The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-09-17

the Republican party in a very short
time. Only last election you we're very
much in sympathy with a little Repub,
lican side show ticket in this county,
and advised voters to vote for the Re-
publican ticket, if they could not vote
Democratic. You wanted them to vote
anything but Popul:s5. And people do
say the leading Republican on that
ticket got a bran new suit of clothes
through the charity of our D 3m 1crats,
and a horse and buggy free of charge
to drive around On the campaign, and
now you hold up your hands in holy
horror at the mere idea of the Republi
can party. Mr.. Record, really now.
hadn't you rather the Republicans
would get in power than the Populists?
If you are so scared of the r republicans
come over and join our ranks and we
will help you put them to fight. And
still again he says:
But those Democrats who desire the
continuance of their party and the de-
feat of their old enemy will find (as
Vance said to those Democrats who
were joining the Populists) their sweet
safety by abiding in the ship the good
old ship of Democracy"
Yes, the Record wants to keep up an
old sham battle between the Democrats
and r apublicans over the tariff, but it
is no go now. Why, bless you, Mr..
Record, that good old ship of D3moc-
racy" you speak of is sinking, and even
rats will leave a sinking ship, and I do
think you ought to give to your here
tofore deluded followers credit for pos
s9ssing as keen senses of self pres3rva-
ton as rats. You shape your wedge of
logic CD and then quote the noble
Vance (or misquote him) as authority,
and use him ee a slodge hammer to
drive that wedge into the minds of the
people. But you will find the timber
hard, and your wedge slow of pentra
ton. Because if the noble Vance were
here to day he would not advise them
to 'abide in the ship" He would lift
up his voice under the Populist banner,
and his clarion calls marshaling the
forces for '96 would shake and arouse
old North Carolina from the mountains
to the sea-. In fact, just before Vance
died he was nearer a Populist than a
present day Democrat, and l will give
you some good authority for this state
ment before I close.
We must, and I do, confess that
Vance is good authority. And if he is
good authority on n thing, is he not
on another similar thing? Certainly.
Then you might have gone further, Mr..
Record, and said (As Vance said to
those Democrats like yourself, who
were endeavoring to drive the last nail
in the cofin of silver, by advocating
the unconditional repeal of the pur-
chasing clause of the Sherman act) eff
the Democratic party repeats the pur-
chasing clause of the Sherman act, and
does not pass a free silver bill, it will
walk out of itself aud leave nothing be-
hind it but a smell of Wall street and
birthstone"
Now, take this, Mr.. Record You
have good authority for it-Vance's
authority. This is measured in your
own half bushel. Now, can't you I'm
derstand why disruption threatens
your party3 It smells hot Of Wall
street, and honest, patriotic and pure
principled men cans stand that rotten
scent. They are hunting a o 0
genial and purer atmosphere, and that
is on the Omaha Declaration of indie
pendence-the White Rose of Texas"
the South and the West-the star that
is guiding the great working class to
the pinnacle of justice, that culmina
ton to where pointed the great and
glorious Polk.
Mr.. Record, you didn't know that
Vance's principles were Identical with
Populists principles, did you9 Why,
don't you remember you Democrats
had him almost read out of the party
just before he died7 The News and
Observer, the Democratic State organ,
called him ''oId and childish" and "a
Populist, and even limited that he
be the Populist candidate for
something at last election. But Vance