The news & observer., 1897-01-28

Stung by Silence, Populists Propose
Unanimously TO Act in Legislature
lndepenoe emily of Republicans
and Appeal to Their People.
The Populist caucus met last night i'll
the Senate chamber, and adopted unani-
mGusly the following resolution:
Resolved, That inasmueh as the Re
publican caucus has failed to gives an
answer to our request that they observe
the contract Of cooperation and mas
much as they have refused to even hold
a caucus to consider our request, that this
this caucus reofBrm the resolution passed
last night to the effect that they by their
failure to proceed had broken the con
tract entered into last summer. and that
therefore all connection and negotiations
from this caucus to them be closed, 3nd
that all other resolutions passed last
night be and are hereby affirmed
After the passage of this resolution, an
address was formulated, as printed be-
low. to Populist voters, and was endorsed
by the caucus unanimously.
The address is as follows:
AN ADDRESS.
To the Peoples party voters of North
Carolina and the United States:
The election of Mr.. Pritchard, the cam
dilaite of Hanna, Sherman and Wall
street, to represent the silver sentiment
of North Carolina in the United States
Senate is shock to every true patriot or
this State, as well as the nation.
He was elected by the votes of those
who called themselves Populissts, and at
a time when they could as easily have
elected a Populist Senator. Populists
who fail in critical hour to stand for
Populist principles are not the Populists
in whose hands and under whose lead
ership the principles of the party can be
carried to victory.
When the Peoples party last summer
refused to enter into contract to support
the caucus nominee of the Republlcan
party Tor United States Senator regard
less of his position on the financial ques-
ton ieven though the Governorship
might have been gotten in return for such
a pledge.) they then laid their plans to Sc
cure the votes of enough individual Top
ulist Senators and Representatives OF
this Legislature for such a Senatorial
candidate in spite of and in defiance OF
the Peoples party organization. To ac-
complish such result it was necessary
for them to find some one or more prom
inent member of the Peoples party whom
they could influence to barter their prln-
ciples and become their agents and tools
to carry out conspiracy to corrupt, de-
bauch. and, if necessary, split the Peo-
ss.J, ss,~
They found one of their agents In the
person of Col. Harry Skinner. The al
lies and satellites of this arch traitor in
side the organization played their part
and by their acts uncovered themselves
to the world in casting their votes for
Mr.. Pritchard for United States Senator.
The next step in their hellish plot is al
ready being taken. Having disrupted
the Peoples party caucus and accom-
plished the election of gold Senator, by
open and defiant alliance with the min
ority, they are studiously endeavoring by
every influence at their command to dis
rupt and destroy our organization, be-
cause they and every corporation, monop-
oly. trust and combine, which is repre-
scented by them in this contest, hate our
principles and are alarmed at the growth
and increasing strength of the People, s
party, which represents these principles
This they will endeayor to accomplish
by using as their agents in every conn
munity I'M the State either some local
Republican boss, or some s0-called Pop
ulist, who is willing to accept a mess OF
pottage in the shape of Federal patron
age from the Mckinley pie counter TO
make insinuations and false accusations
Al ,.lSsx 1a.o4ix- 1na Ir
poses of the majority of the members
of the Peoples party caucus and those
who stand by their action. 1t is abso-
lutely necessary to the eonsummation OF
their conspiracy to break the confidence
of the people at home in the men who
have been fought without falteTing in
dhe face of tremendous odds and terrible
temptation to preserve the integrity OF
the PARTY and its principles and to retain
the balance of power in the United States
Senate to prevent the further encroach-
ments Of the allied enemies of good gov
ernTnent upon the liberties and prosperity
of the people.
Tt is a part of their scheme, i'm attempt-
ing to accomplish this purpose, also to
back up these lbolting members of the
Legislature in their respective counties
and districts with patronage and other
equally substantial means (as the price
of their treachery) 10 enable them to
either capture the Peoples party organ
ization and force it to approve their
treachery or to split the organization and
take their corruptive portion into the
Republican parity If either of those in
sidious and deep-laid schemes should sue
ceed ii would mean the disruption If not
the death of the Peoples party. Shall we
allow this hell conyeiyed conspiracy a.
gainst the interests and welfare of suffer
ing humanity to succeed that a few by
tireachery and corruption may feed and
fatten upon the misery of millions?
Certain lewd fellows of the baser sort
had Iannnd themselves in an oath that