The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1895-10-03
WILL VOTE ONLY
FOR SILVER MEN!
The Declaration Made by The Sill
yer Convention on September
The Twenty fifth.
NEARLY 1000 DEMOCRATS

Signed The Call-But Less Than q Hun-
dred Were In Attendance-speschs By
Messrs. whitaker. Cooke, Cav, Henry
and Kiechin-RssolutionsU Unsnimously
Adopted.
The silver convention was held in
Raleigh On September 25th.
The people Of all parties vino rumI
posed this convention assembled in re-
sponse to three calls, or invitations.
which invited all friends and support
ers Of the free coinage Of silver to
meet together for the purpose of con-
sultation and for taking such steps
as might help to unite all the free sill
verfOrces.
The beginning of the movement was
actively begun by members of the
Democratic party. Copies Of a propo-
sltl0n to call such a convention was
widely circulated by mail and person.
al canvass, and nearly a THOUSAND
DEMOCRATS signed the proposition.
Then Mr.. Ed Chambers Smith and
others published Ill official call On the
strength of the support of 4 large num-
Der OF Democrats who bad approved it
This was followed by two other calls
one made by Senator Marion Butler
""u uAA' -. :. hcltH, VI wilmington, W
AS State officers of the Memphis silver
convention, and the other by num-
| Der OF prominent Populists and Re-
publicans.viz: Hon. W H. Worth, DIR. J.
J. Mott, Congressman Harry Skinner,
State Senator J. N. Moody, Congress-
man A. G. Shuford. Representative V.
5. Lusk, Congressman w. F. Strowd.
| The 25th being the day for the con-
ventlon, delegates began to arrive on
the 24th, and as they came they began
talking of what might be done, what
could be done, what ought to be done
&c. Informal conferences were held,
and various resolutions were drawn
and discussed. At night on the oath,
a conference consisting of three men,
hers of each political party was held,
and by vote Of 8 to ! a resolution
was adopted, which it was agreed
should be submitted to and discussed
by general conference on the morn
ing of the 25th, before the hour for
the meeting of the convention. Every
body was requested to attend this con-
ference, which was held in the Supreme
court room.:
THE CONVENTION ASSEMBLIES.
At IL 80 O'Clock the convention as
sembled in Metropolitan hall. 1t is
limpracticable to state the exact num-
Der Of members of each party present,
nor is it accurately known how many
counties were represented. A con-
servative estimate will permit the
statement that there were five hum
dred people on the floor Of the hall.
Some of these were simply there as on
lockers. Among the members there
were about 800 Populists, not more
than sixty Democrats (sOme claim to
have counted only 27) and between
thirty and forty Republicans. As a
whole it was one of the best and most
intelligent assemblies ever seen in
Raleigh or anywhere else in the State
The convention was called to order
by Mr.. Ed Chambers Smith, who brief
ly stated the authority on which it had
been called, and the purposes for which
it was called. He nominated Hon. Jas
C. MacRae, ,ex-Associate Justice of the
Supreme court for tempOrar. chair
man. Judge MacRae was unanimous
~ elected, and in accepting the elec-
tion he said:
JUDGE M'RAE's SPEECH.
"FELLow. CITIZENS In making my
acknowledgements to you, probably 1
had better state to the gentleman who
has called me to the chair, and given
me the distinguished honor of presid-
ing temporarily over an assemblage as
respectable in numbers and persons as
[ now see before me, that l have long
since withdrawn from politics, and will
have to ask your patience and assist
ance in presiding.
This is not the first time in North
Carolina, gentlemen, when the people
regardless of party, have met and con-
suited in the tace of some great
emergency. [Applause.l
The people have right to assemble
together for their common good
These are the words of your Constitu-
ton, and under these words We are
, here to-day.
.. Whatever may be the status of affairs
next month or next year, at the pres
ent moment we are confronted with
but one issue, and that concerns the
management of the financial affairs Of
the government of the United States
!, Most of the great principles for which
,, we have contended have been settled
according to our desires. Tariff re-
form has been in a measure accom-.
plished. Economy in administration
has been restored. But for the increas.
|, ing powers of the Federal courts, home
rule would be re-est stablished through.
! out the bounds of the United States.
: 1t is the financial policy of the gov
= ernment which is now arraigned before
> the people. Without OBTAINING you
upon the Threshold of your laborl
. with a discussion of it's merits (for
y have no doubt you will be entertained
: upon this subject before you leave thii
! hall), would simply suggest that {
!. large majority of the voters of Nortf
: Carolina, differing about other mat
. ters, are agreed upon this one thing
. that is, it is the duty of the law-mak
. ing department of the government
!. to take immediate steps to restore
!. equal privileges Of silver with gold
and the free and unlimited coinage o
both gold and silver at the ratio Of Il
h to 1. [Applause.]
. "If in this single idea of the restora
+ ton of the conditions of 1873 prior t.
q the demonetization of silver; if In this
n Is bound up the best interests of tn
n country for future and present gener
atiOns, as on all sides we are told it il
. how supremely necessary it is tha
v those who believe that, should come to
. eether. Law aside all common differ
ences, and work for its accomplish
ment. 1t is for these reasons that W
are here assembled to-day in accord
ance with the Constitution. Ii. as tn
t. result of our deliberations, all thos
J. who are at unity upon this question
l. shall Join hands for the common goo
D. of this State, and give out no uncel
ID tain sound in the next campaign, il
n influence will be felt, and its purpose
Of may be accomplished.
is If, however, nothing can be dom
q we shall have the satisfaction Of know
ing that we have made an honest an
r. earnest effort to insure the SUCCESS I
Id a measure of great importance.
IN We are now prepared. gentlemen,
I, proceed with the permanent organiz'
i'll tion of this convention"
ne ELECTED PERMANENT CHAIRMAN.
w Senator Marion Butler then move
q. that the Hon. James c. MacRae
h.: 0f