The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-12-23
STIRRING ADDRESS.
Battle Cry OF the State Democratic
Executive Committee.

Executive Committee.
Following IS the address issued by
the Democratic State Executive Com
m ttec at It's recent meeting in Raleigh:
The representatives Of the Demo-
cratic party III North Carolina con-
"ratuate the Democrats Of her sister
States, who. with a firm stand for the
principles embodied III the Chicago
platform, have won splendid victories
for the people.
In rejoicing at the success Of the
Democratic party IN The late elections.
we remind the people that Democratic
maiOritcs were largest and ltepubI!-
can maiorItics were smallest, in those
States where that platform was the
issue 1t is a significant fact that
Democracy was defeated in the States
where local concerns were allowed TO
ovcrshadow the principles ot the party.
Democracy IS ier all fire people. The
recent utteranees pf the people are
plain and decided. They have expressed
their faith IN the Chicago platform,
their belief iii bj-mctalllsm, their dis
gust and disaPproXal OF Republican
creeds and practices, and, above ali,
their hatred OF the tyfahilous gold stan
dard. They show that they will no
longer submit TO the robbery oil trusts,
the domination of bosses aHd the OPP
preston of the money power. The
talsehood of the Republican party is
crushing.
1t is equally pr0uuo uilcee, whether
we hear it, loud and free, ln the wheat
fields of Ohio aud Iowa, OF, struggling
for utterance i'll the wealth congeetcd
centre Of "Greatcr New \: DIRK, - where
the candidate for mayor RECEIVED So
600 pluraIity-a caudIClat e> whose only
campaign uttcrance was. FL an Il
Democrat who was heart*aaEt sou. for
the Chicago platform ard tA& -caudi-
dates who stood on IT. -
No less significant Is The IAc1: that
the people OF the State Of New York
have elected by 10000 maferlly as
Chief Justice of the Court Of Appeals,
4 statesman who sought support by :rtl-
nouncing that he had voted for Hon
VIM. J. Bryan last year.
And with this glorious news of Dem
ocratic success we rejoice that ''sham
international bi-mctaIlsm" has been
exposed. There is now 10 room for
Republican lodging.
We re-atlirm our belief in the prln-
ciples of the Chicago and State plat
forms of the Democratic party, us
adopted III 1896, in their entirety, ard
we will still support these principles
until they are written in our laws.
We would be untrue to the firm and
loyal allegiance the Democratic party
of North Carolina bears to our greatest
leader, | l. on. VIM. J. Bryan, if we failed
TO express our confidence i'll his honor
and integrity and in his devotion of
head and heart to TIE welfare Of all the
people. We emphasize the fact that our
greatest victory was won i'll the States
of Ohio and kentucky. where he per-
sonally appealed to the people.
We view with alarm the depressed
condition of trade and the low prices
Of all products raised by cur people,
but we remind those who heard Re
publican orators in 1896 predict dire
disaster if the Democrats were elected
that Mckinley is President of these
United States and both branches of
Congress are Republican: The people
are swift to draw the proper concIu-
sions.
In less than one year opportunity
will be given the voters TO express a
firm adhcrauce to those prime pies.
We regret that the ballot box was nut
!,
ians. North Carolina is now -accrlleirt-
ally Republican. We do net believe
that any number Of intelligent aud VIZ
tuous men expected or hoped Tor the
present rule IN this State. w are
sure all good men are eager Tor a
change. We have fallen on evil day,
IN North Carolina. They REGAL! the
days Of reconstruction. They demon
strate the truth that no southern State
can be governed with honor ard deceu-
cy by the Republican party. Too large
Il number OF It's voters are ignorant
for the masses to control; and too large
Il number OF lis leaders are yenal and
corrupt TO give North Carolina good
government. We look with horror
upon the evils wrought by a combina
ton of Republicans and the corrupt
elements of the Populist party by
means Of which our Legislature has
become Il farce, many of our office
holders become corrupt and crimnaI
and ignorance and vice raised above
intelligence and virtue. We denounce
the efforts of this combination TO place
the insane OF the State at the mercy Of
incompetent, vicious and lustful men,
aud we condemn the changes wrought
IN our laws whereby ignorant ana i'm
pure men have been placed III charge
OF schools, courts, prisons and aSyiums
These are inevitable consequences of
Republican rule. The Democratic
party promises the people on It's return
to power 10 correct all these abuses.
1t Will guarantee every citizen his
rights but it demands that virtue and
intelligence shall rule the State. Ii
viii restore TO the white women of
the State the security they felt under
the twenty years of Democracy inaur-
urated by the immortal Vance. To
the accomplishment OF these ends let
every patriotic citizen rally to the
white mans party. To your tents,
4