The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-07-09

Gratis under similar circumstances.
Since the close of the war, now thirty
years, there have been several changes
in the politics Of the State. When the
Republicans gained the ascendancy,
there was eve heard that cry of
''clean sweep" that was proclaimed by
the Democratic party when they came
into power, but, on the contrary, Dem
ocratic officials, wherever efficient,
were retained in Office, and "the bane-
full influence Of party politics" was
never permitted to enter into these
great State charities. How was it, and
how has it been when Democrats came
into power9 Did they Danish ''the
baneful influence of party politics"7
Not much, for we can recall but a sim
gle instance where a prominent R9pub-
lican Was raj retained by Democrats,
and in that instance the fangs were
drawn and the claws clipped so that
the favored one was rendered entirely
harmless. With this single exception,
the cruel and relentless hand of Demo
cratic persecution was laid upon every
Republican Office holder, sparing
neither old man nor young man, widow
or maiden, but all were made to ''walk
the plank" if they were so unfortunate
as to be kin" to some prominent Re-
publican.
Last year, under the most violent
abuse and vituperation from the Demo
Gratis, the combination of Populists and
Republicans carried the State by over
twenty thousand majority, and had it
in their power to remove every officer
in every charitable and penal institu
ton in the State. Did they do it? No.
And why2 The goody- goody men in
our ranks, the paid plundering lobbyist
and the oily Cannon of his Excellency
prevented it; and, in the language of
Tom Watson, slightly altered, "Where,
are we alta" Just where we were be-
fore the neutrality-suspicious. and
Populists-Walking about the streets
with ventilated outer garments, with no
prospect for employment, while the
we'll fed sleek Democrats parade the
streets snickering in their sleeves at the
folly of the "Pops'' and "Rads," as they
are called.
Let us cite two instances of Demo
cratic insincerity, fresh in the minds
of every observer of passing events.
Last winter during the session of the
Legislature, it was stated in a caucus
of the Republicans and Populists that
the Governor had promised two lead
ing citizens that if the charitable and
penal institutions were not molested,
that in every case where there va
cancies on the different boards, he would
appoint Republicans and Populists.
This proposition was received as having
been made in good faith. on a cer0Gin
board there e two vacancies, and
the Governor made appointments in
accordance with his promise. Accom-
panying his appointment to one of the
gentlemen named was a letter calling
his attention to certain provisions in
the Cons itution showing him that he
could not accept without relinquishing
a lucrative Office to which he had Just
been elected by the people. The Gov
ernor must have known that the gen
tleman would not accept under such
circumstances. Why, then, was the
appointment made9 It was declined,
of course, and who was appointed to
the still existing vacancy9 Was it a
Republican or a Populist who was eli
gible, which would naturally have
been the case if the Governor was sin
cere in his promises. But no. A
Democratic pet of the Governors was
named. To say the least it was a very
mean trick, if it can be dignifed as q
trick.
When the city charter was under
consideration there was not a nromi-
nent Populist or Republican in RALEIGH
who was not approached by some Dem.
ocrat who urged that the charter be so
amended as to make it entirely non
partisan-confessed that the Democrats
had been guilty of an unfair gerry.
mander, but that it was all wrong. and
hoped that the R 9publicans and Pom.
lists would set a good example of polit.
zeal reform. We listened to the songs
of the siren, and a non partisan charter
was enacted into law. Non partisan
with a vengeance it was, too, for it
gave the Democrats all the city officers
and one-h3lf the aldermen. We sub.