The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-24
BUFFERS PROGRAM
CONTINUED from First rage.l

that your commlttee were unanimous
Nv of the opinion that there should be
put in the field a full electoral ticket,
regardless Of party affiliations, but
pledged to vote for the silver candidate
for President; and that while your
committee is not yet ready to concede
to the Republicans the nominee for
Governor, you intimate that you are
willing to do so. | note your silence
as to nominees for Congress and the
United States Senate, members of the
General Assembly, Lieutenant-Govern-
or and other State officers, and JUS
tees of the Supreme Court; and / fur
Their note that my advice is not asked
as to ANYTHING except as to the electors
for President and ce-President
From this / must infer that in your
opinion, it is of no consequence the
Peoples party surrenders to the Repub-
Leans. the congressman, the United
States Senators, the General Assembly,
the Governor Lieutenant-Goyernor
Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor,
Attorney General, etc, provided we
get the II electoral votes for our candi-
date for President, who. 10y the way,
you ought to know, cannot possibly be
elected. In other words, your com
mittee seems disposed to turn over our
home government entirely to the Re-
publicans, and lead the Peoples party
into the Republican camp, in fact,
amusing our people. meanwhile,
by hurrahing for what you know
they have at heart. but at
the same ime- is, in he next
campaign at least, unattanable. Con-
sistency, indeed Is there any consis-
Republicans absolutely, and sending
to the Z. S. Senate a Republican who
chirps under the wing of Senator
Chandler, and is an ardent supporter
of Governor Mckinley, for the sake of
the pleasure of throwing away eleven
votes for President?
Why did the Peoples Party co-oper-
ate with the Republicans in 1894? Be
cause, and only because, the Demo-
cratic party had put upon us such a
system of elections that it was impos-
sible TO have recorded the wishes of
The people; and to secure the freedom
and political equality of the people it
was necessary to secure fair election
laws and honest election officers Why
IS 1t again necessary TO cooperate
with them? To preserve the admir-
able work of our last legislature in this
regard, and thereby secure to every
elector the right to vote and have that
vote honestly counted. Ii you believe
that the Republicans in full power
will conduct and manage our State
affairs in accordance with the views
and wishes of the Populists or Peoples
Party L beg to call your attention to
the last General Assembly, and the
constant and vigilant work of yourself
and the able and patriotic co-ad tutors.
to whom every lover of his State should
be deeply grateful.
The really important officers who
have the most power for good or evil
are the Governor of the State. and the
United States Senator. Can it be
called cooperation" to give both to
the Republicans, or should it not be
more properly called entering into
the bowels of the Republican party -
| am, for reasons too numerous to
mention, opposed to the Democrat.
party, and ] believe it is to the interest
of the State that it should go from
under its control. But / am not
Republican, and am not willing TO turn
over the State to their tender care.
The generosity and patxiotie disin-
terestedness of the propostsion Of the
the Peoples Party, as reported by you,
and which you seem to approve of,
except as TO the electoral ticket,
strikes me with admiration unspeak-
able. walk into nay parlor, said the
spider to the fly Your committee
should promptly decline, with thanks.
Of course: and | beg 10 say that if it
does not it will fail 10 voice the senti-
ment of its party. The Peoples Party
must have the Governor, or the United
States Senator, and it cannot be in
duced to cooperate on any other
terms, including, of course, an equal
and fair adjustment of the other offices
along down the line. If this kind of
cooperation cannot be affected we will
preserve intact our organization, go
into the next campaign under our own
banner alone, and let the people de-
eide between the three parties.
/ cannot understand how turning
over the State government, 'horse,
foot and dragons" to the Republican
party, while we get only the privilege
of voting for a Presidential candidate
who will have not the remotest chance
Of election, IS cooperating for
great and fundamental principle"
while | must admit that this would
avoid our being successfully charged
with cooperating for spoils, for
there would certainly be no spoils for
the rank and file OF the Peoples Party.
Your State Committee held meet
ing recently to discuss this question"
Where and when was this meeting,
and what members were present? Be
ing recently" it must have been in
Washington City, and the members
present Senator Butler and Repre-
sentative Skinner
While yon sit in the marble balls
and decorated walls of flames proud
temple" do not forget that in the
humble homes of your friends and pro-
moters, the toiling, struggling, power
ty-oppressed people, there reigns SUI
prelne and all-preyading in their pa
triotic bosoms the love Of liberty and
equality, and that they will not sub
NIT TO the autocratic rule Of any man
or committee" however exalted.
ma ~ :. Il