Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1894-10-25
IF NOT THEN, WHY NOW?

called the Populist party, was Or
ganized in this State it was dis.
tlnctly announced by it's organ.
lzers that it was not to antagon-
lie the Democratic party in this
state, nor to attempt to get DOS
session of the State Government
with which they had no fault to
lind. Time and again Col. Polk.
the brains and soul of the new
organization, asserted this. that
the new party had no fight to
make on State issues, that their
light was solely on national is
sues. 1t was not until the poll
ticians of smaller calibre. who
hungered for office, got control
OF the party and saw. or thought
they saw, the spoils within reach
that they departed from the lines
originally marked out, concluded
to take a whack at State politics.
and try to capture the State
Government. But then there
was not a man among them who
would have admitted that thew
would ever go as far on that line
as to fuse with the Radicals. as
they are now doing.
If anybody would have told
Marion Butler in the Summer of
1892 that in the Summer of 1894
he and the Radical machine run
ners would be sleeping in the
same bed he would have pro
nounced that man a malicious
slanderer. He was so bitterly
opposed to association with Re.
publicans then that he had no
kind word or liberation for them
and strongly opposed the nomi-
nation of a third party State
ticket for fear that it might re-
suit l n giving the control of the
State to the Republicans, whom he
characterized as 1.-The enemies of
the people," and jqopardizeI
white supremacy and good gov
1t will be remembered that
shortly before the Democratic !
State Convention met in Raleigh. |
IN 1892, a call was issued to the
various county alliances in the
to send delegates to a con-
ference to be held just before the
convention met. Marion Butler
was there in the capacity of al
balance wheel to see that the conf
ference did nothing rash. Hell
also a delegate to the State
Convention. There was them
talk that if the Convent
vention didn't meet all the de-
mands of that conference thew
would put a State ticket in the
ield. Marion Butler strongly OPT
posed this, and when the DEMO-
cratic State ticket was nomi-
hated he cordially endorsed it in
lis paper and advised all third
men to support it. In spite
his advice a third party ticket,
made up of ex-Democrats and ex-
republicans, was nominated and
he gauge of battle thrown down.
What he thought of antagonizing
ne Democratic.party with a third
party ticket in 1892 is thus ex-
pressed in an article which an
'eared i'll the Caucasian of July
4th, of that year:
From the present outlook we
cry much fear that the People's
'arty will put a State ticket in
he field, and possibly tickets in
very county. Such action, if
aiken, would be greatly to be rel
sretted and should be prevented
f possible. Whatever differenceI
nay exist among North CAROLYN i,
ans on questions of NATIONAL l
there should be none in the
state where a~nglo-saxon rule and
government is the paramount
ssue. If the Peoples party put
ut a State ticket, then the pres
Mt State ticket, headed by Elias /
arr, which upon the whole is an
dmirable one, is almost sure to
e defeated. It will be defeated
y the Republicans if they putt
ut a State ticket, it will be del
by the Peoples party if
ne Republicans support the.
NOW a a0oyd to those uho L
ace joined tie Peoples party:
What is there to be gained
or reform by defeating the Dem-
cratic State ticket? Nothing.
ut much to lose, let the result
e what it may. If you ~electl
ticket you do it at the suf-
erance of the Republican party,
nj you are at their mercy now
nd in the future. If you are the :
ausc of theRepublican party CAPT.
the State you have given a :
eavy blow to the cause of the "
'rm and put the management oil
our State in unworthy and inca
able hands. Let not those Who'll
ant office more than they do
sform precipitate you into talk
g any such action. If the
copies party candidates are
IN for the Legislature, then
lie chances r that the Repub-
and the railroad influenced
i'll control the next Legislature.
his would not only mean mis-
lie for two years, if no more, butt
would undo all the reforms Ii
aimed in the last Legislature"
Perhaps Mr.. Butler who wrote
this fevent and patriotic styleI
-en didn't know his own mind.
r before the leaves changed
'lor in the fall we find him rum