The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-03-01
SENATOR RANSOM.
IS HE TO BE MADE AN ISSUE
THIS YEAR?
The Need Of Democratic Unity
Some Thoughts Suggested by
the Present Status OF Affairs---
We Cannot Afford to Take
Chances or Make Mistakes if
we Expect to Win.
| Statesville Mascot. I


depends upon whether the Dem ocrats
have majority on joint ballot or not,
but assuming that they will, Ransom S
chances of reelection are debatable.
1t may be assumed that he will be a
candidate. Few die and none resign,
and Senator Ransom knows a good
thing and is disposed to hold on to it,
The question for the Democratic party
to decide IS whether it wants him or
somebody else.
There IS a disposition in some
quarters to make Ransom the test OF
the qualification of Democratic can
didates for the legislature with a view
of securing party unity. But the
prospect OF obtaining the desired result
by that method is not promising. For
instance; a senatorial aspirant in
Burke county writes that any change
could only be for the worse" And
this view of the matter is held to a
large extent in The Western part of the
State, where several newspaper cores
pondents have suggested that all
candidates should place themselves on
record to vote for Ransom in caucus.
On the other hand, we get this from
| the Fayetteville Ob5rruer: " We hear
| it said on all sides in this section oi
the State, that no man can be elected
| to the legislature from any Of the
counties hereaboutS unless he pledges
| hImJelt TO vote against Senator Ran
| som IN the Democratic caucus" And
this leads to the reflection that il
/ Western Democrats are pledged for
Ransom and Eastern Democrats are
committed against him, the result will
be anything else than party unity when
they meet in caucus This is one view
of the subject Let us take a different
standpoint.
1t will be remembered that wher
the Senate passed the bill uncondi
tionally repeating the purchasing
clause OF the Sherman act, Senator
Ransom violated the traditions anC
policy of his constituents by voting te
throw away what was left to the people
of legislation favorable to silver Coir
as money in the United States. The
Democratic party declared in its
platform in 1892 that it held to the
use of both gold and silver as money
and that it favored the free and
unlimited coinage of both on equaI
terms But Mr.. Cleveland favored
gold and not silver: so when he askcC
a Democratic Congress to pass bill
discrediting silver, Senator Ransom
surrendered his convictions and voteC
to vindiCatc Republican principle.
This IS history SO recent that it i
within the recollection Of every cit
Izen.
\ circumstance worthy to be con
sidered IN this connection, but which
has not been made very prominent il
the newspapers, is the action that wa
taken by the people of Senator Ran
sons own county Northampton in
reference to this matter. On the 6tf
day of November, 1893, they met ii
the court house at Jackson and adopted
a series of resolutions setting forth
their approval of the course of mem
bers of both branches of Congress
who voted against unconditional re
peal, and declaring their adhesion t.
the Democratic doctrine of the equal
ity of silver with gold. Senator Ran
som was present, opposing the resolu
tions as an implied attack upon hi
own course; but neither by pleading
nor threatening could he preven
their adoption. Today, according t.
his own view of the matter he stand
discredited and condemned by hi
neighbors and life long friends
In view of Senator Ransom's cours
in regard to the silver question, ant
in view Of the active opposition to hin
that exists in various parts of the State
the question comes home to ever
, Democrat, Can the party afford It
make him an issueo II the party Ii
to him it will have to revise its silye
platform, and the same is true of an
individual who commits himself t
support the Senator for reelection.
the party wants to decide the senator
. ship at the November election,
would do we'll to take up man who's
views are in harmony with part
declarations. But the better cours
I would be to elect legislature withor
pledges other than those implied
allegiance to Democratic principle
and doctrine