The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-06-27
THE PLATFORM AND THE CANDI-
DATES.

convention. The eyes of the whole
State were upon the delegates assem-
bled. Chairman Pou spoke the truth
when he said, in the opening speech
1T is not too much to say that the
patriotic people of our State, almost
without regard to party lines, are
hoping and trusting that the action of
this convention may result in main
tenance of good government in North
Carolina" Now that the fruits are
apparent, there comes up the tidings
that the high expectations of the peo-
pie have been met, and that there is no
disappointment to the hope and faith
of the patriotic manhood of the COM
monwealth.
There is not an ambiguous word or
line of doubtful Interpretation in the
platform from the beginning to the
end. 1t was prepared by committee
charged with but single duty, that
of making plain the will of the masses
of the people. 1t was simple duty
with which they were charged, but it's
very plainness and directness gave it a
party declarations. The most remark
able thing about the convention was
the refusal of the delegates to nomin-
ate any candidates to or to transact
any business until the platform COM
mittee brought in its report. In
hot and crowded hall, upon a swelter-
delegates, with spirit born of re-
solve to know the chart before setting
sail, voted down every proposition
looking to entering upon the serious
business of the convention. LET us
have the platform first" was the I'M
yary ing response to any and all propo-
sitions. When it was finally read and
adopted, and it was clear that it
truly voiced the demands of the
people, the other matters were enter
ed upon with an equal resolve to fin
ish the whole business before reaching
an adjournment.
The more the platform is examined,
the more it will be found to be a mine
of truth and wisdom. 1t will be ac-
cepted as a declaration worthy of the
great party whose creed it epitomizes.
1t contains few pledges, but they con-
Germ those matters upon which the
public mind is conferred. There is no
hope for the country unless the spirit
of the resolutions are enacted into
statute law, and unless all signs fail
the only agency that the struggling
toilers can look to is the Democratic
party.
Clear cut and direct and positive
as are the eternal doctrines enun-
ciated, the candidates named are plat
forms in themselves. There was not
necessity to dot an 81" or cross a ''t'
in the platform to make it conform to
the faith and record of the candidates
nominated. There is not an unknown
man on the ticket. Every one of the
nominees is true and tried man, whose
life and convictions are known to the
voters in every section of the State.
Their public teachings do not have to
be changed to make them conform to
the platform. The platform was writ
ten along the lines of their teachings,
and there is concord and agreement be-
tween faith and practice
The nominee for Governor is known
in the State as an able and success
full lawyer, a consistent and aggres-
siye fighter of all trusts and monopo-
lies, and as an advocate of the fnan-
cial policy which has received the
sanction of the Democratic masses, as
well as honest Republicans and Popu-
lists fin the entire West and South. Mr..
Watson has not been an office-seeker,
and no man can charge that his opin-
ions have been shaped to please the
poular will. Born in home where
Injuries were unknown, reared in
those simple rustic surroundings
which have produced the sturdy man
hood of North Carolina, Injured in early
youth, as private soldier, to want and
hardships, it may be said of him what
Carlyle said of Luther: Hardship,
rigorous Necessity was the poor boys
companion; no man nor thing would
put on a false face to flatter Martin
Luther" He has been chosen to lead
the people, and he accepts the sum-
mon to duty as he responded to his
country's call to arms when STRIPPING
lad. He owes his nomination to the
demand of the peoples representa-
tives, and his leadership is not only
free from the corrupting influences
that marked the selection of his OPP
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