Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-23
Divided Condition of Both Parties in
North Carolina.
POPULISqS; SILVERlqBS ANDGOLDB BUGS
The Republicans Contemplating the
Possibility Of Fusion.
THE OUTLOOK AT PRESENT


RALEIGH, N. c., August %, 1896
1t is not saying too much to say that the
campaign. which will terminate with the
election in 1896 began in North Carolina at
least thirty days ago. When Senator Mar
ion Butler, the resourceful leader Of the
ropulists began his campaign of 1894, in
January, it was thought remarkably early.
But two months age he said to your cor
respondent that this campaign would be-
sin far earlier.
The populists are using to the full the
silver excitement which prevails all over
North Carolina. They are having rallies"
at which there is no political debate or
talk, In the ordinary acceptation of that
term, but where silver is the only theme.
Five or six of these meetings, all large
ones, have been held so far, and Mr.. But
Ter says they will continue until winter.
and be resumed in the earlier spring In
November he resumes the publication of
daily paper here, and will circulate many
thousands of copies of his weekly paper.
He counts on making many converts,
mainly out of democratic ranks. He wants
to lead all the ''silverites.''
That the campaign will be hot one can
be imagined from the following extract
from Wilmington paper, which takes no
part in the silver movement. Here is what
1T says:
That fcul-mouthed blatherskite, Marion
Butler. charges Grover Cleveland with dis
honesty. The idea! 1t is the pot calling
the tablecloth black. We have never yet
heard that Mr.. Cleveland was kicked out
Of his society in college for cheating at
cards. Have you, Mr.. Butler?"
This silver matter has literally torn the
democratic party to pieces The allegation
is made that not over 10 per cent of the
party. at the outside, favor gold. The
gold men have the leading paper in the
state as their devoted champion and are
standing firm in their faith. Some of the
silver democrats are actually intolerant.
The stock in trade of these Is to large
degree abuse of the President, and an Off
cial from Washington who was here re-
Gently says he was actually astonished at
the style Of talk of prominent men. among
whom lawyers had the chief place; that
the abuse was actually greater than that
80 literally showered by the populists. who
have for two years, as he declared, been
masters in billingsgate."
UncontroIlnbly for Silver.
One of the most astute of democratic
ex-chairmen, who was interviewed, said:
1T is the generally accepted opinion that
the fusion of republicans and populists.
which was first effected last year, will con-
tinue in 1895. Surface indications point in
that direction. leading populist said
only q day or so ago that he knew of moth
ing calculated to disrupt the coalition. APP
pearances. however, are not always to be
trusted. The populists have already shown
a disposition to abandon all their other
former contentious and are concentrating
all their interest and energy upon the sin
gle question of free silver. Their interest
and zeal in this subject will increase in in
tensity and resoluteness. Were an election
TO come OIL now unauestionably there
would be fusion. but in considering what
they will do In 1896 we must look beyond
the present state of the populist mind to
the goal to which their present trend of
OBJECT and thought will take them. Next
year their zeal for free silver will be at
white heat and their hatred of the money
power, already strong, will be a dominate
ing influence and sentiment. In these con-
dltions 1T is Questionable whether they can
be deceived into giving their SURFACES
either altogether or partially for pluto
cratic candidate for the presidency The
silver sentiment is not. as few news
papers and people claim. dying out, but it
Is. on the contrary, growing in strength
and vigor, and will continue to grow until
Ii triumphs. In North Carolina the re-
publicars will stand by the gold candidate
whom their party dominates. I cannot
tell what sort of a candidate the demo-
Gratis Will put up for President, for the
contest in the convention will be a mighty
one, with the result in doubt. II the states
winch usually go democratic control it will
so for silver; otherwise 1t will. like the re-
pupiican convention, put up a gold cand-
date l can assure you that, in the latter
case, another candidate, standing upon the
be evol1 ed, and, Furthermore, will be given
North Cardinals electoral vote. People as
earnest as they will be here next year on
the silver question will not split hairs and
wrangle about ways and means: but will
demand results if the latter be attanable
Another thing which know is that in this
state the honest advocates of silver will
get together in 1896. The agitation here is
most certainly not parting the silver forces.
but is rather paving the way to ultimate
union. While the populists are agi.ating
no1sily, the democrats in uueter fashion
are employing all the agencies of the press
and private persuasion in behalf of the
white metal"
1t Is argued in the plainest terms by
some democrats that there is no need of q
silver convention now, though two demo-
cratlc ex-chairmen have signed call for
one A convention now would be disad-
Vantageous to that party, as it would bring
together the friends of silver in the three
parties, end the populists. the best organ
lzed. would assuredly dominate it. Not
only is 1t the best organized, but it is also
the most thoroughly aroused. Many demo-
Gratis who are warm friends of silver who
sun hope for favorable action by their
party and who prefer to make their fight
within its lines if they can do so, would moi
care to participate in an Independent sill
yer movement now.
Negro Ascendency Possible.
Unless the friends of silver can be
brought together on state issues the white
people will. be hopelessly divided and the
negroes with their $4,000 votes, become the
controlling power in 1ocal politics. The
fact Is the negro vote is today the holder
of the balance of power.
1t Is alleged in the plainest way that The
tesro voters will implicitly obey the rcpub-
1ican orfers. and vote solidly for 4 gold
man. If put up by that party. Some per
sons declare that the country n.gr es, or a
great many of them, will, vote only for
free silver man. 1t IS said in some quarters
that there is a plan to speak of the. fusion
lists as the ''black party This will not do
Abuse makes no converts in North Carolina
The color line appears to be no longer a
scare-crow. Democrats who are observant
declare that their party must seek the ne
gro vote and not estrange it; because, they
declare, the negroes are not well pleased at
their decidedly cool treatment by the white
populists and republicans. very small
percentage of the negro vote would turn
the scales against fusion.
1t is fusion which the democrats wish to
prevent They wanted to prevent 1t last
year. even though some of them were bold
enough to attempt the bluff game of de.
ciartng they wanted to see it,
The republicans do far less talking than
the popullsts or democrats They do not
discuss the silver question They cvade in
quiries as to their views regarding the
white metal. They say, in some cases, that