The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-09-27
A FINAL. CALL TO ARMS.


who desire his election, there should
no longer exist any apprehension CT
McKinley's carrying North Carolina
The means have been provided, and
the way is open for Bryan to receive
a very large majority; but atill there
is some cause for appreheT sion. There
are among his avowed supporters some
whose political prejudices so dominat"
them that they threaten to withhold
their votes from those electors who are
not of their own party household.
Should this operation be carried far
enough, despite the fact chat every
BRYAN man casts his ballot on election
dav, all the Bryan electors may be de-
feated except perhaps Mr. Keith, the
representative of the silver party.
What a tame and impotent conclusion
this would be! What a traveSty on
sound and prudent political action.
To give our electoral votes to Mckinley
notwithstanding our majority of at
least $4,000. This apprehension is
founded ON the alleged determination
of some Democrats to scratch the
names of the five Populist electors, and
the not unnatural condensation of
the Populists to scratch, by way of
retaliation, the names of the five DEM
ocratic electors. And so it may hap
pen that while 100000 men may vote
for Bryan, the only Bryan elector re-
ceiving more votes than the Mckinley
ticket would be Mr.. Keith.
Such result would be no less a re-
Election on our intelligence than an
impeachment of the, good faith of our
people of their advocacy of our nom
inee.
We point out this danger now, not
that we believe 1T imminent, but be-
cause it is a possibility; and it seems
to us that the best way to meet it is TO
sound a clear, distinct note of alarm; to
call ftnothe attention of the people who
l,ave at heart the certain election of
MI. Bryan; to put them on
their guard, and to urge upon
them the necessity o. exert
ing all their personal influence to Sc
cure unanimous acquiesc4nce among
the supporters of Mr.. Bryan in the
plan developed by the State commit
tees to obtain the electoral votes of
North Carolina for our nominee be-
yond peradventure.
There are Democrats in this State
who do not propose to vote for Mr..
Bryan, and Their are some who even
propose to vote for Mckinley. These
persons are indignant that an arrange
ment has been made for a composite
ticket. The action of the committee
in perfecting a plan to give effect to
the united voices of the Democratic and
Populist parties vexes their righteous
souls Within them. 1t greatly offends
their party pride that there should be
this fusion with Populists. 1t sorely
distresses them for the Democrats
TO vote with the Populists. But these
sentimental IeIIows, whose delicate
organs revolt at such an association,
propose to have political utilization
with ninety thousand negroes! And
we surmise that their rueiful counte-
nances are not because of the fusion
so much as because of the effect of
the fusioni 1t is because fusion wrests
the eleven votes of North Carolina from
the Mckinley column and places them
to the credit of William Jennings
Bryan! They fear fusion will defeat
Mckinley. Yes. And fusion will de-
feat Mckinley. Three years ago the
Democratic party was wiped off the
face of the earth. Outside of Dixie,
they lost every State. The majority
against them in New York was $780,
900; and in all the Northern and West
ern States Republicanism was in
tumultuous triumph. Two years ago
the elections were almost as bad. The
Democrats elected no congressman ex-
cept at the South; no Governors; nor
State candidates. Last year no man
dared to hope that Cleveland's sue
cessor would be a Democrat. Six
months ago, three months ago, no man
entertained such hope. Now, who is
it that doubts it? Bryan's election is
assured. 1t is fusion that has wrought
this mighty change. 1t is fusion that
has overthrown the Republican hosts
and that will give the country Demo
cratic successor to Mr.. Cleveland. Well
may these acknowledgements, these
political monstrosities, detest fusion,
and ,s,aate the word; for it is the death
knell of their hopes. But Democrats
who sincerely desire the defeat of Nc
Kinley, who wish to elect Democratic
President, who want Democratic adj
instead of the administra-
ton that Mckinley and Mark Hanna
and the syndicates will give our coun-
try, will sustain fusion as being the
means whereby their patriotic pur-
poses will be accomplished.
To refuse to acquisce in the arrange
ment and make avail of Bryan's full
strength in this State, is to stick in
the back, instead of going to the heart
of the matter. AS we said the other