The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-02
OPENING THEIR EYES.
MR.. WATSON SAYS POPuLtSTS
SEE THROUGH THE SCHEME
OF THE REPUBLICANS,

And viii Come Back Into the Fold of
Democracy if we Declare for Free
Siver--Wherein the Strength
of Silver Lies--Populists
see That the Negro
Dominates the Repub-
ican Party.
Hon. C. b. Watson, Of Winston, one
of the leaders of the Democratic party
in the State, has been attending the
Supreme court this week.
Its all one way in my country"
he said, NEARLY everybody, you may
as well say everybody, is for free
silver
Mr.. Watson, who is p member of the
State Democratic Executive committee
and a member of the Central commit
tee as well, favors one State Demo-
cratic convention, to be held a week
before the meeting of the National
convention at Chicago, just in time to
give the delegates chance to get to
the .'Windy City" before the meeting
begins.
'sThe Republicans and Populists in
Forsyth are saying little just now,
and do not seem to know exactly
where they are att Those who do
talk seldom favor fusion. The Popu-
lists don't want to vote the Republican
ticket any more. I think they see
4I,o 11Cxy
and are sick of the whole business.
''And the Republicans affect to care
little for the Populists now, as they
believe they can win by themselves.
We can whip the Democrats alone now,
say some of the Republicans, and do
not need the Pops any longer The
Republicans are very willing to fuse
in counties which they cannot possibly
carry without the aid of the Populists,
but they want the whole hog in the
counties they can carry alone.
Butler and the Populists will come
back into the fold of Democracy when
they see that it means that or Repub-
lean control Of the State. Whether
the National convention declares for
silver or not, if we put straight free
silver plank in our State platform and
| fight it out sincerely along that line
we will carry the State.
THE popuIists know that they can
not hope to get anything by them
| selves. as they form a comparatively
small element nationally. They see
that they not only can hope for moth
ing from the Republicans, but that
the Republicans are actually opposed
- e foI
"The Populists are watching the
| fight between the two wings of the
Republican party in this State. They
see that this fight is simply as to
which faction shall control the ne
| groes. That's the whole fight now.
'That means that the negro element
will control the Republican party. And
the populists believe in white supre-
macy as much as the Democrats do.
tThe strength of free silver is this:
The millions of the agricultural
| classes see the great reduction IN
| values in the past few years, especially
| in the values of farming lands and
/ AGRICULTURAL products. The merchants
| and the manufacturers realize the in
| ability OF the agricultural population
to buy their products and commodities
| and they are willing to risk free silver
at least long enough to see If it viii
restore prices to the old figures.
..The country requires state OF ar
/ fairs that viii make property sought
after. instead OF money and interest
bearing securities.
/ 1T is the loss of confidence in prop
erty and the value of property that is
/ r4grainor the country"
THE DISTRICT SCHOOL.