The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-19
SILVER THE ISSUE
And North Carolina Is For Free
Coinage.
LINE OF BATTLE DRAWN
It Will Be Fought Out In The
Coming Campaign.
DUTY OF DEMOCRATS CLEAR
The True Sentiments Of the Parry N'"s'
be Expressed II every Con"
ventloe From the nri-
maries Up.
nlaries ".

mares Up
10 the Editor; Ia the approaching
the financial question must
he tho controlling issue, Ii cannot
he the tariff. for the people VIII
never engage In another great national
contest over a question Of percentage,
whether the tari0 shall be he or IS per
cent
In all the confusion about fusion, ia
all the uncertainty among politicians,
the ideas of the people of North Caro-
defined aud positive. The necessity of
the times, the demands of the people
are for the immediate, free and unlimi-
ted coinage of silver. Senator Pritchard
has declared that this is a question
of no importance, but it is not in the
power of Senator Pritchard and the
Republican party, aided by the gold
standard element of the Democratic
party, to divert the minds of the peo-
pie from this vital issue. The principle
of the restoration of the money Of the
people will determine the political
affiliations of all men in the approach
ing campaign. He that is not for it
must be against it. Senator Butler
has truly said that on this question:
"the line of battle will be clearly and
sharply drawn from the mountains
TO the sea, and from one end of the
Union to the other" On this question,
the Republican party, which has al
ways been and always will be, the tool
of monopoly and the enemy of the
people, will be controlled by the pluto
Gratis, and declare for gold or, which
is worse, attempt a straddle. With the
exception of few counties in the west
composed, as this party is, of negroes
and office-seelders, it will of course
vote for the nominees of the eonyen-
ton, regardless of the duties of citi-
zenship, men, principles, and platform.
The Republican vote of this Statelwill
be cast according TO orders issued by
the potentates of Wall street.
1t seems to us that the position to
be taken by the Democrats of North
Carolina. is plainly determined by
every Consideration of party policy,
patriotism and humanity. We must
stand boldly and uncompromisingly
coinage of silver. This is, and always
has been, Democratic doctrine. It is
one Of the fundamental principles of
the party, and is believed in and de-
manded by the overwhelming majority
of its members. We take it that there
is no possibility but that the Demo
Gratis Of North Carolina will, as they
always have done, in convention as
sembled, declare for the restoration
of silver; and it is by no means fore
gone conclusion that the gold standard
element viii control the National Dem
ocratic convention If that convention
has any regard for the principles and
traditions of the party, If it will listen
for one moment to the demands Of the
people who constitute the rank and
file of the party, and furnish all the
votes; If lit will consider the cause Of
humanity and hear the cries of OPP
preston and distress and suffering
that come louder and louder from
every State Of the Union, that con
Yention viii promptly, emphatically
and unequiyocally, declare for the
restoration OF the money Of the consti-
tuition. Tt will then receive the en-
thusiastic support of all Democrats
and all honest advocates Of silver. But
If the national Democratic convention,
controlled by horde Of Office
holders and powerful financial
syndicates, should nominate Il cantli-
date and adopt d platform IN accord
with the administration, the duty OF
North Carolina Democrats. and 81
Democrats Of the Union, is clear and
mandatory. There are thousands III
North Carolina who love the Demo
cratic party We are proud Of her his
tory and her craftsmanship. Her
triumph has been co-existent with the
prosperity Of the people and the glory
Of the Union She has always STOOD
with the people, resisting the en-
croachments of monopoly. and has al
ways been the champion OF civil liber-
tv and human rights. The present
contest marks crisis in her history,
and it is the solemn duty Of all Demo
Gratis to see that in this contest the
true sentiments Of the party are eN-
pressed in every convention that SHAH
he held, from the primaries 10 the Ma
tional convention. IT is especially the
duty of North Carolina Democrats TO
see that the delegation sent to Chicago
will stand firmly for the money of the
people and if that convention, at the
dictafion Of Grover Cleveland and Wall
street. should set at naught the wishes
of the overwhelming majority Of the
party. and regardless of the condition
Of the country. driven to the verge Of
anarchy and ruin regardless OF the de-
mands and sufferings Of the people.
should tranple upon the viii of the
people, and attempt to pledge the
Democratic party 10 the support Of
gold bugs. ia the interest Of tTrranI.
cal plutocraey, our delegation should
he instructed to Withdraw from the
convention. repudiate its platform and
nominees. and denounce its action as
an outrage on Democratic institutions
and a menace to the existence OF the
Republic. How could wudo otherwise
North Carolina is for free silver The
people everywhere are for free silver
and every one knows this fact. This
is Democratic doctrine, and Is the para,
mount question In politics, and viii