The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1896-02-13
SENATOR pRITCHAkD AND COOPER.
ALTON.

ALTON.
Elsewhere in this issue is letter
from Senator Pri'chard evoked by
an utterance Of THE CAUCASIAN. In
our opinion it is subject to extended
criticism, but We shall try to avoid
entering into one At length. We
will, however, take the liberty OF
making one or two general observa-
tions, then notice especially some
points in the communication and
leave the matter to the great tribu-
nal OF the public for adjudication.
We must regard the letter AZ an
illustration OF an oft repeated
axiom-that the partybug's friend
ship for free silver is more danger
Gus than the goldbug's enmity. A
partybug has been defined as one
who prefers his party to his prin-
ciples, or one whose principles con-
sist in adhering to his party, right
or wrong.
A point We wish TO emphasize is
this: The life and existence Of the
Peoples Party is based on principle.
Its birth and organization are the
result Of dallying and triAing pol
icy with principle by the two old
parties. Any surrender Of the prin-
ciple which gave it birth and which
has thus far sustained it would be
gross stultiHcation-would vitiate
the reasons for its existence, and it
could do no better than to disband
and 60 back into the old parties
against whose dsllying and triaing
it has rebelled. This is our answer
to Senator Pritchard's suggestion
that an electoral ticket should be
chosen, the members Of which might
vote for two candidates of opposite
principles.
We now take the liberty Of COM
menting on parts Of the letter:
The dominant sentiment in the State,
among Republicans and Populists, Is Demo
cratic defeat in ls96-not the injection into
the campaign OF new issue which must
necessarily cause friction, bad feeling and
possible disaster
We are in hearty accord with the
dominant sentiment" as to Demo-
cratic defeat, but We deny that the
Peoples Party can be charged with
''the injection into the campaign Of
a new issue" in insisting on a full
support of the free coinage of silver.
The Senator is fully committed to
this principle, and it has been an is
sue since 1892, at least.
1.-THE statement made by me in the Senate
that the State Is Republican and has been
since the war, is no new statement of gen.
orally conceded and established fact"
We shall take no direct issue with
this statement, but beg to observe
that the Senator's own confidence in
it assumes q weak aspect in conse.
quence of the term possible disas.
ter" used in the paragraph above
IL what he says about the Republi
can party be an established fact,
there is no good cause for anticipat
ing possible disaster" for it in ar
open and independent contest at thu
polls. In reply to the Senator
question be beg to say that his ex
preston is no offense to US what
ever.
when elected to the Senate no obliga
ton was imposed upon me to abandon tn,
Republican party, or to stultify myself IL
the repudiation of my political convic
TONS"
This statement seems to imply
that some effort is now being made
to impose an obligation on the Sen
stor to stultify himself, etc. NJ
such accusation can be brought
against the Peoples Party with
which his party co-operated las
election. He is an avowed advoeat,
of silver-we had supposed an un
qualified advoe ate-and if he shall
maintain this position he will hav,
no reason to complain at want o.
sympathy and support from TIL
CAUCASIAN, and in our opinion b,
will have no reason to complain o.
want Of support from the People,
Party. The financial issue and no
the tariff Is tho great issue of tn,
coming campaign.
II have proved my loyalty to the cause o
silver by my votes in the Senate"
Aye, so have many others. Blu
they have allied themselves with po
litical forces, sufficient number O
which are always ready to act ant
always do act with a view to keep
ing the cause of silver in abeyanc'
or Of defeating it altogether. Wha
is wanted now is q loyalty Of unit,
to this cause until it is settled, ant
settled right,
There Is wisdom enough in the leader
ship of the Republican, party, in my opin
ion, to reconcile this difference and restor
silver to its functions In our monetary sys
tenn"
We cannot be certain as to wha
the Senator means by functions
in this connection. If he means tn,
functions that obtained mp to 1873
and We will presume that he does
let the wisdom OF his party nov
manifest itself. Let his party SHOW
what it regards as wisdom" con
corning this matter. Why daily ant
trihe over a question pressing To-