The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-07-09
SELF REbIANcE OF DEMOCRACY

from all the earth, while the Demo-
Gratis at Chicago, thus far, proceed in
order toward fixed point
That point is a free silver candidate
on a free silver platform.
Convinced of the business of their
cause. the free silver Democrats have
during the last twelve months, regard
ed with friendly mien those who have
thought with them in the matter of
the white metal, whether they were
Populists, Silver Republicans, or what
not.
This has been the policy or rather
the tendency of the Democrats both in
this State and in the national councils.
In fact, now and then, when in
North Carolina, during recent months,
Democracy has extended the hand of
invitation to Populists and other
friends of silver, there have been those
who have disparaged such spirit,
and disparaged it with a bitterness
born of misconception of the basic
motive.
For. while in their earnestness to-
ward success the Democrats of the
State have been thus open-spirited to-
ward Populist secessionists, there has
at the same time been no thought on
the part of the Democrats of impair
ing their integrity by ill-advised fu-
sion or otherwise.
Thus when the State Convention
met on the 25th of June in Raleigh, it
went along with its work in straight
forward way as if there had been no
such an existence as Populism. All
else was ignored except Democratic
men and Democratic measures, in a
way to have been surprising, perhaps,
and mayhap satisfying, even to those
who had pretended to hear in the for
mer friendly tone of Democrats-the
hiss of basilisks, the rattle of snakes
tails, the hoot of hobgoblins, yea, they
verify said, the cry of Catalines.
And yet none of the Catalines were
in evidence at the Democratic State
Convention.
And yet, too, as proclaimed in the
speech of acceptance of MIR. &. b.
Watson, Democratic nominee for Gov
ernor, the Democratic party is now as
it has always been, friendly to those
who would come over and help it. And
it will GO right ahead in that same
spirit, interrupted toward ill-adyised
alliances of any nd,-intact.
In Chicago, that six hundred who
will command two-thirds in the con-
vention, have been beset with taunts
of mo leader" and yet the accom-
plishment of this two-thirds major
Thy is result of year of quiet lead
ership and organization-not sur
passed in brilliancy by any previous
performance of Democratic statesmen.
The same men through whose efforts
Senator Harris conspicnously among
them-these six hundred have flowed
together into one great wave, will not
be apt to get sea-sicll now in the midst
of the same kind of Juror that flung
'Calatine" and such words about in
this State like dynamite bombs.
First came the silver Republicans
clamoring for Teller. But the 600
said no.
Then came the Populists with tooth
some sayings, and Hill came casting
that long-long shadow of his Elmira
speech, and then instead of cajoling
came the tempesttous threats of bolt
ing from the frowning coasts of the
east, and all the 600 said no. They
have needed not the storm in the rig
cling; all the while they have been
keeping the rudder true. So far from
not losing their heads toward flu
sion with Populists or Republicans,
they have refused to make terms even
with the smaller faction of their own
10y, though the terms were only the
mere trife of a temporary chairman
ship.
And what has happened?
1t has happened in this State that
all kinds OF wild CALCULATIONS have
gone out as from the Editor of the
Progressive Farmer in his interview
as printed in this paper, but it does
not follow that a sensible people are
going to put aside the means OF ac-
complishing their designs for the pur-
pose of keeping up a useless fight that
will result not in the achievement of
their aims, but only in the continued
office-holding of those who it would
seem, keep up the fight only for that
purpose.
At any rate the Democratic party
in this State win go straight ahead,
believing, as it always has done, the