The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-11
Ex-JuDeE mERRlMoN.
saws that He Will Mot Vote for Gold /
Candidate for President.

Candidate TOT FTGStuGHts
This weeks Breyard Hustler con
tans the following:
l'As announced in our local columns
last week, Judge Merrimon, of Ashe-
vile, addressed our people at the court
house Wednesday at noon. He said he
had been dormant for two or three
years so far as politics was concerned,
but it was still great pleasure to
speak Of Democratic principles and IN
defence Of the Democratic party He
showed that the Democratic party had
in large measure redeemed its
pledges in the Chicago platform of
1892; had repealed the Federal election
laws. reduced the tariff and passed
other measures OF commendable fea-
lures.
Declared that he was in favor of
the free and unlimited coinage of both
gold end silver, without discrimina-
ton against either metal, and that he
favored the present ratio of Is to j
that it would be impracticable, even if
desirable to change the ratio. In dis
cussing this question he alluded TO the
discussion that has lately been car
ried on in the newspapers in regard
tional Democratic convention, to be
held in Chicago in July, and said that
if a majority Of the delegates to that
convention, should. from motives Of
selfshness, or could by bribery be
persuaded to make the Mckinley tariff
law a plank of the Democratic platform
no Democrat, whether delegate in the
convention or not, would be expected
4 -. -, e.
candidate, who would stand upon such
platform; that If the majority Of the
convention should declare as a prin-
ciple of the Democratic party that GER
tain provisions OF the Constitution Of
the United States ought to be violated,
no Democrat would be under any OBJ
legation to support candidate pledged
to carry out such declarations, and that
if majority of the convention, should,
from selfish motives, or for any other
reason, declare for single gold stand
ard, no Democrat ought to feel bound
TO support a candidate nominated on
such platform, and if he were q dele
gate to the convention he would not
hesitate to declare that he would not
vote for anyone who endorsed such
principle. He said that, in his judg-
ment, the demonetization of silver
was unconstitutional; that silver was
a constitutional money metal and en-
titled to the same treatment as gold;
that the Democratic party was the
party of the constitution and had all
WAYS favored both gold and silver, and
that. speaking for himself, he would
not vote for any candidate for Presi-
dent who favored the single gold stand
ard or who would veto bill for the
free and unlimited coinage Of both
gold and silver without discrimination
against either metal at the mint. He
said that while he would not vote for
a candidate of the Democratic party
for the Presidency who favored the
single gold standard and would veto
a bin for the free coinage of both gold
and silver. there could not be any con-
ceivable state of things that would in-
duce him to vote for the Republican
candidate for the Presidency. He fur
Their declared it to be his judgment
that the continuation of Republican
government, and the liberty, prosper
ity and general welfare Of the people
Of the United States, must depend upon
the success Of Democratic principles,
and that these principles could only
he put into practical operation by the
Democratic party He said that be had
been q Democrat for thirty years, and
had always voted the Democratic ticket
and trusted that nothing would occur
that would make it impossible to vote
for the party's next candidate for the
Presidency, bat that he would not ale
low himself to be frightened by the
foolish cry Of boilers.
in conclusion he said that if the
Democratic party would declare for the
the free coinage Of both gold and sill
YER without discrimination against
either metal, and for the repeal Of the
tax on State banks, and the abolition
of tie National banking system; for
d tariff for revenue only. and the re-
enactment Of the income tax ia such
shape as will stand the test of the
Supreme court of the United States, it
would sweep the country by the great
est victory that eFer crowned its ef-
forts.
.He vas frequently appiauded and
many we're heard 10 say afterwards
that his speech hit them exactly be-
tween the eyes. The Judge is held in
very high esteem by Transylvania
peoDle and his address was fully APP
preciated by them. The silver element
,Y-o deIfChtpd with III !"