The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-21
THE SILVER CONVENTION.
Reply to Mr.. BuxtOn's Article-a''The
Great Question of Silver"
JACKSON, N. c., Sept. 90

L
him well by reputation, and | have been
pleasantly affected toward him. His
letter in the News AND OBSERVER Of the
18th inst, is not so candid and brave as
one would have expected from big man
like MIR. Buxton.
He refers to the silver convention
which is to meet in Raleigh on the 25tb
inst. as the "Smith" c0Dven-
ton. think more credit will
be due to Mr., Ed. Chambers
Smith tnan to any one else for the sue
cess of that great convention, for the &C
tive and intelligent interest he has taken
in it. Mr.. Smith has had great expe-
rience. He was chairman of the Demo
cratic executive committee through a
trying campaign, and led his forces to a
grand victory But this convention was
also called by Mr.. S. A. Ashe and the
late Secretary of State Oct. Coke, each
of whom has distinguished himself as
chairman of the State Committee, the
former having earned renown as one of
our greatest journalists. Not only this,
but Mr. Buxton knows that Gov. jarvis,
Gov. Carr, Secretary of State @.
NJ. Cooke, Hon. Thomas W.
Mason and other Democratic leaders Of
equal distinction throughout the State
heartily endorse and have helped to pro-
mote this Convention, and will actively
participate in its proceedings. These
men love Democracy equally as much as
Mr. Buxton, and have had occasion to 90
very much more for it than be; have
sacrificed their substance and themselves
at its shrine, and can now act as intell!-
gently and deseryedly for it as he or any
one else. It does not, then, become him
to call it the smith convention.
He fears "that Senator Butler will take
charge of the convention and shape its
policy" He evidently has a most ex
allied opinion of Senator Butler to think
that he can over match all Of our Demo
cratic Senators and Governors and polti-
cal generals. If Mr.. BuxtOns estimate
is correct, then truly Democracy is
doomed Cunless Mr.. Butler is Democracy
lncarnate), and we had better ''make
unto ourselves friends Of the mammon
of unrighteousness.'
He says "We must not make silver the
test of Democracy in this State,
for We but court defeat" in
this free country every one is
entitled to his own opinion, and, II Mr.
Buxton should be called upon "to shape
the policy" Of the Democratic party and
to direct its campaign, be might use
such language as would conceal ali mean
ing, he might erect platform broad
enough for everybody, without regard to
"previous condition" to stand upon, but
my individual belief is that he would
only succeed in getting everybody that
amounted to anything, to set down upon
it. Men now, whether Democrats or
not are not machines, If they were
there would be no occasion for this ac
commodating care. The people are alive
and aroused You can no more satisfy
or capture them with "cowardly make
shifts" or ''straddling" or AIRY moth
ings" than you can feed steam engine
with shucks, or dam up the Nile with
bulrushes.n If Senator Butler is the only
leader in North Carolina who can real
ize this, then, indeed, he will and he
should "shape the policy" of our gov.
eminent. The leaders of thought of all
the parties realize that this currency or
financial question is the great over
shadowing and really only living issue,
and it will "not down at your bid
ding" On this great question
perhaps no one knows better than Mr..
Buxton that Mr.. Cleveland has devoted
all of his forces excepting, always, so
much as has been monopolized by hunt
ing and fshing) in trying to stamp out
this free silver heresy" in the Demo
cratic party. We all know that he has
succeeded better than any Of the enc
mics of the party in stamping out the
life of the party. We all know how ne
tried to disgrace and ostracise our SUI
perb and immortal Vance land
others like HIM by withdraw
ing all patronage from him, because
he would not crook the pregnant hinges
Of the knee that thrift might follow
fawning;" because forsoOth, he chose
rather to suffer affliction with the
people Of God, than to enjoy the pleas
ures of sin for a season"
Mr. Buxton complains that if the party
had ignored this question in Kentucky
that Democratic success would be GER
tain, whereas it is now doubtful. ! can
not agree with him for | believe the peO-
pie would 'spew them out Of their
mouth, because they were neither hot
nor cold. "
Cleveland, who, during his first adj
ministration, acting the Pharisee, sus-
pended the T. s. Attorney for the district
of Arkansas, because he was making
Democratic speeches, now has his cabi-
net officers and other Servants Of the
people" going around ''disrupting the
party" in the interest Of Wall Street
That lead to the Kentucky affair. And
yet, his admirers say that, sat least
Cleveland is consistent and bull headed"
Judging from the size Of his collar do
not now refer to the collar of Wall Street
which he wears with such ease-I think
it would be more appropriate to call him
bull necked.
But must stop. The advocates ofsiI-
yer are in earnest and the party
had better realize it now They believe
that justice, the present and future pros