The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1896-10-01
THURSDAY. OCT. l, 1896.
WHERE IS THE CONSISTING

the money question. 1t has been strOng
and loud in It's demands for legislation
looking to free and unlimited coinage
of silver at the ratio of Is to l:
This has become the slogan of the
Populists, and by it they have been
able to attain unto, and maintain, a rec
ognition in the politics of this country
that would have been impossible for
them on any other issue at this time.
But when they we're about to be able
to make a good showing for the issue
on which they based their claims, the
sands OF inconsistency began to slip
from under them; and without fully
and thoroughly calculating the results
which must inevitably come to those
who clamor for one thing and desire
another, they find themselves drifting
out into sea which will as surely
swallow them up as does the tide of old
ocean ebb and flow.
The Popuiists clamored for free sill
yer and declared they did so on the bed
rock of unselhsh principle. All through
the land, even all through Halifax
county, this declaration has been heard
since the last election. But the real
motive behind this declaration by
many was the desire to get into Office.
It was even so in Halifax county.
The action of the Populists in this
county proves the statement.
Here it is: They went Into conven-
ton in Halifax and nominated a ticket
with the express understanding with
the Republicans that the offices should
be divided, the Populists nominating
some and leaving the rest for the Re-
publicans to fill in. The Populists
kept their promise and so did the Re
publicans. The Populists nominated a
Senator, county treasurer, sheriff, sur
veyor, two county commissioners, and
loft it for the Rannhlicans tn fiji in the
names for the two members of the low
er house IN the Legislature, register of
deeds, coroner, and one county COM
missioner. The Republicans met next
day alter the Populist convention and
filled in the gaps according to agree
ment.
And now they stand In this relation
That Notwithstanding they have been
clamoring for free silver, they are
pledged by the action of their conven-
ton to vote for two colored Republi-
cans for the lower house of the Legis-
lature, with the full knowledge of the
fact that the Republican party stands |
pledged by record and by declaration.
resolution and platforms to support the
gold standard under all circumstances. |
THE COMMONWEALTH asks where is
the consistency in this? Doesn't ey-
cry voter know that silver legislation |
must be had through the United States |
Congress? And doesn't every voter
know also that the State Legislature
elects our United States Senators? And
doesn't every voter know that the two
Republicans on the fusion ticket in
Halifax county, if elected to the State
will vote for gold stand
ard Republican for United States Sena-
tor?
Then the case stands thus: Every
man, white or black, who votes the fu-
sion ticket between the Populists and
of Halifax county in the
coming election, will be casting his
vote for men who will vote for gold
Senator to represent them in
the United States Congress. Of course
the county officers haye nothing to do
with the election OF Senator, but vot-
ing the fusion ticket in order to get the
county officers on the ticket elected,
will he voting for the gold standard
through the Republicans that will thus
be sent to the Legislature.
The sensible and consistent thing
will be to repudiate the whole ticket |
and vote the Democratic ticket, every |
man of which is strong and avowed
silver man, pledged to its support
through the platform of the party.
10 say nothing about the help to
Republican rule for the county that
the support OF the fusion ticket will
give, it is absolutely contradictory to |