The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-19
CAN THERE Be Fusion
Between the Democratic and
Populist Parties. sa
THE SITUATION DISCUSSED
A Pronlinent Democrat Gives
II His Views. rrl
AND ADVISES lco-oPeRATloN
He Thinks That the Time Fias Come
When the Silver Men, in North
7 Carolina Should Get
Topether


FtRNSCtA 49, ~ ~
Carolina Should Get
o Together,
pronfnent Democrat, who las
never scratched or bolted Ills party
ticket, in discussing the situation yes
terday, said: Z H'
Men who are broad enough TO dlss
card their party, prejudice and true
enough to their race to make some con-
cessiens to save. itf rom negro domina-
ton, realize that the Democratic party
has reached a crisis in its history that
demands of its leaders prompt action
and bold .enunciation of their views.
Moderate Democrats who have careful
~ sought to discover the character and
trend of public sentiment, are aware
that three-fourths of the voters of the
partr anxiously desire a coalition upon
holforable terms with the PopuIists,
and to make a Joint fight with tlferf
ff,r the restoration of the white metal
and the supremacy of the white fIan..
Not more than one-tenth Of tTienf favor
a single gold standard and hall of
these monometallists are willing TO
subordinate their convictions upon tile
question of currency to the more I'M
portant end of restoring and MAIN
tanning good government in the State.
About ofle-twentieth of the whole NUM-
ber are using gold bug presses TO IN
discriminatory fling muddy printers
ink at every independent c1t1zen1 Wbo
dares To differ with them. They de-
nounce neighbors who have always led
blameless lives, because they venture
to speak of the possibility OF voting
for or with men who have been Popu-
lists. They stand mute themselves,
however, when called upon to tell
what they think of the bolt OF Car
Isle in Kentucky, or OF the god
Democrats who withdrew from the
Iowa and Oregon convention. Lit is
alright for these people TO pack their
goods for McKinley's camp, because the
country Democrats are no longer willr
| ing that every dollar of city gold shall
purchase three dollars worth of coun-
| try land or produce. But the silver
Democrat, who casts about him for
help to enhance the value Of his prop
erty and place men in States offices who
viii protect it from burdensome local
| taxation, is a trfcksterand a traitor TO
his party.
'sThis abuse could be boiHe with
more equanimity, ii it always came
| from men who had proven spotless in
| their private, or scrupulous in their of
| fetal conduct and political methods.
"Over twenty years ago the most
| leveI-headed body Of representative
Democrats that ever asseTa bled in 1Isal-
eigh chose a, Republican as President
| Of constitutional convention In order
to prevent the State from passing into
| the hands of the RusseIrs and Dock
ery's, who were standing around like
| scavengers just as they are doing nov.
| and .saitih gsfor the eopportunify 10 prey
| upon the snbstance Of our people. But
the good sdtiss Of our leader sayed us,
and we. owe it to them, that we have
not been Under negro rule from that
day TO this. Who has ever dared to
charge one Of those men with dishon-
esty 'a 1lsa5s na
"In 1862, when the country was in
the midst of atwarqthat demanded the
united efforts of every citizen it will
be recOllected that such men as Wnl
A. Graham, George E. Badger, Kemp
p Battle, Daniel g.. Fowle, and an Of
the other great and good leaders Of
the old Wing party brought out Col.
Zebulon p. Vance, and secured the co
Union man, 10 elect him over the Dem
ocratic lcanditfate for Governor. Nfr.
X. H. Battle became Vanca's private
secretary, ariW Maj CIenent I1oyvd aud
other honorable and true. men held
office pnder him., II the popular idol,
Vance, could unite with Holdingrto re-
instate his political party ia ii power,
how can these mud-slingers, with aDy
show of reason, insist that it is dishor~
est to ask the aid of the Populists, who
have left the Democratic party, to save
us from the horros of Russell rule?
'The Republicans have failed t0
agree, and this fact furnishes the last
opportunity for the maintenance OF
Democratic Government in the State.
IT You ask how it can be done, / must
give you the answer plain and direct.
he proposition submitted as a
basis of agreement by the committee
lately In session here have been given
TO the public. We know, therefore.
what was offered and rejected. / am
not the bearer of h message, but feel
warranted in assuring Democrats. who
are amenable to reason and who do net
hate silver worse than thew do Bill Me-
Kinley, that a plan can be devised To
save us from the domination Of fhe
Old JayhawhePs of 1868, though it will
cost rs some concessions.
IF our party will put forward a
true silver Democrat, such as Walter
Clark, as the nominee of the State con-
yention for Senator against Jeter
Pritchard, will support Populist, such
rs Major w. A. Guthrie, for Governor,
the Populists will agree to@plaee~upon
their ticketsa Democrat for Lieuten-
ant-5oyernor and for Secretary of
State, d Popniist for Treasurer and
to- ill the places of ATTORNEY General,
Auditor, Superintendent of Public In
k.4,.Y =