The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-12

pulpit and priesthood in so far as it could
| be reached by mercenary considerations;
an UNANIMOUSLY malevolent and persistent
defamation Of the Chicago platform and
it's adherents by "maliciously menda-
cious" metropolitan press; the active,
malignant, relentless hostility of a recalci-
trant Democratic administrat,-thes
were some of the forces and influences
which he was called to fight
That he went down in apparent defeat
in this first great disadyantageous as
sault upon the powers Of plutocracy is no
cause for wonder no cause for discour-
agement.
Not as our North Sea ancestors who
drank uncovered and III silent gloom to
the slain in Valhalla, but rather as their
modern descendants, who only the other
day, went down with their ship into the
| surging seas defantly chanting their ma
tional anthem of triumph,-let us meet
this hour and article of defeat.
The principles which Bryan advocated,
the cause which he championed, can new
er be lost till Liberty is lost.
Defeat is but momentary disappoint-
Truth crushed to earth shall rise again;
| The eternal years of God are hers"
With wisdom learned from this tenn
porary overthrow, with wider dissemina-
| ton Of the truths OF this great discus
sion, with juster appreciation of the
supreme Importance of financial reform;
| with not only a partial fusion, but an
| absolute unifcation of all the forces of
| bimetaIlism, we may feel devoutly conf
dent that its white banner will be carried
to assured victory in nineteen hundred.
/ al, fnr Hafaat hI1t with
absolute faith in God and humanity, with
absolute faith in the capacity of this peo-
| pie for self-government, and therefore
| absolute faith in the final triumph of the
| right, let us grid up our loins and unity
| our forces, not only for the next great
| national contest, but also for those near
| er and minor contests, which must be
! fought and won as its necessary prelim-
| inaries.
| stand now where | stood at Chicago,
| where ] stood during the campaign, and
/ where the Democratic party stands and
must stand, unequivocally and without
| apology upon every plank, every principle,
| every pledge, every demand of the Chi
| cago platform
| The fight must go on till the free and
/ unlimited coinage of both gold and silver,
at their traditional, historic, and legisla-
| tive ratio of sixteen to one, is an
| accomplished fact; till life tenure in
| office, except as fixed by the Constitu-
| ton, is abolished; till executive autocracy
| and usurpation is effectually curbed; till
| government by injunction shall give place
| to the orderly processes of the law; till
/ bond issues in time OF peace shall cease;
1 till just income tax shall once more
| be placed on the statute books and eff
| fectuated by the courts; till all exclusive
| banking privileges shall be abrogated; till
| the great lawless trusts, monopolies and
| combines Of this country shall be throt-
| tied by the law; till all unjust discrimina-
| tion,. by law, against the masses and in
| favor of the classes shall be obliterated
| till this is once again a government OF
the people, by the people, and for the
people"
These are basic principles and policies
| and for these we shall continue to fight
| till God shall give us the victory.
| God help us to be wise enough, and
| patriotic enough, to forget minor differ
| ences, to forget mutual opprobiums and.
| epithets, to forget, il need be, even party
| shibbOeths, and to come together to save
| North Carolina and her great institutions,
| to save the next Senate of the United
| States, to save the next Congress and
| Presidency, to save free and fair govern
ment on this continent-fr0m the selfish,
merciless, upholders of the single gold
standard, from the enemies of the peo-
| pie.
Entertaining these views and hopes,
Mr. President, heartily second the nom
| ination of w. j. Bryan, and trust that
| shall have the pleasure OF doing so UNI
der happier circumstances in nineteen
hundred.
MIR. LOCKE CRAIG'S SPEECH.
Mr.. Locke Craig, Democratic elector-
at-large, was then recognized. He said:
While the Presidential contest of 1896
is ended the struggle for the restoration
of the money of the Constitution and the
emancipation of the people from the
tyranny of plutocracy has just begun. In
the last campaign for the first time the
line was sharply drawn between Pluto
cracy and Democracy and these opposing
forces are arrayed for the irresponsible
conflict In the recent election. there
is much to encourage those, who believe
in government by the people and for
the people Within four months of the
election we were divided, disorganized,
disheartened, deserted by our accustomed
leaders. We entered the campaign al
most bewildered. On the other hand,
plutocracy entrenched in power was ar
rogantly confident, and solidly united. 1t
controlled the National committees Of
both the great parties, it welded the
power of every corporation, trust and
combine, it was sustained by the press
and by the pulpit, it was backed by the
consolidated money power of the world.
And yet in a few months, there was or
ganized and conducted fight that strain
ed every nerve and sinew of plutocracy,
and forced it trembling for its very exist
ence to resort to high handed intimidation
and coercion, and fragrant corruption UNI
known in the history OF the world, since
the days, when the imperial purple of
Rome was sold at public auction on the
walls OF the Praetorian camp.
North Carolina should be proud Of her
action in this great contest. Poor and
plundered by Federal legislation she may
be, but she demonstrated that she still
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