newspaper War.

North Cardinals Newspaper War
The bitterest kind Of war is being waged
between the Netcs and Observer and the
Progressive Farmer Of Raleigh, n. {. The
NeiCs and Observer is edited by Messrs.
AISLE and Jernigan and the Progressive
Farmer by Mr. Polk, president OF the ma
tional alliance, and J. l.. Rimsey- Inc
war is of a personal character, and there IS
a probability that it will not stop at words.
President Folks paper recently contained
an illustration which seemed 10 JUSTIFY the
conclusion that be was endeavoring to lead
alliencenen into the Peoples party, and in
the same issue Of the paper the editors OF
the Mars and Observer were charged with
vilfulIv attempting to deceive the farmers.
In repIy the Nelrs and Observer applied to
President Polk, and also to Editor Ramsey,
epithetJ OF the most CALLING kind.
No good will come Of this sort Of
newspaper war 1t will serve only to bring
about bad feeling between the friends of
! President Polk and those of the editor Of
/ the Netcs and Observer. 1t will not con-
! vince anybody that the editors Of the Netcs
and Observer are trying to deceive tho
farmers nor make anybody believe that
President Polk is bad man.
Whether President Polk is sincere or not
is question that time alone can determine
TO the satisfaction of the public. There is
no doubt that the course he is pursuing is a
mistaken one. and is calculated to do an
immense amount of harm. There is not
much room for doubling that his purpose
is to lead the alliance into the Peoples
party. The tendency of his North Carolina
paper and his talk in interviews is in that
direction. He may come TO the conclusion,
however, that he cannot get southern al
liancemen to leave the Democratic party.
In that event he will hesitate to take the
final step which would sever his connection
with the Democratic party and make him
member Of the Peoples party
But 10 abuse him will accomplish no good
purpose. II will only strengthen him with
| those who are in sympathy with him. And,
besides, it is unjust to abuse man unless
there is absolute proof that bis conduct has
| been, or is, such as TO make him unworthy
of the recognition of self-respecting people.
There is no doubt that the great majority
| of alliarcemen are sincere in believing that
| Shc BCiAlAOal IOGtI VI luo dlllduCb WOulu,
| If adopted, be productive of general good.
Aud they have right to pin their faith to
those doctrines. 1t is the privilege as we'll
| as the duty Of those who differ with them
10 show them they are mistaken. If they
cannot be convinced by argument that they
| are wrong they cannot be driven from their
position by abuse.
The MORNING NEWS has all along cons
tended that the sub-treasury plan, if
| adopted, would do q great deal of harm
and would not benefit any body. AS a rule
alliancemen have not studied it carefully,
and, hence, know comparatively little
about it. Somebody suggested 1t at the
st. Louis convention Of alliaucemen two
years ago, and the alliance leaders have
told their followers that it was the one
thing needful to bring them unbounded
prosperity. They have accepted this asser-
ton without question. And they continue
to believe it is true because they are urged
to do SO by those whom they have chosen
to lead them. And these leaders under
stand that the alliance would cease to bs
power in politics If they should abandon
the sub-treasury plan, and that their occu-
patton would be gone.
Alliancsmen can be convinced, however,
that the sub-treasury plan is a continuance
| of demagogues, and is intended to mislead
them. To very large extent they have
been so convinced in Mississippi, where the
plan has been subjected to very thorough
discussion, and alliaucemen of this and
other states can be so convinced. And
they will be convinced, eventually-by ar
gument, not by abuse OF their leaders.
If their leaders are dishonest, or if they
are guilty of wrong doing, it is right and
proper that charges should be made against
them and proof of the charges furnished.
There may be leaders who are powerful
enough to prevent any investigation of
their conduct, but they cannot pursue
crooked course long without being found
out, condemned and repudiated.