The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-07-09
DEMOCRACY IMMORTAL
CHAIRMAN POU'S SPEECH BEFORE THE
STATE CONVENTION,
words OF Counsel and ConciIiation-
We Must Draw Closer Together and
Make Winning Fight Against the
Common Enemy, He Declares-Dem-
ocracy Possesses all its Old Time
NigOr and Courage,
News AID Observer,I

IL ID d PiSdSule anu, consider 1t
great honor, to call this convention to
order. 1t is maniies,ly great con-
vention the equal of the greatest here
tofore held. 1t is fulhllment of the
prophetic words of the great Vance,
who looking into the future and see
ing our troubles and dangers, cheered
our hearts by proclaiming aloud the
words: "Democracy is Immortal.''
lhIs convention demonstrates the
tact that Democracy Of North Carolina
possesses all of its old time vigor and
courage.
1t is well that it is so, for upon no
convention has there rested a weight
ler responsibility than now rests on
this one.
1t Is not too much to say that the
patriotic people Of our State, almost
without regard to party lines, are hop
ing and trusting that the action of this
convention may result in the mainten-
ance OF good government in North Car
Ollna.
Never WAS any conventions duty
plaIner than is our duty. AS to the
platform to be adopted our duty is
simply ministerial. The people, with
| singular unanimity, have decreed what
our platform shall be and our duty is
but 20 record their decree. We shall
have no trouble in selecting candidates
IN thorough harmony with our plat
| form.
That we have had our troubles, our
| dlssensIOns, our hours of doubt and un-
certainty none of US will deny, but our
controversies were over matters Of
principle and not like those of our en-
emles, over plumber and the spoils of
office. Some thought our internal
commotlons foreshadowed the destruc-
ton of our party, but the very opposite
was the truth. The people who make
up our party were studying great
question. They were making up their
minds and deciding what their course
of action should be. Their decision
mas been made. They have chosen the
democratic party to execute their pur-
poses, and that party has renewed its
life again.
My position has, l think, enabled
me to see the one step we must take
10 insure our success, and as my offic-
ial position in the party presently ends,
beg to impress upon you, represent
ing the whole party, the necessity ol
taking that step here and now. That
step is this:
We must draw closer together.
We must drive out from among Us
the evil spirits Of suspicion and dis.
trust, and we must feel as we fall intc
line and touch elbows, that we are
again friends, comrades and Demo
| Gratis.
We have among us very respecta
bic minority which does not fully be
l!eve in the financial principles Of the
party soon to be enunciated. As &
class these men have acted with greaN
wisdom and patriotism. They have
!
have held to their opinions in silence
that they might not embarass thei
party, nor place obstacles in its path
Their conduct has been alike honor.
able to them as patriots and citizens
Ii they are open TO criticism on any
point, it may be that some of then
have made the mistake Of undertaking
the intelligence of those who held te
other opinions. This would have beer
Il dangerous mistake.
On the other hand the great majo
lty OF our party believe unreservedl,
in the immediate and independent
free coinage of silver at the proportion
of I6 to /. Some of them have seemed
about to fail into error. Some o
them have seemed too prone to sus
peCt, to denounce, and to ostracist
those who did not fully agree will
them. In short they underrated tn
patriotism of their opponents.
This course, if pursued further nigh
result in injury to the cause of silve
as we'll as to the cause of Democ
racy, br the restoration of silver viii
never be accomplished, by its success
in primaries and conventions unless
, that success is followed by success a
the polls.
Having already won at the primarie
and conventions, it behooves ever,
g.; oil
wisely and generously that men, no
fully subscribing to the silver idea
will find no obstacle in the way 0
= their voting with US.
4 Silver cannot be restored without
great fight We need the help of ever
, man who will go with US. Let US nc
be proscriptive. We need not inqur
of the men who help US what thel
opinions were in '9S, "a, or '95. w
need not inquire whether he favore
an international agreement, protection
r the sub-treasury or prohibition plan
= those days; if he is willing to help !
. fight for silver now. Let US remembe
that all of our high resolves in beha
- of silver will be but empty sound an
p. paper wasted if we do not reinfort
d them in November by choosing tn
e Democratic electoral ticket, eleCtir
!. Democratic Congressman, and a Den
b; ocratic Legislature, which will eje
from the seat in the Senate OF the Tn
ted States, once occupied by the l.
s. mented Vance, Mckinley's little ma