The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-29
A PROMINENT MAN TALKS
A Vigorous Defense OF MT Eo'
Chambers Smith,
A PRECEDENT FOR BoLTiNG
The Sentiment in Favor of "White
Combine" to Save the Property
and Honor of the State
Growing.

State, whose name / am not at liberty
to divulge, said to your correspondent
that great injustice had been done Mr.
E. Chambers Smith and others. When
explanation was asked, he said:
|sIn the first place Mr.. Smith is
truthful and honorable gentleman, and
he says no one even suggested the
names of any particular persons Tor OF
fee in case of an agreement between
Democrats and Populists. ] believe
Mr.. Smith and no newspaper has
right to make capital by misrepresent-
ing a gentleman because he happens
to differ with it.
TWO SIDES OF FUSION QUESTION.
I'm the second place am persuaded
that Mr.. Smith is actuated wholly by
patriotic desire to keep the State out
of the hands of the Republican party
and under the government of her tax
paving white citizens. Then why
should he be abused because he didn't
work by a formula that some of rs
have concocted and that has been de-
pleting the Democratic party for
years? ANY editor or other promi-
nent politician who swears himself
and wants to make everybody else.
swear he will never vote for any one
of 10000 white citizens of North Caro-
lima is too narrow for a leader in a
great political crisis. Over twenty
years ago the legislature called a con-
vention of the people, and when the
delegates met at Raleigh, there were
80 Democrats, 50 Republicans, one seat
vacant by the death of Gov. Graham,
and one independent Republican who
had been voting with the opposition
for years and had refused to pledge
his support in the convention to
either party. The situation was briefly
this: If the Republicans organized
the convention the result would be
that enough Democrats would be
turned out of the body in five days to
give them a good working majority.
In that event they would have proceed
ed to pass such legislation as would
have enabled them to count Zeb Vance
out next year and hold the State by
fair or foul means up to this time. In
that emergency such men as Gov. Reed,
Gen. Clingman, Col. David Coleman,
Judge Bennett, DIR. Manning, John s.
Henderson, Judge Avery, Judge Shep-
herd. Gov. Jarvis, b. III. Bum, and
Gen. Roberts did not hesitate to Sc
cure the cooperation of DR. Ransom
by electing him president of the body
with results that are a part of the
history of the State. By the way, if
the present critics had then been in
charge of the newspapers, ! have no
doubt they would have joined in the
general verdict that it was a piece OF
wise political strategy. The wolf is
not simply at the door now: he has
possession Of part of the house. But
10 vote for any man who has differed
with you, to save the property of the
State from confscation by those who
have no property, is, in the estimation
Of the people whose prejudices have
run away with their Judgment. dis
honorable dicker and deal. So said
Joe Turner in 1885, but he deserted to
the Republicans in 1878, He swore he
would not vote for bFindle tail The
men who made the Ransom dicller
were then, and the survivors are now,
the equals in character and standing
Of the most righteous Of those who
preach on the sin of dickering.
Chamber and Butler, unless the
former has lied, did mot assume
the responsibility OF making
nominations, Bat the air Il
Jul OF guinors. and IL some
OF them were half true, people would
open their eyes. If Pearson and Lin
ney have given mortal offense to Butler
by their course on the silver question,
Butler has IL in his power aud may
have the inclination to help to
put good silver Democrat
III the places Of both. The same might
be said Of Settle. If I'M return for this
Il might be demanded that the Demo-
Gratis, who have no man that can beat
.tI ssEa hal
10 beat Il Republican, who could OBJ
iect to that unless he were willing to
sacrifice white supremacy III North
Carolina to his loyalty to gold?' say
the gentlemen who are planning for
what is called dicker.
Whatever you and / may think, from
four-ffths to nine-tenths Of the voters
of the State are for silver and white
government. and they are not going
to be Mortified at such suggestions. If
you add 10 that proposition to let
every Office, State and county, that was
filled by a Populst, after the election
two years ago be still held by that
party, and everyone filled by Demo
erat or Republican be filled by a Dem
ocrat to be named by his party conven-
ton, there would be a very great i'm
cIination to listen TO the song of the
siren and get Democratic Legisla-
ture next year. The other horn of the
dilemma, say these gentlemen, is, that
the negroes, 100000 strong, viii stand
i'm solid column and dictate terms for
all time to come to a divided and dis
tracted race, to which they were once
in bondage. What, say these men
are gold and silver TO compare will
such degradation and such insecurity
TO property as must be expectedY
can't answer them. What do you say
WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT BOLTING
Those who are openly or quietly co
operating with Mr.. Smith in his efforts
10 get up white combine in the STATE
say that the denunciation of Democrats
N.4.o talk about boiling will do no good
on this subject they say they have {
precedent. In 1861. when it becam'