The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-26
CIVIL CARRY NORTH CAROLINA BY 70,
OO0."

"There is much being said about the
dutv of the next Democratic convention.
To orr mind the path is open anu
straight. Conventions are for the pur-
nose of nominating candidates ana
enunciating principles and party poilcies.
The next Democratic State convention
will simply ratify the nomination Oh
indres made by the districts. That VIII
end its work as to candidates. n more
important matter will come before IL.
at must declare Democratic purposes
and principles. If the editor was a MEM
her of the committee on platform IN that
hody he would urge the following: line
Democratic party in North Carolina re-
affirms its belief in the Chicago platform
ms adopted by the National Democratic
convention in 1896 in its entirety, and 1t
will support the principles there SET forth
until the same are written in our laws;
and still adhering to the principles or
the National Democratic party, we de-
clare our confidence in its trusted leader
and we pledge to the Hon. VIM. Jen-
nings Bryan, the faith and support OF
the true Democrats of this State.
1--WE look with horror upon the evils
r.
cans and Populists by means Of which
orr legislation has become a farce, many
of our office holders become corrupt, and
Ignorance and vice, raised above intel
ligence and virtue. We denounce the eff
forts of this combination to place the in
sane at the mercy of incompetent and
vicious men, and we condemn the chang
es wrought in our laws by means OF
which impure. and ignorant officials
have been. placed in charge OF schools,
courts, prisons and asylums.
'The Democratic party promises the
people on its return to power to reform
all the abuses of the past four years. 1t
will guarantee every citizen his rights,
but it demands that virtue and intelli-
gence shall rule the State. That plat
form will carry North Carolina Demo-
cratic by at least $4,000 votes. "-Wins-
ton Ledger.
This is very near an ideal platform.
The editor of the Ledger understands
that .'the white man and the white met
al" must be the shibboleth. Men who
do not feel the shame that negroism has
brought upon the State and Nation,
through Fusion State government and
Republican Federal government, either
have lost the pride of Anglo-Saxon blood
or they are willing to see the civilization
of the State lowered in order to get in or
keep in office.
There are other important matters that
concern the people beside the principles
enunciated in the Chicago platform, but
we believe that if those principles were
enacted into law they would be of more
the days of Jefferson. They embody the
creed of just and equal government,
carrying also the power to prevent 9th
ers taking from the mouth of labor the
bread it has earned"
There are other evils to be remedied
beside the ngroizing that jeopardizes the
civilization of the State. But, beside the
necessity of restoring white supremacy
in North Carolina, there is no other
State issue that can be mentioned even
secondary to it in Importance. That
safely secured, other questions can be
settled and settled right.
The political power of corporations,
always dangerous to free government,
has no check when Republicans govern
either in this or any other State. The
white people of North Carolina viii not
only do justice by the great corpora
tions, but will compel them to do JUS
tice by the people. Nothing more is
wanted and nothing less will be given.
Railroad Commissioners ought to be
elected by the people; railroads ought to
be listed for taxation at the same valua-
ton as other corporate property; rail-
road freight and passenger rates ought
to be regulated with reference to the re-
ceipts, reducing them when it can be
done without denying reasonable profit
70 m. owners; and spirit Of justice and
fairness ought 10 control all the relations
between the State authorities and the
corporations it has created. There is
no hope for these things, or other salu-
tary measures, under men who depend
for their election upon the negro vote.
Men have been elected by that vote and
in occasional instances proven incorrupti-
BILE, but in the South the ignorance Of the
negro has given us corrupt officials from
whom no good thing could be expected.
Unless white men rule, not only is our
civilization debased, but political corpora
tions dominate and control.
The Asheville Gazette commends the