The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-03-12

grafton and ruin. Principle would
count for nothing. The people would
never again believe that we were sin
i cere about anything.
If YOU would ask for authority for
the position that we take, we would
remind you that the greatest patriot
and Democrat Of North Carolina, he
who breathed into the party the very
breath OF its life, who led it to every
victory won since the war, and whose
memory is consecrated by the love Of his
people, referring to the action Of the
Federal administration on the finan-
cial question, said, that il the present
leaders of the party persisted in their
course the Democratic party would
walk out of itself, leaving nothing be-
hind but Wall Street and the smell OF
birthstone And he said it with ape
proyal.
We need Vance to-day whose cour-
age and whose inspiration would re-
store order to this wild, weltering POI
Iitical chaos. Under his leadership
The Democracy would emerge trium-
phant. as she did in ~ and 70. But
though dead, the great champion OF
the will Of the people yet speaks to
us and at the sound of his voice let
machine politicians and the money
toadieso OF the State close their
mouths about boiling and hide their
diminished heads.
For thirty years the South has sup
norted the national Democracy with q
lovalfv that is heroic. Though never
honored with a place on the national
ticket. she has stood like the Greek
hn
strength of the party. Having been
pIundered for a quarter OF a century
bv means of Republican legislation,
and. consequently, poor and oppressed
with debt, she now demands that the
Democratic party come to her rescue
and by the restoration OF silver money,
re-establish the price OF her produce
and bring to the homes of her people
hope and prosperity. The trouble mas
been that the party has been controlled
bv leaders from sections whose peo-
pie are not in sympathy with our peo-
pie. and whose interests are not ldeh-
tical with our interests. But theif
sceptre has departed and we hope that
she il soon to rise phoenix-like, from
the ashes of her humiliation, bearing
on her pinions the rights of the people
and the hone of the Union.
Mr.. Editor, you have pitifully called
for support for your views from the
Democrats OF the State. You have
called IN vain. Receiving one response
YOU are emholdened 10 say that you
have scotehcd the snake, not killed 1T.
These were the words Of Macbeth af-
ter the murder Of King Duncan when
he would cement his. throne with the
blood of Banquos. But as Banquo's
bloody head rose before him at the
feast. so silver may be stabbed
in the house of its friends,
but it will never down. And, as the
people Of Scotland rose up in righteous
wrath and hatred for the destruction
of the bloody tyrant, so to-day, has the
note of the holy war against q great
iniauity been sounded and rings from
one end of this Union to the other like
a trumpet call to all patriots and low
ers of Justice. The line of battle has
been drawn between plutocracy on the
one side and Democracy on the other.
"Oppressors are to try conclusions
with oppressed" Let Democrats every
where rally to the cause for which the
Democratic party was founded. Let
them come from the coyes OF the
mountains. from the cities and towns,
and from the cotton fields, to the pri-
mary conventions and to the county
conventions. Let them determine that
the true sentiments Of Democracy
shall be represented in the State Con-
yention and IN the National Conven-
ton. We will vet save the old ship.
We are willing to trust her in the times
Of storm.
Regrettinq, Nr. Editor, very much
that the great influence Of your paper
and Your splendid talents are used
against tic cause Of the right, but sat
isfed that you are honest and sincere
ia your position, we arc
Yours truly.
NJ r.. REED
LOCKE CRAIG.
Asheyille. M G., March 10, 1896.