The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-01-07
THE SENATORSFFIP.
The Caucasian Attacks Pritehard for his
Rapid Changes.

Rapid Changes.
The Caucasian, which will be issued
to-day, prints as its leader the following
EDITORIAL, showing how Senator Pritch-
ard has Topped back and forth on the
money question:
In nearly every speech in the last cam
paign Senator Pritchard gave the pub
he to understand that he had changed
his views. He is reported not only by
the newspapers buE by those who heard
him speak, to have used expressions like
the following: Il haye changed my mind
about the free and unlimited coinage Of
silver at the ratio of 16'to /. now think
that it would be, disastrous. I favor it il
we can get it by international agree
ment. / stand flat-footed ON every plank
in the st. Louis platform, the financial
plank and a0' Again he is reported in
a speech in Metropolitan hall to have
used the following language. "The free sill
yer people want free whiskey, free trade
and free silver and everything free but
free negroes" In short when he did not
keep silent, he ridiculed and belittled free
silver, which is only cne of the first
steps to financial reform, more money
and relief.
Can any Populist support a man for
the highest and most important legisla-
tive office in the country, who expresses
such views? Besides the leading Republi-
can paper in the State, editorially set
forth that Senator Pritchard had changed
and would in the future stand squarely
by the "sound money" platform Of the
National Republican party, but that he
would vote for free silver till the 9TH Of
next March. The editor stated that he
had a letter from Senator Pritchard
on this question and that he was stating
| his position.
The above was understood to be his
position by the State committees of both
| the Populist and Republican parties last
summer. And this is why there was
| no cooperation on the Senator and Gov
ernor. The Peoples party was very
anxious to make such terms as would
| give us the Governor, but our State COM
mittee by a unanimous vote refused to
! support Senator Pritchard or any man
/ holding such views, even in return for the
! Governor. SO the two committees CO.
| operated as far as they could and left each
party to put up its own candidate for
/ the Senate.
! 1t is now reported that Senator Pritch-
| ard is ready to change his position again.
/ Col. Skinner has letter from him, which
! he is showing around to some OF
! the members Of the Legislature. We are
informed by those who have seen it that
Senator Pritchard is now ready to pledge
; himself to vote for free silver if it is
not offered as a rider to tariff and "other
| matters" This means that Senator
/ Pritchard puts tariff and others matters
| over and above the financial question.
| When a rider is put on any bill a man
! votes for or against the rider according
/ to whether he thinks it Of more or less
/ Importance than the other question.
! In the first place no Populist could af-
/ ford to vote for Senator Pritchard occu-
| pying this position, even if he had not
| changed last summer. In the section
| place, no Populist can afford to vote
! for man for Senator who has Topped
/ around as he has, no matter what he
| pledges now.
| The Peoples party has vigorously and
I justly condemned the Democratic party
I for its inconsistent and Topping course
/ on the financial question. There are
! dozens Of prominent men whose course
I and changing positions have been what
/ his has; every Populist in the State has
/ condemned their course as unreliable and
unsafe.
| No Populist can maintain himself or his
! party unless he takes the same stand to-
! ward Senator Pritnhsr5 -A-.y- E-vpuIst
VINO is satisfied with his course need new
er TO have Joined the Peoples party, be-
cause he would have been at home in
either Of the old parties We warn each
POpulist who believes in his principles
and loves his party to consider these mat
ters before he makes fatal blunder-a
blunder that viii be fatal to his party if
his party is held responsible for his acts.