The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1896-07-23
THU CHARLOTTE OBSERVER ON
CANDIDATE BRYAN.

would support the Democratic nominee
for President on a silver platform.
The Richmond and Norfolk papers,
which were strong for gold, have de-
clared their intention to support Bryan
and Sewall. All the gold papers in
North Carolina will support the ticket
manfully.
The Charlotte Observer was the
strongest and most influential gold pa
Der in the State and while it is we'll
understood that editor Caldwell will
stand to the party, it will be refreshing
to our readers to sec how gracefully he
surrenders his opinion to the will OF
the majority. The day after Mr.. Bry-
ans nomination the following clear
and laudable editorial leader appeared
in the Charlotte Observer
"The Democratic party has spoken
and the time for controversy within its
ranks is at an end. William J. Bryan
10 its candidate for President, which Is
to say he should be henceforth until
November the candidate of every one
who PROCESSES allegiance to that party.
A battle royal has for months been in
progress within the ranks. The ques-
ton at issue had reached that acute
stage at which compromise was impos-
sible. It had to be fought to the fin
ish and one element had to win and
the other lose. The free silver party
has triumphed and it is the duty OF
the losers to take cheerful service un-
der the banner. of the man named yes
terday at Chicago for President. We
do not profess that he is our ideal of a
Democratic presidential nominee or a
Democratic President. Nor do we pro-
fess that the platform on which he il
presented to the country is to our lik-
ing. But he is Democrat, the nomi-
nee OF Democratic convention, and
that is enough. Yet more, among all
the free silver men balloted for by this
convention, none could be more accept
able to the minority of the party, per
sonally or otherwise. The nominee is
a perfectly sincere man, and that is
much. The case would be far different
if there were good reason to suspect
that he lacked the conviction of right
in the cause of which he has for years
been so conspicuous defender, but no
such suspicion attaches to him. He
has not espoused it for gain or for hon
or, but he believes in it with ell his
heart, and men sincere themselves can
not deny respect to those of opposite
belief of whom go much can with truth
be said.
''This man is also one of very excel.
lent ability. He has been richly en-.
dowed with the power OF speech, and
as an orator no man on the continent
ranks him. Yet young man, he il
yet not so young as to be without the
| wisdom of e1Poriouce, aud HUNG of those
who were named alongside of him al
Chicago is filter or worthier to be trust
ed with the grave duties which fall to
the head of this mighty and expanding
republic. He is an ADLER man than
Mr.. Bland, Mr.. Boies or Mr.. Matthews
safer man than Mr.. Bland or Mr..
Blackburn a Shower man than any OF
them. It will be read of him in a
thousand Republican papers this morn
ing that some two years ago, in mo-
mentary irritation with the Democratic
party on occount of its Indifferent atti-
tude toward silver, he abjured it and
declared his purpose to join the Popu-
list party. It makes no difference that
he did. He remained a Democrat as
to all things else, and the severance OF
his relation with his party, if indeed it
went further than hasty speech, was
not for long. He Is in full fellowship,
in full sympathy, with it now, and that
is sufficient. It was no argument at
all, the fact used against Mr.. Boies be-
fore the convention, that he had not
always been a Democrat he had
been Republican up to 1882. It is
rather an assurance of the soundness of
his Democracy that he acquired it by
voluntary adoption rather than by in
heritance. In like manner it is moth
ing against Mr.. Bryan If he once wa
vered for moment, if only he caught
himself.
"No Democrat should deny his sup
port in this campaign or at the polls to
this Democratic candidate. Sound
money men, regarding the fact that he
does not represent their views upon the
coinage question, should not be un-
mindful Of the fact that he and they
are In harmony upon all other points
Of doctrine, and should be willing for
the moment to waive this objection.
He stands against the protective prin-
ciple and for fair play for the South
and If elected will be President of the
United States, while Mr.. Mckinley
would be President of the Republican
party.
POPULIST CONVENTION.