The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-04-07

SOhA ESS1ALNASs
He leaves here for Backswamp. We
hope he will meet with much success
while in Old Robson. We have in
our Alliance twelve members. Oar
band Is like "Macion's" few, but true
and tried, We hope soou 10 add many
more to the list.
Wishing your good paper much sue
cess, I remain yours truly,
JNO. Z. WILLARD,
S-c'y. Brarchville Alliance, No Il
~
THE TEST OF DEMOCRACY.
At this time when some Democrats
are declaring that they will not vote
for the D.mocratic nominee for Presi
dent if ne Is a ''goIdbug," and other
Democrats are declaring that they will
not vote for him If he Isa ''silverbug,"
it may be we'll to remind such Demo
Gratis @ thst they cannot participate
in the Democratic primaries, if the
same test of Democracy is applied this
year as was required by Chairman E.
@. Smith in 1892, says the L9uis0urg
Times, administration organ.
1t may therefore be proper to re-pub-
lish now his famous letter, which all
true Democrats 60 heartily endorsed
four years ago, AMI which is as fol
lows:
RALEIGH, n. c., March IS, 1892.
ED. CHAMBERS SMITH, Chr'm. Dem.
Elk, Com. Raleigh, N. c.
DEAR SIR:-I am informed and
have good reason to believe that many
persons who do not intend to support
the nominees Of the National and State
Democratic con entions will attempt to
participate in the approaching town
ship and county conventions held to
select delegates to the State convention
of May IS, 1892, and l write to ask you,
as Chairman of the State Democratic
Executive Committee, whether they
have a right to do SO. Tnis is an i'm,
portant matter, aud 1 beg that you
give an early answer.
Very truly,
J. @ ELLINGTON.
Rooms STATE DEMOCRATIC
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE,
RALEIGH, y. G March 20.
Mr.. j. G. ELLINGTON, Raleigh, n. Q.
Ny DEAR SIR:-I am in receipt Of
your letter Of the 18Th iast, stating
that you have good reasons to believe
that many persons vino do not intend
to support the nominees Of the Nation
al and State Democratic conventions
will attempt to participate in the ap
preaching township and county con
Y~entions Eeld to select delegates to the
State convention CT Nay l, 1892, ask
ing my opinion as to their right to DO
SO, etc.
am loGth to believe that eny con
siderable number Of cur people will
undertake 10 violate 2 rule Of political
conduct, based upon honor ard good
faith, so universally respected as the
one that "whoever participates in a
political convention is bound IL h1nor
TO abide by its action"
This rule is the foundation Of poli5i-
cal parties and Of government by par
ties-such as ours-and if it were not
obeyed, we might be confronted with
the woeful spectacle Of a few disaffect-
cd members Of our party combining
with the opposing party, capturing the
popular conventions and nominating
candidates and arranging platforms
for the purpose OF defeat! When you
consider that each voter who p~artici-
pates il a township Cor primary meet
ing and votes for delegates to the
county convention who vote for dele
gates to the State convention and they
in turn for delegates to the National
convention, Indirectly votes for the
nomination Of all Democratic candi-
dates from President down, you can
readily SEQ that it would be eminently
improper for him to take part in the
<'primaries' unless he intends to sup
port the candidates which he, through
his agents, has assisted IN nominating.
The requisite that a citizen must
vote for the candidate he has been in
gtTumental in naming is no new one,
and is essential to the preservation Of
the integrity of the party. 1 should
say therefore that only those who are
Democrats and intend to support the