The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1896-07-02

III ~ lar from our puIpoHt ~ 1T |
empt 10 assume the attitude OF a
harsh critic on the proceedings OF
the so-called Democratic convention.
But il recital Of facts and & state
men. OF impressiops shall be con
strued IA harsh criticism, then VIC
assume that role. We
would DO untrue to ourselves aud
false 10 our reEders il we failed to
state either.
We think tho action Of the con-
vention might have been more III
harmony with It's platform than it
really was. For instance, Judge |
James G.. Mae Rae was candidate
for the cubernatorial nomination.
This gentleman had the courage to
take determined stand for silv er |
last September-long before it was
KNOWN how the Democratic cat was
going to jump. He had the courage
to act AZ chairman of a parti
san, free silver convention called by
nearly one thousand men who pro-
fessed to be democrats, but who failed
to attend it when the" machine" warn
ed them that it was a good place to
"stay away FRONT" Judge MacRae
didn't care a cent for the machine"
His course showed that he was hon
est and determined, and that he, if
he could, would smash the Una
chine" if it got in the way of his
principles. But it seems that this
kind of man was not what the So
called Democratic convention want
ed. Out of total of 907 votes, he
received only 1873 votes as candi-
date for the nomination.
Mr.. Ed. Chambers Smith, VINO has
been an avowed free silver Demo
crat for long time, and who was
the active agent-in fact the main
spring-in working up the aforesaid
silver convention, was q candidate
for delegate to Chicago. The con-
vention refused to send him. He
seems to have been silver man TOO
QUICK to suit the "machine." and
seems to have been too independent
and too honest in his views.
Capt. s. "A. Ashe was one of the
men who bolted the silver conven-
ton, aud at one time he was given
423 votes when only 4J4 were neUes-
sary to nomination. Then it Was
recallt d that he had written book
in favor Of silver long before the
"machinon decided to take up the
free silver slogan. This, coupl d
with the fact that 1t suddenly be.
came necessary to have Il farmer
on the State ticket, was fatal to his
candidacy tor the nomination fol
State Treasurer.
Capt. C.. NJ. Cooke attended thu
free silver convention. He Tough
the resolutions adopted by the con
vention and declared that its actor
could bind nobody. He was nomi
mated for Secretary of State by AC
CLAMATloN
We believe we are correct in stat
ing that Mr.. X. NJ. Furman who wa
nominated for Auditor by acclama
ton, and Mr.. Frank |. Osborne VIII
was nominated for Attorney G ener
ell by reclamation, are not in genu
inc, cordial sympathy with the silve
movement, but subscribe to it be
cause majority of their party az
parently declare in favor of it.
Now. can it be wondered at, tina
the action of the convention, as cor
trasted with its platform, appears
little curious and inconsistent to US
Can it be wondered at that we sus
pect the manipulation of the "ms
chine," especially when We are &C
vised that the Watson boom was il
augurated in the office of yer
prominent revenue officer, who hold
fat place under the present admir-
is,ratien7 We do not charge Nj
Watson with being a party to tn
machine" movement. We rattle
regard him as its object or its victim
These are some practical and 81:
nificant facts in connection with IL
conventions work. We do not Cal
to comment upon them, at lengtl
at this time. In fact they need I
comment. An intelligent public ca
form its own conclusions withol
any aid we are able to give.
Again We say that it is our il
preston that the work of the co
vention might have been" more
harmony with the declarations of
platform than it really was.
II is very easy for an individual
declare Tor policy after it bscom
wildly popular and bids fair
sweep section or country, bat
takes MAN to stand up and poi
out the right way when it is que
ton as TO whether the populaee W
see and take the right road or n,
AS for us we are ALWAYS and ete