The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-03-04
NEW PARTY NOT FEASIBLE
Nor Will Populists and Repub-
licans Again Fuse.
THEY WILL SPLIT ON FREE SILVER
Mr.. Settle Thinks the Salvation of the
Republican Party In North Caro-
lima Depends Upon OPPOSE
ton 10 Silver.
ton 10 Silver.

North Carolina Republicans in WASH
ington do not generally regard the
scheme of Democratie-Populist fusion
on a free silver basis as a feasible one.
In conversation with a Tribune CORES
pondent yesterday, Representative
Settle, who is exceedingly well inform
ed in regard to the state of political
sentiment in North Carolina, said: 81
do not regard it as at all probable that
the free silver Democrats and the Popu-
lists will enter into an alliance for the
coming PRESIDENT campaign, nor do
I consider it probable that there will
be a rupture of the existing political
alliance of Republicans and Popuiists
on State and local issues. That alli-
ance has already resulted in other than
political relations which it would be
exceedingly difficult TO sever, and it
will probably last for some time to
come. That it has been beneficial to
the State in more ways than one and
can be profitably continued is, / be-
lieye, generally recognized by mem
bers of both parties. The scope of the
alliance, however, cannot be widened
so as to embrace all National matters
and issues without injury to the Re
publican party of North Carolina, in
my Judgment. Our only safety is in
preserving and maintaining strong
and effective organization in the State
and keeping in touch with the Republic
can party of the nation. We are not
in a position to indulge in free silver
fad or any other political fad on
our own account. Recent events, it
seems to me, must have convinced
every intelligent man who is not will
fully blind and deaf that the Republi-
can party as National party is firmly
and unalterably opposed TO free and
unlimited coinage of silver on the
terms proposed and advocated by most
of the free silver men. l am as strong
a bi-metallist, in theory, as any man,
bnt | must stand with the party to
which / belong"
rs free silver sentiment gaining
ground among the Republicans of
North Cardinal" asked the cores
pondent.
II do not think it is. In some por-
tions of the State it is yet strong, but.
in my opinion, it has greater strength
now than it will have after the ST.
Louis convention has been held. The
Republicans of North Carolina, as d
rule, want to keep in line with the
National organization on National
questions, because they realize that
their party interests require them to
do so. / do not by any means under
rate the strength of free silver senti-
ment among the Republicans in North
Carolina, where some of the Republi-
can leaders have done everything in
their power to encourage it. As soon
as the rank and file begin to realize,
however, that they have been led astray
and brought into antagonism with an
overwhelming majority of their parry
in other States, they will, / believe,
desert their present leaders or compel
the latter to retrace their steps. 1t
will be difficult, but / think not inn
possible, for some of those leaders to
do so, although they have gone far
astray, in my judgment. Why, some
of the representations that have been
made by them are actually amazing.
For example, it has recently been as
serted over and over again that Major
Mckinley is in favor of throwing the
mints of the United States open to the
free and unlimited coinage of silver,
regardless of what other nations may
do or refuse to do. OF course that is
absurd. but / fear that good many
Republicans in North Carolina have
been made to believe that it is true"
81 observe that your Republican col
leagues in the House of Representa-
tiyes both voted for the Senate substi-
tnte for the bond bill, )" remarked the
correspondent.
Yes, that is true. Only three South
ern Repnblicans--Me ssrs. Linney and
Pearson, of North Carolina, and Walk
er, of Virginia-voted for it, while all
the Republican members from the
States Of Delaware, Maryland, West
Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mis-
souri, and Texas who were present,
twenty-three in all. voted against it as
] did, and of the five absent members
from those States, four were opposed
10 the substitute, and the attitude of
the fifth-Mr. Hunter, Of Kentucky
was not then known. Since that time
he has withdrawn as Republican
caucus nominee for the United States
Senate, it having been discovered that
he was secretly pledged in favor of free
silver. AS far as the recorded vote on
that question furnishes an Indication,
the Republican party in every State
South of Mason and Dixon's line. ex-
cept South Carolina and Virginia
is solid against free silver.
hope and believe that the Republicans
of both Of those States will be equally
solid on the same side before next No
eember. One thing / think / know
and that is that the Republican party
in North Carolina viii 60 to the wall i
ii is led into opposition to the prln
ciples of the great Republican party o
the Nation, either in regard to th'
money question, the tariff question
or any other question Of National i'm
portance."
"How many Republicans in Nortl
Carolina viii follow ex-Chairman Mot
into the new silver party?"
Very few, indeed, If any OF then
will do so. pr Motifs influence in tin
Republican party began to wane sey