The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-14


that had moved on account of the
crush to the galleries, while the wash
tubs. of ice-Water in. front of the stage
with brandnew tin dippers, were do
ing lively business.
There was little contest over seats
in the hall, but the confusion subsidized
when Skinner raped the gayel and
told the delegates who had no seats
to come to the platform. The hall was
crowded and some thirty delegates
came to the stage. Skinner knocked
the pitcher off the table wl5h the gavel,
and the ice-water splashed the floor at
his feet.
HARRY SKINNER'S.sPEECH.
He said in part: ''In the beginning,
we ask the blessing of Providence. 1t
is now my duty TO call the convention
permanently to order. | regard it as
a distinguished privilege to preside
over such an assemblagc of American
patriots, not less patriots than the men
of 1875. You had the courage and en-
thusiasm at Omaha, four years ago to
issue to the world cur second Declara-
tion of independence, and to the hu-
man race its first declaration Of free
dom from the tyrahnical mono-metal-
lie dollar he people then organized
in their own cause to fight for their
own property. 1t was to my mind the
brightest hour that ever beamed in
American politics. 1T was the solemn
appeal of a suffering people for better
conditions. 1t was the protest against
the then moving and now appalling
conditions Yet there are some rea-
sons why we should recall and remind
the country of the present political
status we now live in: and | think
without controversy with Democrats
and Republicans, ] can say that if f'the
farmers had not organized we would
not have this condition to-day. If
there had never been a Peoples party
every white or black man would have
marched to the polls and east his vote
for one of the old parties committed
to gold. Our party, born in principle,
had been carried out in principle. Four
years ago | stod here and refused the
nomination for Governor because did
not want to turn over the State to the
rule of ignorance, and now standing
here on the same platform. ] say that
by our action for principle, never de-
Waiting to Democracy or Republican
ism in four years. we have forced these
two parties to take sides upon the
great pivotal issue in this country.
We have forced the Republican party
to align itself on the gold side of this
question. We have compelled the Dem
ocratie party TO quit straddling and
adopt our platform. The Peoples party
has swallowed the Democracy We
have compelled them to nominate for
President a man who is more Populist
to-day than any Populiet in North Car
DINA. We have built up a great party
in North Carolina upon the principle
that the people wanted relief rather
than offices. We have taught, begin
ming with the Alliance that she cause
WAS above party. We said we would
take relief if we could get it through
the Repsblican or Democratic parties,
if not. to stay in the middle of the
road and demand relief in a separate
and in the name Of JUS
tice.
There is a great difference in the
promise of the Democratic party
for free silver and free silver
itself We must demand some collat-
eral securities. (Cheers.) We have de-
manded a very small collateral securi-
ty. | am surprised that the Demo
Gratis Of North Carolina didn't come
and say Wen take Tom Watson /
want TO say here that there are some
things that are making to divide the
silver vote.
'"The politician who devises any
scheme to split the electoral vote in
North Carolina and turn it oyer.to Nc
Kinley is an enemy to the cause. /
want to say to the Populist and Demo-
cratic committees that if they let the
State go for Mckinley they should
both be wiped out.
''Some one has asked me whether
we We're going to take down Tom Wat
son or Sewall. We are not going to
take down either. Wherever it is nee
essary to run Bryan aad Sewal, or q
joint ticket or Bryan and Watson it
will be done. But the effect will be
to elect Mr.. Bryan President. If our
cause means anything it means that.
"But when / came to North Carolina,
and consider local conditions it is diff
ferent, We must not deyiate from
the principle of free silver sixteen to
one, from our promise of free bal
lot and a fair count, and I care not
what cooperation is necessary to at
tain these, / say let it come. If we
must cooperate with the Democrats
to secure silver let us do that. If we
must cooperate with the Republicans
to secure local self government, let
US cooperate.
'But whatever we do we must rec
ognize the fact that the white man
must rule in North Carolina. The time
has not come for the negro to rule and
govern the white people of the State
and he would even endanger his own
The speech was applauded time and
again and once or twice there were
cheers, but it was not received with
much enthusiasm. The large majority
of the delegates were silent and those
parts of the speech striking at the
Democrats brought nearly all the APP
plause.
Chairman SINNERS speech had been
the only sensation thus far, opposing
as it did the radical and ill-considered
utterances which had been made We'd
nesday night by Caldwell, Henry and
Thompson. SINNERS speech no doubt
expressed the sentiment Of the wiser