The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1894-04-05
A Democratic State Government Es-
sential to the Peace and Prosper
ity Of ali the People.
IN. c. Gazette.

Washington (N. CO. Gazette.
An evil threatens the life Of this Re-
public assuming colossal proportions as
the wears 90 by. 1t is the lavish use
of money for party purposes. Millions
of dollars are expended every presiden-
tial election to debauch the ballot box
Votes are marketed just like so much
stock or cotton, notably is this the case
in the towns and large cities of the
North and West. This political and
moral gangrene is spreading and unless
corrective is applied the country will
be honeycombed with corruption.
This is government of the people
they are the source of power and the
fountain of law; their representatives
are but reflex of their will and char
acter. If the fountain be corrupt the
stream cannot be pure. Two thirds of
the people are wretchedly poor, if now
demoralized by the conditions confront
ing them and driven by stress of cir
cumstances to sell their birth right,
and falling to realize that the purity of
L. l.. ; ~ 10 -
preservation of free institutions and
the right of local self government. then
this government may retain the name
and form of Republic, but in reality
be the meanest of all governments, a
pIutocracy One owned and domina-
ted by the rich few.
SO far the white voters of the South
have escaped the tolls spread by the
money devil, notably those Of North
Carolina. Ever since North Carolina
was rescued from the clutches Of the
bad men, (who taking advantage of the
subjugated condition of the Anglo Sax
on race, aided by the military satraps
uuartered in the State who compelled
white men to vote under the shadow of
Federal bavonets, and the votes of the
impressible and civilized African just
freed from bondage, who had been
made the political, legal, and far as hu-
man law could do 80, the social equal
of the white race) had seized upon the
State government. Then chaos rel gn-
eI socially, morally, financially and pO-
litically. 1t was travesty On an or
derly State government. Men old
enough to appreciate the conditions
which confronted the white citizens of
the State, look back upon that political
drama, with the sensations Of one awak-
ened out of a hideous nightmare.
The Democratic party was organized
and aided by the eloouence and wisdom
| of Vance. Ransom, FOwle, Jarvis, Sat
terthwaite, Warren, Waddell and 9TH
ers too numerous to mention, assisted
by the inadequately appreciated but a
potent factor-the Democratic press
defeated the harpies that had prayed
| upon the material interest of the State.
The Democratic party elected State
government, one which for 20 years
challenged the closest scrutiny of its adj
versaries and has passed the ordeal and
not one scandal, not one failure to full
fl the promises made to the people can
be charged to it. The Democratic ad-
ministration of the State government
has been "without shame and without
| reDrOacn. ne ENcCUtlFe, tEo y ti'ii-
cial and the Legislative department has
been all that could be desired.
There are dlssenslOns at this time In
the Democratic party. 1T Is threaten
ed with disintegration by reason OF the
feuds of two leaders Of the party who
in the past have done SO much to build
it up. Choose you this day, Demo
Gratis of North Carolina under which
flag you will fight ? under the broad
folds of the old Democratic banner, or
will you part ranks? Some following
the fortunes of Vance, and some the
fortunes of Ransom ; to meet lnevlta-
ble defeat at the ballot box. He Bre +
Fox (the republican party) smacking
his lips, lay low.
We are behind no man in our appre-
citation of the merits of the incompara-
BILE Vance or knightly Ransom, and