The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1892-10-20
LEAVES THE THIRD PARTY.
IAN Honest Man is the Noblest Work
of God"


A. B. Peeler, the most influential
Third party man in Cleveland county,
and candidate of his party for sheriff,
has withdrawn from that party and
will support Cleveland and Carr.
After thanking his party for the NOM
ination conferred upon him, he says:
1t is but just to those who honored
me with the nomination that L should
state frankly my reasons for this ac-
tion and l do so, as briefly as possible,
as follows:
1st, [ remember the condition of
North Carolina and her people in the
dark days from '6S-'76; how the States
credit was bankrupted; her treasury
plundered; the rights of her citizens
shamelessly and wantonIy trampled
under foot; capital driven from her
borders; her matchleSS resources
locked up; the school fund taken to
pay the per diem of ignorant and
vicious men who loaded down the
statute books with scandalous laws I
remember how in these dark days no
mans life, liberty or property was
safe and there were no public schools
for the education of our people. When
L contrast this with the wise pure,
economical, and beneticent rule of
the Democrats since rs, and see that
the Republicans are endeavoring to
take advantage of the Peoples party
movement and regain control of the
State government, | feel that it is my
duty as a North CarOlinian and a
white man to withdraw from the
movement and join the Democratic
party in its fight for the salvation of
the State.
End. l see clearly that the fight is
between the Democratic and the Re-
publican parties. The Peoples party
cannot hope to carry either the State
or the National election. 1t might
help the Republicans win, and in that
event, | see continuance of the ills
from which the agricultural classes
are now so grievously suffering; l see
the Force bill menacing the liberties
of my people; | see the shadow of cen
traliZatiOn threatening; | see among
the evils sure to follow, in the nation.
laws permitting the inter-marriage of
the races, mixed schools, and in this
State repeal of the county govern
| ment system and thirty-two of the
best counties in the State surrendered
to negro domination and the horrors
that will follow inevitably.
3rd. | have evidence of the unholy
trade that has been made by Butler
and EXum to sell the State to the Re
publicans for 5000 l have the best
reason to believe that a corrupt bar
gain exists between the leaders of the
Peoples party and the Republicans
whereby the rank and file of the Peo-
pies party is betrayed into furthering
the plans of the Republican party.
| My heart revolts against such treach-
cry and corruption, and l will not al
| low myself to be made party to any
| such movement.
4th. l am white man, I love my
race, l believe in white supremacy
| and the interests of my State and my
people are far dearer to me than the
| Office of sheriff, therefore / withdraw
| from the Peoples party and am nc
| longer to be considered candidate
for the Office OF sheriff.
| | desire before | close to appeal tC
| the good men who have allowed them
| selves to be pursuaded into the PeO
| pies party movement, to join me ir
| this action. A thoughtful and pain
stalking review of the political situa
| tion has convinced me of the fact that
| by independent political action al
present we can expect nothing but {
| continuance of Republican rule anC
that character of legislation of whicl
| as true North Carolinians, join tn,
Democrats in lighting our common
enemy, the Republican party.
AS for myself | propose to vote tn,
| entire Democratic ticket from Grove
Cleveland down, and l hope that N,
friends will join me in it.
Respectfully,
A. B. PEELER.
| October 10 1892