The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-06-03

loss was almost entirely to Democ-
racy.
In 1894 the dissatisfaction among
Democrats was intensified, and the
total vote was still further reduced to
275,927. In this election the fusion
lists increased the combined vote for
Populists and Republicans of 1892
5,494 votes, while our judicial ticket
received 1926 votes less than Gov.
Carr. Every doubtful voter in North
Carolina voted against us in 1894 and
the entire loss in the-stay
vote was to the Democratic party.
According to the usual percentage OF
increase in vote, in 1894 there should
have been cast 10000 votes instead
Of 275, 900, or $4,000 less than full
vote, and we were defeated by 10000
majority. In 1896 the total vote
should be about $4,000.
With the dissatisfaction in the Re
publican party at Russe's nomina-
ton, and the position of that party on
the money question, it will be inn
possible for the opposition to have n
successful fusion this year, even if it
attempted it. All Democracy is required
to do is to enthuse Democrats and
obliged to win Only n brave and
manly course can do this Just such a
course as was pursued in the seven
ties. when with defeat after defeat,
our leaders. fresh from conflict
which impressed upon them the fact
that mankind loves Il brave man and a
brave party. each time buckled on
fresh armor for an open, courageous
fight, which eventually resulted in q
victory that lasted twenty years, and
until the partys cowardice failed to
receive the sanction Of the brave men
of North Carolina.
There was one notable exception
from this course of bravery in the
seventies, and it contains a lesson
pregnant with meaning TO us now. In
1870 we carried the State for the first
time after the war, electing Judge
Shipp Attorney General over Mr.. Phil
lips In 1872 we forsook the tradi-
tions of our party and nominated Mr..
Greeley. The results were we lost the
Merrimon State ticket in August by
1900 majority, came near losing the
legislature, and in November
Greeley carried eleven out of the
then ninety-four counties in the State
and lost the State by $4,000. This was
when North Carolina was still bleed
ing from the wounds of 1865. that are
now threatened to be opened by the
nomination of Judge Russell. Even
this disastrous defeat did not STAN
pede our brave leaders in those days,
but they went to work with Will,
striking from the shoulder and asking
no quarter, and two years later car
ried the State by $4,000, electing the
Superintendent Of Ppblic instruction
and a majority Of the Congressman.
With the lesson of the Greeley cam
paign before us, which has been thrown
in our faces for twentyfour years,
can it be that our leaders are going
to humiliate us again? Are we to
have another campaign in which the
etire appeal will be to Democrats,
begging them vote the Democratic
ticket? The Republican party with
its 900 negro voters readily obeys
the behests Of it's leaders and votes
the. Populist ticket. The free, indie
pendent thinking Democrats will
never consent to it, in my humble
opinion.
In 1888 the vote for Mr.. Cleveland
was 147,902. In 1892 the vote for Gov.
Carr was 1850, showing an active
loss to Democracy on account of Pop
ulism of 1888, to which must be
added the relative increase in popu-
lation. In 1888 the Republicans cast
134.7S4 votes. In 1892 they cast for
Harrison, their largest vote, 100,342,
n loss to Populism OF 34,442. In view
of these figures why should Democrats
hesitate to take the field against all
corners, fighting those whose princi-
Piles and practices are opposed to good
government, and appealing to those
whose convictions coincide with us.
The good people can be more readily
won by appeals to patriotism than by
the hope of getting theeir leaders a few
offices.
If the Democrats could in 1874
change "a defeat of $4,000 into victory
Of $4,000, why can we not change a
defeat of 10000 not in National but
an off year when $4,000 good men did
not vote, into a victory, especially
when we find our opponents in the
Republican ranks divided in all things
but one, and that one is. that Democ-
racy must be successful unless they
can secure fusion, and our Populist
opponents nearly as badly torn asun-
der? We can do it if we will only be
brave and leave all political cowardice
behind us. T. B. WOMACK.