The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1896-08-20

ton permanently, and asked Rev. II.
w. Norris to pray.
Rev. Mr.. Norris came to the plat,
form and made An eloquent and ear
nest invocation asking that an all
wise Providence might divess every.
body Of prejudice, and that this year
should be, long remembered as year
o. great reformation wherein the
masses of the people should be freed.
There were several ''Amens At this
plea.
COL. sKIxSER's ADDRESS.
Col. Skinner as permanent chair.
man addressed the convention and
was attentively listened to. In the
course of his remarks he said:
''In the beginning, We ask the
blessing of Providence. 1t is now
my duty to call the convention per
mauently to order. | regard il as a
distinguished privilege to preside
ever such an assemblage of Ameri-
can patriots. not less patriots than
the men Of 1916. You had the cour-
age and enth usiasm at Omaha four
years ago to issue to the world our
second Declaration of Independence,
and to the human race its first decla-
ration Of freedom from the tyranni-
cal mono metallic dollar. The peo-
pie then organized in their own
cause to fight for their own property.
1t was to my mind the brightest
hour that ever beamed IN American
politics. 1t was the solemn appeal
Of suffering people for better con-
ditions. 1t was the protest against
the then moving and now appalling
conditions. Yet thers are some
reasons why we should recall and
remind the country of the present
political status we now live in; and
think without controversy with
Democrats and Republicans, l can
say that if the farmers had not or
ganized we would not have this con-
dition to-day. If there had never
been Peoples party every white or
black man would have marched to
the polls and cast his vote for one OF
the old parties committed to gold.
Our party, born in principle, had
been carried out IN principle. -Four
years ago l stood here and refused
the nomination for Governor because
l did not want to turn over the State
to the rule of ignorance, and now
standing here on the same platform
l say that by our action for princi.
pie, never deviating to Democracy
or Republicanism, in four years We
have forced these two parties to take
sides upon the great pivotal issue in
this country. We have forced the
Republican party to align itself on
the gold side of this question. We
have compelled the Democratic party
to quit straddling and adopt ou1
platform. The Peoples party has
swallowed the Democracy. We have
compelled them to nominate fol
President a man who is more Popu
list to-day than any Populist il
North Carolina. We have built W
a great party in North Carolina upor
the principle that the people wanted
relief rather than Offices. We have
taught, beginning with the Alliance
that the cause was above party. w
said we would take relief if we could
get it through the Republican o.
Democratic parties, if not, to sta.
in the middle of the road and de
mand relief in a separate organiza
ton in the name of justice.
There is a great difference in tn
promise of the Democratic party TO
free silver and free silver itself. W.
must demand some collateral securl
ties. (Cheers.) We have demanded
a very small collateral security.
am surprised that the Democrats o
North Carolina didn't come and say
'We'll take Tom Watson | want t
say here that there are some thing
that are making to divide the silve
vote.
1.-THE politician who devises an
scheme to split the electoral vote i
North Carolina and turn it over t
Mckinley is an enemy to the cause
l want to say to the Populist an
Democratic committees that if the
let the State go for Mckinley the
should both be wiped out.
"Some one has asked me whethe
we were going to take down Tol
Watson or Sewall. We are not e
ing to take down either. Wher'
ever it is necessary to run Brya
and Sewall, or joint ticket, or Br,
an and Watson it will be done. b.
the effect will be to elect Mr.. Brya
president. If our cause means an,
fthing it means that.
but when we come to North Ca
DINA, and consider local condition
it is different. We must not devia
from the principle of free silver, 81
!. teen to one, from our promises Of
free ballot and fair count, and
care not what cooperation us nece
sary to attain these, say let
come. If we must cooperate wi
the Democrats to secure silver, |
us do that. If we must co-opera
f with the Republicans to secure |
cal self-government, let US co-ope
( ate.-
"But whatever we do we mu
e recognize that the white man mu
: yet for while rule IN North Car
j, lima. The time has not come for t
negro to rule and govern the viii
people of the State. He is not y
qualified for that great work, end
! he should undertake it he Won
) even endanger his own liberties"
COMMITTEE ON PLATFORM.
The report of the committee
platform was called for and read.
O was the report which appears abo
with the exception that the folio
J. ing amendment offered by Pre-
y John Graham was referred to t
4 committee and adopted:
aFResolved, That we recommel
constitutional prohibition of t
Xpurchase, lease or rental of par,
= lei or competing railway lines"
amendments were al
- offered--one by Mr.. Macon,
Franklin, providing that salaries