The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-04-27
Copyrighted by Jonathan Edward.

/ PIE-PoLITAN HOTEL. WASHING
TON, ID. c. April -. Is93.-I KEEP
my appointment with the Presiden
promptly. Simmons bowed us in.
found the President alone. He va.
looking over monster petition rec
on m endlng certain North Caro-
Ina man for an important office
1T would not be good taste to men
ton the name or Office This pc,
tltion and letters are signed by every
prominent man and State official in
your State" he remarked. And 81
1t Is with dozens of other petitions
for dozens of other applicants from
North Carolina. | suppose these en-
dorsements are simply matter OF
business, but they sometimes mis-
lead the appointing power into max,
ing doubtful appointments. Now
the applicants in this case was an
Elector on the Presidential ticket.
and | understand that he accepted
the nomination with the avowed be-
lief that my nomination was an i'm
possibility. Yet his claims are on the
first of all the applicants presented
to me for consideration. But | was
about to ask you why Off is sol the
people In North Carolina are so down
on me. Your State convention sent
a delegation with two acceptions)
TO Chicago to vote against me and
not only to vote against me but to
influence others by proclaiming this.
Senator Ransom said that my candi-
dacyfor the Presidency would cost the
Democratic party in North Carolina
II, 900 votes. Now the South Caro-
lima State convention openly oppos-
red, by resolution, my nomination,
but they didn't say at Chicago that it
wouli loose the State to the Demo-
cratic party. | only contrast the two
cases to show you the extent of the
bitterness against me in your own
State"
well, Mr.. President, to be per-
fectly frank with you | must say
that our State delegation knowingly
misrepresented the wantonly
repudiated and ignored the wishes
of nine-tenths of of the rank
and file of the Democratic par
ty in the State. The strongest proof
OF this is found in the storm Of re-
monstrance and Indignation that
met the delegation on its return to
the State. In many places indigna-
ton meetings were called, and in
some places the delegates were burn
ed in effigy. If l could make you
understand the situation in my State
as see you would understand that
the Democratic leaders there are cas-
lily frightened. Col. Polk, the great
leader of the farmers movement in
North Carolina was something of a
politician. The success of the move
ment was dear to his heart. It was
lis unceasing labor in that behalf
that caused his untimely death. He
knew that your defeat at Chicago
meant the disintegration of the Dem
ocratic organization. He believed
that the National convention would
go to pieces on that rock. Believed
the nomination of Hill or German or
any eastern man would prove a raj
lying point for the Reform movement.
He believed that you were quar-
ter of million votes stronger than
any other Democrat. Only a short
time before his death he said to me
with Grover Cleveland out of the
race the Democratic party is hope
lessly, irretrievably lost" With this
feeling and belief he began the anti
Cleveland crusade in the State and
scared the Democratic leaders out of
their wits. 1t was an easily won vic
tory, because the Bourbon element
in the State were already denouucing
you as mugwump, and swearing in
their wrath that you were not Dem
ocrat. Many of them were disap
pointed office-holders. l will be Just
as frank In saying to you that there
is now very formida BILE and grow
ing opposition to you in the State on
very different line. 1t comes from
the people who don't care the snap
of the finger about appointments
further than that you appoint hon
est, capable men of untarnished
character to Office. No self-respect-
ing man expects you to appoint your
detractOrs to office or to reward the
men who cowardly surrendered the
State to New York machine politician
at Chicago. The people in my State
respect your sympathy for and inter-
ests in them. They are sorely dis
appointed that you did not call an
extra session of Congress and take
immediate action looking to the re-
peal Of the Mckinley bill.
This measure was denounced all
over North Carolina as highway rob-
berry, and great many people voted
the Democratic ticket believing what
the Democratic speakers said about
it, and believing also that the candi-
dates and platform makers would.
promptly and zealously observe their
promises and pledges to summarily
repeal it. If the tariff is the cause
of the peoples distress and poverty
the plain remedy is to repeal it and
and do it at once. With Demo
cratic President, a Democratic Con-
gress in both branches there should
be no delay or uncertainty in apply
ing the remedy. That it has not
been done already-that the first
great opportunity has passed
unheeded, Gauss the people to dis
trust you and discredit the
Democratic leaders in my State.
1t is either the tariff or it Is
not the tariff. Why not put your
theory" to the test and see the eff
feet upon the condition. that
follows. A twinkle in his left eye
showed his appreciation Of the point.
Looking out the east window over
beautiful lawn of green, rich, vel
vetry grass towards the historic Po-
tomac, he said, what do your peo-
pie want anyway" What policy or
legislation, in your opinion, will
most subserve your INTEREST," Ian
swered as briefly and pointedly as l
ao,,1I.