Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1894-12-20
THOSE TWO SENAToRSHIPS.
Col. r. NJ. Douglas to Col. Covles

Greensboro. to National Com
mitteeman Ell. G. Cowles, of
Statesville. The letter fully ex
plains itself and shows that the
tendency of Republican thought
is in the direction of Republican
independence. 1t might be ex-
planned as a matter of interest
that Mr.. Robert NJ Douglas is a
son of the late Stephen A. Doug
las, of more than national fepu-
tation.
The letter is as follows:
December 3, 1894.
ssCoL. HENRI G. CowLES,
Statesville, n. c..
My DEAR SIR Your letter of
the 28th u'timo was duly re-
ceived. AS you know / have al
ways favored cooperation on a
fair and honorable basis: but |
have strongly opposed fusion or
coalition. The celebrated Coati-
tion Ministry in England fas
tened to that word an unsavory
meaning; and the rise and fall of
the Malone movement in Vir-
ginia shows US the effect OF fuS
ion upon the Republican party.
For this reason I am unalterably
opposed to a joint or fusion eau
Gus. We have obtained our
present victory by cooperating
as independent organizations,
and a joint caucus now would
destroy the independence of our
party organization, and endan-
ger the autonomy of the party
itself. If, as is claimed, the Pop
ulists would have a majority in
a joint caucus, the Republican
party might be committed to
measures that did n 3t meet the
approval of a single Republican
member. holding the balance of
power, would control the desti-
nies of the Republican party. We
must not lose sight of the won
derful perfection of the Populist
organization, in which all indi-
vidual will and action have ap-
parently been subordinated to
the governing power. Neither
should we forget that while we
thoroughly agree npon the great
principles for fair elections and
homerule, there are other meas
ures vitality affecting our COM
mercial and industrial prosper
ity upon which we widely differ.
We must fully accord to them
the same honesty of belief and
integrity of purpose that we
claim for ourselves; and there
fore we must expect them to use
every effort to carry into effect
those great underlying measures
that brought their party into
existence. While we deeply de-
| plore the evils it seeks to rem
edy, we cannot subscribe to the
| Ocala platform, which we be
| lieve would be 1mpracticable in
it's operation and dangerous in
! its tendencies. In my opinion
each party should hold it's own
independent caucus and decide
for itself upon every measure OF
cooperation.
LAS to the senatorships my
views are equally fixed. There
was every reason why Republi
cans and Populists should co
|operate in State matters, as al
else was overshadowed by the
two great measures, to which
they were mutually pledged
and which could not be carried
out without mutual help. Bu
neither election laws nor county
government can come before
Congress; and there is appar-
emily no national measure upor
which a Populist Senator, trul,
representing the views of hi!
party, could cooperate with ;
Republican administration. TIL,
senatorial question, therefore /!
more in the nature of division
of spoils. In all wars the nation
furnishing the most troops take
the lions share. Of the 148, 81
votes cast for Chief Justice, the
Republicans furnished certainly
over thirds and probabl,
three -fourths, which would b.
only III, 258. In 1883 Harrison
received 134.784 votes, and owe
! 100, 600 votes in 1892 in spite o
the Generalization then existin.
!, in our party. If in this election
the Republicans cast the Harri
: ison vote of 1888, it would leav,
only 13, 500 votes to be cast b,
the Populists. Then why shoul
they claim the long term? Th
argument that Ransom's tern
: belongs to the East has NJ
) weight whatever, as the Eas
) now has both senatorships, an
Z had when Ransom was frs
elected in 1872. namely; he an,
! Pool. As a matter of justic
! and necessary party policy, th
: Republican caucus should insis
upon naming the long term Sen
4 ator. Any Populist accepting
5 the short term could feel assure
of Republican support for re
election in 1896, would be ou
best assurance of the continue
: support of the Populists vote
: It cannot be denied that we hav
i been very liberal to the Populis
leaders. They have four Cor
gressmen to our two and thre
out of the five State officers.
readily admit the high qualities
tions of these gentlemen 70