The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-05-12
REPLY TO Mr.. swINsON.

Senator Mewborne Grows Sarcastic n
Talks Like Co operation Would Not
Be a Greater Sacrifice of Principle Than
WAS Made In I8o4-Pictnres Demo
cratic--PopuIist Fusion aaTH
MY DEAR Bro. SwINsON:-I@ do not
think that a man has necessarily lost
principle because he is in favor fusion,
if SO, then the Pop1lists, not only in
North Carolina, bat in other States
where we have a foothold, have thrown
their principles away. l think of fusion,
such as I know of, can be had with any
party, whether gOldbug or ~ortherwise.
and yet principles be preserved and
shine like 1.-The bright and morning
star" Or else ours are gone, and also
those Of other States. If this issnot so
we certainly have been making bad
~precedents and doing a deal of evil that
good might come. And | think good
has come. 1 even rejoice and am ex
cecdingly glad that through fusion we
hold the balance of power in the United
States Senate to day. Who Of us are
not proud of the resolutions, speeches
| and votes of our own Senator Butler9
Likewise those of Kyle, PETER and
Allen, who, with Senator Jones, hold
that balance of power that we 80 much
covet. And yet all of these save the
latter two were elected by fusion, and
that fusion with the goldbugs, as many
| of us are pleased to call them. l think
this is all right, but you don't, and
according to your way of thinking
Butler and the three others ought to
quit holding that balance of power
| and making those splendid speeches
and casting those righteous votes, re
sign, go home and get elected right, on
middle of the road" principles, which
you say cannot be obtained in fusion.
Now, my dear Ignatious, if we fusion
lists stole this big Cfice-holder a United
States Senator) who, time at least,
himself, has held the balance Of power,
are guilty of a great crime, then you
are just as guilty for retaining him,
knowing him to have been stolen, for,
in law and equity, the receiver Is as
bad as the thief, and 1 believe, nine
out of ten times, worse, because it
takes more sense to hide stolen goods
than it does to commit the overt act,
and, worse than all, when you and
those like you are trying to do it in the
name Of principle"
N,vv h. oo,Cicto.t III khok Goth 70
his brother, Thou shalt not steal"
dost thou steal? certainly do believe
that if there was no wrong done then
$3.50 there would be none done now if
we acted along the same line. l say l
am proud of our noble Senator. He
knows where to use his balance Of
power, he uses it not only against gold
bugs and for good government, but to
help his home people as well.
You know that Capt. James B Lloyd,
as noble q young man as there is IN the
2nd Congressional District. has been
elected t 10 a splendid position at a sal
airy Of 81 500. How did he get there2
Why you know that but for this bal
ance Of power, or possibly big fusion,
and that IN some way with the gold
bugs, u Populist Senators got Lloyd
elected or other wise be could not have
been, for there were some eighty gold
bugs against him. Now if fusion is ell
right IN the Senate chamber in order 10
get one Of our boys into eff e. Why
should it be thought a thing unworthy
IN some of our other boys to fuse"
with some Of our home goldbugs? Have
they disgraced the eff ,es they now
hold2 Have they debauched principle
in obtaining them2 Dare you to show
where a single one of them has got out
of the middle of the road2 If you do
you will show yourself ON the same
plane.
/ placed Bro. Buffers name in nomi
nation for U nited States Senator in the
last State Senate, and l was glad to
do so. 1 seconded the nomination of
Mr.. Pritchard and I was glad to do
that because he and his friends had
made it possible for me help to elect
Butler and I have never been ashamed
Of it, nor is Senator Butler for he etill
retains his seat in the Senate, gotten
in the way you now despise.
Listen: These Pops are getting too
uppish. They not only hold the bal
ance of power in Washington" pre-
Uenting any further bad legislation
Italics mine, IF they can't get any
good legislation passed, but they