The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-09-25
A UNION ON PRINCIPLE ALONE

The Charlotte Observer breaches the
doctrine that Democrats may well
scratch the electoral ticket, because
some of the candidates upon it are
not Democrats, and will in the electoral
college. not vote for the nom
inee of our party for President;
and further it challenges the right OF
the State Executive committee to put
the names OF Populists ON the State
ticket in the place of Democratic NOM
inees. Let as suppose the whole argu-
ment of the Observer TO be correct,
which we deny; let US suppose that III
strict right the State committee has
no right to replace any Democrat who
NAV retire fran our ticket with Pop
ulist, though we deny it; and yet such
action has been taken by our State
committee, with singular unanimity
among the members of the commit
tee, representing the party in every
section of the State, and the commit
| IpHDlPu Uu6lnSClNCS Va "0DDAAJ wv
same gentlemen who for many years
have been charged with the RESPONSE
bility of conducting party matters.
There are many things not strictly
lawful that yet may be done by COM
men consent. In the management of
the.affairs of numerous party, unani-
1N.a cd h11h
actiSn taken by general consent may
well be followed by unanimous
aequfescence.
The action taken by our Executive
committee does not stand alone. -Four
years ago similar action was taken in
other States in order to secure the cleo
ton of President Cleveland; and this
year similar action has been had in
many States. Indeed, the only hope for
the defeats of McKinley,is to be found in
the electoral fusion that secures to
Iryan the votes of the Westera States.
As Democrats and party men are we &c
cohdemn fusion on high principles, and
resisting the temptation of thereby
eleeting our no8ninee and seeuring party
success and the triumph Of our party
doctrines, submit ourselves to defeat
and the installation of McNinleyism
and sitbSact our ooentrymen tea longer
continuance of Industrial depression
and financial evils?
Are the evils which we com
bat merely imaginary, or are
they substantial? Is it of cease
quence to our country and to CUR
countrymen that McKinieyism shall
be defeated, and that the policies ad,
vocated by the Democratic party shall
be enforced? IF SO, what patriotic cit
in the method of securing the result
is not strictly according to the rules
laid down by Hoyle? When Napoleon
fell on the Austrians in Italy, the old
tactieians held up their hands in hor-
ror-this young man, they said, does
not proceed according to the rules Of
Wal. Ioub SIC biAC atAO1aT
ing to his desire. We Democrats, we
opponents of those Austrians--those
McKinleyites, propose to unite all the
Corps d'Armie that we can, and fall
upon them and clear the field of them
even as the little corporal cleared the
field of Italy of his foes. Political
campaigns in some respects are not dis
similar from military campaigns; and
General Forrest was right in attribut-
ing his success to getting there first
with the most men," That is the OBJ
iect of electoral fusion-not merely
here in this State, but in many other
States. This suggestion, however, act
ually arises: That Forests men all
had common object in view: They
were all Confederates. Yes. And SO,
now. All who shall consort together to
make an effort to route the enemy viii
be Bryan men; will be men
whose National conventions have
solemnly set him before the
COuUDIY d5 biAS1A &>bOiSC III a ANslAlS4Ais
With a million voters at his back, more
than Mckinley can boast, shall he fail
because on other matters these men
do not agree; and shall our country
suffer under McKinleyism because of
these differences on minor matters?
Common sense rebels against
such proposition. Patriotism
is shocked by such sug-
gestion. Partyism, the purpose to put
in operation in our country the policies
Of our party, stands aghast at the idea
of reiinquishing victory and counting
defeat, and establishing the evil poll
cies Of our unpatriotic opponents,
merely because some who would aid
v.I In ~