The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-10
THE STATE CONVENTION.

i I'D de- AtS1Atl - AAlN 80 NAAs
This may be said to inaugurate the
/ Democratic campaign in North Caro-
lima. soon the township and county
conventions will be held, and the I'M
| terrified Democracy win be in the
field, armed and equipped, ready to
meet any and all corners.
The State Convention this year will
be the most important in the history
Of the party for twenty years. In all
those years it has met defeat but once,
and then it was defeat from ambush
and not on the open plain.
The problems that confront the De
mocracy are grave and serious. The
defeat Of 1894 has dispirited some and
dazed Others, but upon the great mass
Of the party the disaster has had the
effect to cause them to grid up their
loing ready to wrest victory at the
next encounter.
Will the party regain its victorious
position in 1896? 1t were idle to deny
that there are many obstacles in the
way. the lion in the path being the
internal differences and dissensions
that dissipate the energies and dampen
the ardor Of it's adherents. But all
these can be overcome if the party is
true to its pledges, true to its traditions
and true to those things that make
r. Ia YlanF1Tn
The nomination Of candidates for
the State and county Offices will be the
smallest task assigned to the Democ-
racy this year. With hardly an ex-
ception there is a disposition to put
the platform above the candidate, and
to select the strongest men, those who
are best fitted to represent the prin-
ciples of the party.
The immediate duty that lies at the
door of the Democracy is to leave no
stone unturned to defeat the effort that
is being made to send gold delegates
to the National Democratic Conven-
bion. 1t is not questioned that the
Overwhelming majority Of the Democ-
racy OF the State favors the free coin
age Of silver, but it is proposed in some
quarters to select Democrats who will
not represent this sentiment. Against
this effort, the silver Democrats can
not be too active or too earnest.
The National Convention will be the
arena upon which the great battle be
tween the two factions of the party
viii be fought. The silver men believe
that the hope of the party lies in re-
affirming the old-time principles upon
the great questions Of the hour, with
out equivocation. They believe that
a declaration in favor Of bi-metallism,
that opens the mints to both metals,
viii enable the party to win victory.
They feel that, as the Republicans are
certain to nominate single standard
man for President, it would be fatal,
even upon the low ground Of expedi-
ency, to nominate a gold standard can
didate. That party demonetized sill
yer; made coin obligations, by Treas
ury regulation, payable in gold; and
passed every anti-silyer measure on
the books. It's record gives the
gold men confidence that they can rely
upon the Republican party. II the
Democrats, repudiating their votes in
every Congress since 1879, make a
declaration for gold, how can It expect
the gold men to prefer a new convert
To the gold standard over a tried and
faithful old advocate?
III the Democracy declares its
adhesion to bi-metallism that
opens the minis alike to gold and
silver, men Of all parties and all sec
tons will flock to its standard, and il
viii 60 into the campaign with an en-
thusiasm that the money power viii
find itself unable to resist.
Nerth Carolina must voice the seHti-
ment Of its people by sending twenty
two strong silver men as delegates to
the National convention, and they
should be the ablest most persuasive
Democrats in North Carolina. The cone
yention may be close. No State can
afford to stand in an unbroken line
against the insidious efforts to make
the Democratic party the agency to do
the bidding of wealth. They must
stand shoulder to shoulder, scorning
all brides like the Sherman purchase
act, and writing platform that cannot
be construed 10 mean that the cause Of
the white metal is to be advanced by
denying coinage to it.
The votes of the North Carolina del
egation may determine the result. It
therefore behooves us to send solid
delegation 10 Chicago, instructed to
vote, under the unit rule, for none but
a silver nominee and q silver platform.
NIL. A. @o~41n~3 NanIr Demo