The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-03-03
ADDRESS TO VOTERS
Ano+bar Patent Process for Saw
ing the State.
AND WITHIN PARTY LINES
No Delegates to be Sent to Nat
ional Convention.
AS THE RESULT IS CERTAIN
But it is Proposed to Nominate and
an independent Set of Silver
Electors Pledged to no
Candidate.

Candidate.
To the Voters of North Carolina:
1t is patent that the differences on
the financial issue within the Demo
cratic party have become irreconclI-
able. The panic of 1898 and the state
of semi-panic which has existed ever
since on account of the fluctuations of
the gold reserve; repeated increases of
the national debt to bolster up the
gold standard, amounting within
thirty months to an aggregate of over
a quarter of billion dollars; the AFRO
gance and intolerance of the gold
propaganda. have given to the silver
sentiment a feryor which will brook
no promise, while the money power,
fortified as it is, and bold under the
leadership of Cleveland, is anxious to
try conclusions with the people. The
conflict is irrepressibe, and the cam
paign of 1896 will be fought on finan-
cial issues whether the leaders will
or no.
1t is none too early for the Demo
Gratis of North Carolina to be taking
of campaign, for crisis confronts the
party which must test the wisdom, the
courage, the integrity of its leader
ship. There is one way and only one
along which it can march to victory,
and that is the straight path of prin-
ciple The people are honest and do
not dicker; they traffic neither in Off
ces nor in principles, but they have
been so often robbed of the fruits of
well-earned victories by trimming,
self-seeling leaders who traffic in both,
that they are watchful and suspicious.
At the first hint of deal either of
the one sort of the other, they will
leave the Democratic party to a bitter
humiliation.
The Democratic masses of the State
are for silver, and they mean business.
They are satiated with the bi-metallic
soft corn of party platforms. They
require stronger diet this year, and
they will have it. To offer them any
thing less than an unequivocal, I'M
compromising free silver platform, and
candidates in hearty accord with such
a platform, is to invite and to meet
overwhelming, crushing defeat-to
commit party suicide.
Is there reasonable ground to hope
that the Chicago convention will give
us such a platform and such candi-
dates? Is there the least ground for
hope? We know the power of organi-
zation and of leadership. We know
the power of Federal patronage. We
know the power of the million
tongued metropolitan press. We know
the power of money. Gold has all
these; silver none. Against these,
backed by an almost solid North, we
were fools to hope to prevail.
But what are are we to do? With
out silver we are hopeless, and we are
hopeless of getting silver at Chicago.
Shall we bolt? Going into the con-
vention with our eyes open, and fail
ing to get what we want, can we abb
solve ourselves from the obligation to
abide the result? Not in honor! That
we're sorry beginning for a campaign
OF principle. The zeal of those who
propose this course is admirable,s but
their Judgment cannot be commended.
What then? There is but one hon
orable alternative and that is, to stay
away from Chicago. To go into that
convention is to tender our limbs to
the manacles of gold. The Democratic
party of North Carolina cannot be SO
fettered. It has come to a pass that we
can make no concessions TO the Democ-
racy of New York, New Jersey and
Connecticut Our first duty is to main
tain good government in North Caro-
lima: afterwards our duty is to the
nation. Let us meet in State conven-
ton and resolve to tote our own skill
let" this year, and put ont ticket OF
electors, unhampered by individual
Presidential candidates, whose only
pledge shall be to vote always for free
silver Democrats.
On this platform we can redeem the
State in its length and breadth. We
can command the votes OF seventy per
cent of the Populists who are not
seeking office. We can uncover fusion
in all its hideous nakedness. Ii we
will but lift up principle we will draw
unto US the honest silver men OF all
parties.
We need the spirit of 1775. The men
of Mecklenburg did not seek advice or
consent from the Province plantations.
They declared on British sovereignty
first and sought allies afterwards. /
hone to see North Carolina take the
same advanced position in the opening
struggle for the overthrow of the
British financial system.
I mistake the temper Of the silver
masses if they shall consent longer
~ be mtlzzled like oxen; if they shall
not this year rise in the might of their
overwhelming majority, and take COM
pIete control Of the party machinery
in Democratic States, and dictate
platforms and candidates without any
reference whatever to the handful OF
gold bugs to whom the party has al
ready sacrificed far too much.
The policy herein outlined does not
lead to DISCRIMINATION. 1T is the only
rational hope of preserving orr state
organization in effective shape. True
il puts MS for the time out of touch
with the national party, but that is q
matter which will speedily right IL
self On the other band, If we tenn
porize with this question, and suffer
4nI 80 9gp1I Mat