The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-18
Ex-CHAlRMAN SMITH.
He Talks About the Political Fight in
North Carolina This Year--The Silver
lining


North Carolina This Year--The Silver
Lining.
Col. Olds has interviewed another
well-known advocate of free silver, and
as it is somewhat along the line Of
Judge MacRae's interview we give
place to it below.
To-day your correspondent put this
question to Mir. Ed. Chambers Smith:
"As one of the leaders of the North
Carolina silver movement what are
your views as TO the best means of put
ting silver to the front as an issue in
this State?"
Mr.. Smith replied: while / am not
u leader of the North Carolina silver
movement, MS you term it, / am an
earnest advocate OF the coinage of sill
YER freely with gold at the old estab-
lished ratio OF is TO /. AS TO the best
method of securing this desirable OBJ
iect am somewhat i'm hC dark ! am
having very little to do with politics,
but | do take enough interest to de-
sire good government in North Caro-
lima. A large majority Of the white
people of this State concur in this, as
we'll as in the desire to secure the free
coinage OF silver, and it seems to me to
be folly for those who are united upon
these great issues to divide and be
beaten when united they would be IN
vincible. There ought to be some
method Of uniting those forces and De-
lieve one will be found The captur-
ing of the State government by the Re
publicans would be attended by evils
too numerous to mention and they
need not be recalled TO those who re-
member their former supremacy, or
have read history. We can, under hon
orable terms, / believe continue good
government at home and have the cleo
toral vote of North Carolina cast for
good silver man, and it would seem
that wisdom dictates the adoption OF
some plan by which this can be accom-
plished."
Your correspondent asked: 'Do you
favor a square-out silver party, non
political, and antagonistic to the Re
publican idea that protection is pre-
eminent and financial issues seconda-
~? TO this Mr. Smith replied: amy
party which I support must be an
tagonistic to the Republican idea that
protection is paramount and financial
matters secondary and the people or
North Carolina viii oppose with ma
iority OF $4,000 the upholding Of any
such principle. They know too we'll
that d reduction of taxes Of every kind
and increasing the volume of money
benefits them at both ends What man
can consistently advocate more taxes
and more money, especially when the
taxes to be increased do not go to sup
port the government, but 10 enrich
members of trusts and combines Of ey-
cry description? what the people
want and are going to have is honest
money; the money Of former con-
tracts; silver and gold Of the consti-
tuition, in increased volume, and a re-
duction Of demands on it by taxes.
Taxes have been greatly reduced by the
Democratic party and the people OF
this State do not propose to undo its
great work for the masses. They only
want now enough money Of stable val
ne to pay even those reduced taxes and
do the business of the country"
Mr.. Smith was asked: what is your
idea as to fusion of the Populists and
Democrats on the basis above outlin-
ed?" He said in reply: u hardly have
a well defined idea as TO fusion between
the Democrats and Populists. 1t takes
two to make such bargain, and do
not know whether either side Is will
ing to enter into such an agreement.
But / can see no surrender Of principle
in parties whose platforms are almost
identical uniting to accomplish COM
mon purpose. From what the chair
man of the Republican State commit
tee says / Judge that the Republicans
have no need of Populist support. Sen
ator Butler and his followers may fool
the enthusiastic and over-eonfident
Republican chairman