The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-09-03
PRESIDENT POLK'S DILEMMA.
He Must Fight Duel or Lose His Influ-
ence in the Alliance.

RALEIGH, N. c., August 25.-Therei is
open warfare between the Democrats
and the Farmers Alliance. The Dem
ocratic machine leaders have been of
the opinion for several months that the
speeches, acts, and deeds of President
Polk were rank treason to the Demo
cratic party, and so expressed them
selves, but, as matter of precaution
and to prevent the organization of the
Peoples party throughout this State,
the Democratic press and politicians
have refrained from making attacks on
Polk and the Alliance.
In Polk's paper, the Progressive
Farmer, of this week there appears a
cut representing a Confederate soldier
on one side ofthe bloody chasm and a
Federal soldier on the other shaking
hands across the chasm. In the centre
are the words: "People's party" Right
unde the Confederate soldier these
words: ga solid South for fear of ne
gro supremacy" Under the Federal
soldier are these words: "a solidNorth
for fear of Rebel brigadier rule" At
the bottom of the cut are these words:
"Anticipated twenty years ago by Hor-
ace Greeley. Taken up low by the
Farmers Alliance" Then follows
long extract from the speech of Polk at
Ocala.
Because of the appearance Of this cut
the general belief is that the Peoples
party is here and has come to stay.
The same issue of President Polk's
paper makes bitter attack on Messrs.
Ashe and Jernigan, editors ofthe News
and Observer, and publishes a circular
letter sent out year ago by Ashe,
which stated that the News and OBJ
server advocated the sub-treasury bill.
Polk then denources Ashe and Jern1-
gan as guilty of a wilful attempt to de-
ceive the farmers, because the News
and Observer holds the sub-treasury
bill to be unconstitutional.
He says that such conduct shows that
Ashe and Jernigan are totally depraved
and are unworthy of the confidence of
any honest and respectable person.
In reply Polk is denounced as cow
ard, traitor to the Democratic party,
failure and humbug as a farmer, as
dishonest in his transactions with sew
eral individuals, and q "feather-leg" in
every particular. J. L. Ramsey, an
assistant editor of Polk's paper, is also
! denounced as vulgar coward.
Messrs. Ashe and Jernigan intend to
force Polk and Ramsey to resort to the
Code for satisfaction. If they fail they
| will try to break Polk down by making
him contemplate by holding him up
| every Gay as "feather-leg," which is
a miserable, abject coward, pitiless
scoundrel, and a poltroon of the most
disgusting character.
No one believes that Polk will fight.
Ashe and Jernigan believe in settling
disputes according to the Code. Ram
sey is absent, and his friends say he
will show fight as soon as he returns.
Several offers to act as seconds have
been made to both parties.
Polk arrived here yesterday, and to-
day he held a council with his friends.
1t is known that he was advised he
must fight if ne would maintain his
position as the leader of the Alliance.
Polk will speak IN Charlotte to-mor-
row, ard will then return here.
1t is said, eoufdentially, by his
friends that Polk will challenge Ashe
and Jernigan, and will insist on meet
ing, the fight to continue until one or
both are disabled. Polk's friends here
declare that if he backs down now ne
will be odious ever hereafter, and that
the Alliances will 60 to pieces.
Alliance men are rallying to Polk all
over the State, as the result of this at
tack, and openly declare for the organ
ization of the Peoples party.