The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-01-28
GONE ATLAST.


of such thing in these latter
days) as can be found in the famous
Aesop's fables.
THE COMMONWEALTH has never be-
lieyed in the too often futile attempt
to mix political principles. What have
we in Mr.. Pritchard's election? Why,
simply a clear demonstration of the
fact that the Populist party has, for all
these years, been fighting not so much
for principle, which has been the high
sounding key on which Pspulist leaders
have all the while been playing, as for
some political advantage whereby they
could get an top and put down the
Democratic party. The Republican lead
ers soon saw what was the one consum- |
ing desire that dominated the Populist
leaders, and they were smart enough to
lay safe and sure plans whereby they
might placate the Populists by certain
trades and at the same time fasten
their hold upon the government of the
country with such tenacity that they
would feel no fears of being shaken
foose. The result is Republican rule
in the nation and largely so in the
states.
This is peculiarly true in North
Carolina, all which proves that there
has not been so much love OF principle
behind the movements OF the Populist
party as desire to push the Demo-
cratic party aside tor the simple desire
of getting control themselves.
The financial question-gold or sill
yer-was the all-absorbing question
throughout North Carolina, as we'll as
throughout the entire country during
the last campaign. The Republican
party had all the while been the open
and ayowed advocate of the gold stand
ard. The Populists made the demand
for free silver one of their loudest, most
deatening, and to say the truth, most
effective appeals to the people. A large
majority OF the Democratic party also
made the issue on the demand for free
silver; but when the time came to vote
the Populists mixed, not with Demo.
Gratis, who where making free silver
the slogan-the battle cry-like them
selves but they combined their forces
with the Republicans in order to gel
control OF county Offices, placing the
little salary of county Office above
what they had proudly called "prlnci
ples'' from the first conception of thel1
leaders to overthrow the Democratic
party. So the Republicans set the ne
and in they walked-too glad in man,
cases to do it, because In so doing the,
felt that they had "got even" with th,
Democrats.
When the vote was to be taken fo1
United States Senator all the Republl
cans had to do was to call to the mind.
of the Populists what obligations the,
were under, both in matters of count,
offices as we'll as occupying seats in tn,
Legislature and the business was done
Of course some Populists stuck GU
against Mr.. Pritchard and voted for DR.
Thompson, but enough went over t,
the Republicans to elect him.
No matter about Mr.. Pritchard'
declarations for free silver. He was ,
candidate for reelection and it was sim
ply trick played at the expense of tn,
Populists. If Mr.. Pritchard was a
strong silver man as he professed
Mark Hanna's congratulations woul,
hardly have been so warm and cordial
Besides, would 1t have been reasons
BILE for the entire Republican vote il
the Legislature to support Pritchard
they had believed him the silver ma,
he claimed to be? Republicans are fo
gold, and the Republicans in the Nortl
Carolina Legislature know that Pritc1
ard is for gold too.
The whole thing points to the mors
certainty that henceforth no heed wi
be given to the declarations OF the Por
ulists about what they have proud
called principle" for the past few year
AS a political party in North Carolin
they have gone "where the wood-bin
twlneth and the whangdoodle mourn