The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1892-04-07
A CALL.


10th, 1892. j. c. BASS.
L. L. GRIFFIN.
COLIN GRAY.
The above was handed to US with
request that we publish it. We
publish 1t and feel impelled to offer
some comments on it.
During The thirty-fitst Congress
OF the United States, On 18th of
March, 1850, the great Webster, 10
the opening sentences of his speech
ON the "slavery compromise" gave
utterance to what, it seems to US,
applicable, to some degree at least,
TO the present situation. He said:
at is not to be denied that we
1--we in the midst of strong agita,
tions, and are surrounded by very
considerable dangers to our institu
tutiOns OF government. The i'm
prisoned winds are let loose. The
East, the West, the North, and the
stormy South, all combine tosthrow
the whole ocean into cOmmOtl0n,
to toss its pillows to the skies, and
to disclose it's profGundest depths"
And continuing, he said: 81
have a duty to perform and mean
to perform it with fidelity not
without a sense of surrounding
danger, but not without hope. II
| speak to-day for the preservation
OF the Union. | speak to day, out
of a solcitous and anxious heart,
for the restoration to the country of
that quiet and that harmony which
make the blessings of this Union
so rich and so dear to us ALL"
Mr.. Webster was speaking for the
safety of the people through the
preservation of the Union, and
herein lay the duty which he rec
ognized. That Union for which he
spoke was rent, as we all well re-
member; and the results have been
a changed condition of races. For
twenty five years the two leading
political parties of this country
have been controlled by this cons
ditiOn of races.
And now after more than a
quarter of a century Of "harmony''
among the white men of the South,
we cannot see how any part of them
can consistently call upon a ming
ling of races to take "independent
POLITICAL action" agaist the demo-
cratic party, whose pledges and
record, so far as possible, have been
i'll the interest of the masses in op.
position to the favored classes.
Time and again have we given
the warning through these columns
that as soon as the democrats o.
the country divide and any consid-
cradle portion of them take ''inde
pendent political action" just Sc
soon will the government be hand
ed over to the republican party
We feel, as servant of the PEG
pile, however humble and insignifi
cant the service, that we too, have
a duty to perform. And although
not unmindful of the fact the criti
cisms may be bitter from som,
sources, we owe it to the people t.
advise against, 'lndependent poll
teal action.
as we see 1t from a standpoint O
cool and careful elaboration, l
means great disaster to the country
especially to the South, for man,
years to come.
There are interests hanging OF
the crisis whose gravity are not a
all comprehended by those who, LEI
by many who care orly for self, ar,
seeking to precIpitate split IN tn
democratic party.
Fellow country men, pause ant
count we'll the cost before you ente
into "independent political action
Once entered into, it cannot b.
thrown Off in day. It will be to,
late TO consider when once 70,
have handed the interests of tn
country into the clutches Of the re
publican party again.
The interest Of your homes ar
too dear to you to be trlf1ed with il
so serious manner. Rush not int
madness in the hope ofrelief whlcl
cool reasoning VIII tell you you cal
never obtain in "independen
political action"
We speak, not for the preserva
ton of the Union as did the grea
Webster, but we speak with hear
no less anxious and sollcitous, 70
the safety and prosperity of all
and we plead with democrats, il
10 spirit of derlslon and with n,
word of bitterness; but with deem
unselfish earnestness, not to attent
independent gatherings. It mean
greater evils, heavier burdens; i
means political and social ruin, 70
time at least.