The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-13
NEWSOM MAKES DEFENSE
ANO TrE SENATOR MAKES STRIC.
TuReS ATTIRE SAME TIME.
He Finds Comfort For Minority Popu-
lists in the Short Comings OF
the MAJORITY"

has tranSplred during the last six or
eight months
AS | read the editorials and commmuni-
cations, i'll the Caucasian, endorsing
Senator Butler and the action of the ma
jOrity Populist caucus in the recent
Legislature, my mind wanders back just
about one year ago, when like series
of editorials and communications APP
peared in the Caucasian, endorsing the
action of the Populist State committee
i'll refusing to accept the Republicans
terms Of fusion, which mentioned only
division of offices, and said nothing
about principles. Then principles were
everything; but, alas, how soon this
theme was thrown to the wind!
One of the latter communications APP
peared over signature, briefly express
ing my sentiments in regard to fusion;
and | have tried to live strictly up to
the spirit OF that communication. How
about most of the other correspondents
Mr. II. II. Hodges, for instance, who
wrote one of the strongest of said com
munications? Is it not strange, that
men who claim to be honest and truth
full should so suddenly face about and
do the very thing they had recently con-
demned so loudly. without giving any
good reason for so doing? Yet this is
what most of them did.
The Caucasian, too. after all it's strong
assertions on the subject, not only agreed
to gOld-bug Republican fusion, or Il di
vision of offices without regard to prin-
cipleS; but actually refused or failed to
publish one of these same cOmmunica-
lions with Il short comment added, de-
nounced those who would not endorse
said fusion or dared oppose it, read them
out of the party and bid them go and
affiliate with some other party. (See
Caucasian of October 18th, 1866
Now the results of such fusion have
been realized in part at least; and the
picture is no darker than | expected. In
fact, it is very much as | predicted during
the campaign.
In the Pritchard muddle, it seems to
me that the Caucasian plead ignorance,
when it stated, that, when it agreed to
Repubhcan-populist fusion, it never
dreamed of such state of affairs and
hence was not prepared to meet it. 1t
knew that the Republicans were pledged
to J. C.. Pritchard in open convention.
Was it not reasonable to believe that they
would use every effort possible to accom-
plish their purpose, Hanna's money not
excepted? Evil associations corrupt
good morals" and it seems that some of
the boys were corrupted in this case;
and Republican influences. like the great
red dragon mentioned in Revelations xii,
) and4, drew away a third part of the
POpulist stars in the Legislature, elected
a gold-bug Senator, defeated the anti
lease bill, attempted to repeal the most
wholesome features of the boosted cleo
ton law and thrOttled almost every eff
fort to carry out the Populist State plat
form.
In the Caucasian's issue of the 4th
uit., after part of the results of fusion
had been realized and others seemed ID
evitable, it declares Cooperation q dis
NAL failure" something it seemed to
know a year ago, but apparently forgot
only few months later, when the com
bat was thickening and every Populist
should have stood firmly by the principles
on which the party was organized.
/ agree with the Caucasian in regard
to gold-bug Republican fusion; but | see
no failure in Bryan cooperation, except
failure to elect. But it says that gold
bug Democrats are responsible for his
defeat. This may be true; but have not
Populists asserted all along that Grover
Cleveland, John Sherman and others
should be forced to show their hands and
stand together, so they would no longer
deceive their constituents? The eau
casian didn't expect a man who was a
gold-bug for selfish motives or who hon
estly believed in the gold standard to
support the Hon. William j. Bryan,
did it?
In an editorial of the 25th ult., it says
that 1.-The Legislature is a damnabe dis
grace" yet, the Caucasi n and the Pop
ulist party of North Carolina are largely
responsible for its makeup.
| fought gold-bug fusion, whether Re
publican or Democratic, with all the
energy there was in me; and | have no
apologies to offer for my course | joined
the Populist party at it's first convention
in my county. because it espoused the
principles which / believed to be correct;
and | worked for it with all the zeal |
possessed; but, when it sacrificed its
principles and attempted to lead me into
the camp of the enemy, l stubbornly
resisted, for the very same reason that
| kicked against Grover in 1892.
Now, it seems that the Caucasian is
retracing its steps and inquiring for ''the
old paths" and, when it is safely in them,
may 1t never, no never, wander from the
path of rectitude again. Will it stand
firmly by the principles on which the
party was founded hereafter; or will it
again turn about and face in an oppo-
site direction, put another mongrel ticket
and demand that men shall walk up and
swallow it, however distasteful or I'M
wholesome it may be, or get out of the
party! These are questions that men
are bordering over and asking; and the
Populist party must answer in no uncer-
tain way, if it exists much longer. The
Democrats went astray after Grover, but
they are trying to redeem themselves;
and why not the Caucasian and the
Popui'st party-what is left of it in this
State do likewise?
| believe that men who were over am
bilious for positions and power are re-
sponsible for all this; but, according to
the Caucasian and many other papers,
it seems that Skinner & Company have
corralled all of this class, SO perhaps
they will not again harm or molnsr
l.. % NHWSOM