The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-19


to swim in water over his head
until he had learned how to
swim. But, successful in other
things, Mr.. Blair evidently thinks he is
called to instruct his benighted fellow
citizens that it is to their interest to have
a dollar so sound that it will buy twenty
and more pounds of cotton. AS long as he
contented himself with this dissertation
along that line, we had no disposition to
criticise his work as public educator.
Indeed, we actually read his articles
and found that he was an apt pupil of
that school of financiers who believe that
the way to better the financial system is
to convert the Treasury notes into in
terest-bearing gold bonds. That school
embraces some gentlemen for whom we
entertain the highest regard, and we es-
TEEN none higher than Mr.. Blair, but it
is our conviction that the policy pursued
by Sherman and Carlisle .was in
augurated and carried out for the ex-
press purpose of compelling an issue of
gold bonds. Recently, however, Mr.
Blair aspires to tell the people Of the
United States what the voters of North
Carolina are going to do in the next
campaign. Yesterdays Winston Senti-
mel contained the following:
"Mr. w. A. Blair writes to Sound
Money as follows: in North Caro-
lima there is now a strong feeling
among the Democratic politicians
that they must drop the question of
silver and the Chicago platform and
join forces on the platform of good
government This will help weaken
the silver cause"
In 1896 Mr.. Blair was unwilling to
vote for Mr. Bryan because of his views
on the money question. Naturally he
would delight to see the Democratic par
ty take a position that twill help weak
en- the silver cause" and the wish is
farther to the thought. If there is "a
strong feeling among Democratic poll
ticians that they must drop the question
of silver and the Chicago platform"
will Mr.. Blair please give the name
of even five such Democratic politi-
clans" We mean real Democrats, not
so-called Democrats who voted for Nc
Kinley or Palmer. They are not Demo-
Gratis, no matter what they call them
selves, though some of them essay to
talk as if they expected to have voice
in the control Of the Democratic party.
There is but one way that they can get
back into the Democratic party, and that
is by coming up and promising hereafter
to support all the nominees of the party
from constable to president. The door
year they and all others will be invited
to help support the Democratic ticket
as the only way to secure decent gov
eminent in North Carolina.
II Mr.. Blair will attend the next Demo-
cratic convention he will have his eyes
opened as to the real situation. He will
find, first of all, that the convention
will by vote of 957 to 43-not more
ratify and endorse without the crossing
of ST. or the dotting OF an 81" each
and every plank in the Chicago platform.
1t viii be no mere empty form. 1t will
be done with enthusiasm, born of convic-
ton and viii be done with a viii. The
language Of the endorsement will be
as strong as the English language can
be written. Not only SO, but the conven-
ton viii congratulate the people upon
the growth of the public sentiment in
favor of bi-metallism and the other re-
forms in the Chicago platform as evil
denced in the elections of 1897. The plat
form win 90 further and send greetings
to William Jennings Bryan, the eloquent
leader Of Democracy, and give him and
every other Democrat in America assur-
ance that the North Carolina Democracy
win take no backward step, but is ready
and eager to wage another and win
ming campaign for the reforms promised
in the Chicago platform. More than
that: The convention will point out
that every promise made by the gold
standard advocates has been broken, and
every prediction of better times and bet
ter government has shown that the Nc
Kinleyites and Palmerites were false
prophets. When Mr.. Blair sees all this,
as he will see it if he is present, does
ANYBODY sunnCse he will AGAIN say that
the Democrats see they must drop the
question Of silver and the Chicago plat
formg
Mr.. Blair win also see the Democratic
convention hold to public condemnation
the reign of terror, scandals and disgrace
after disgrace that have followed in the
wake Of the success of the gold-bugs, ne
groes and fusionists in North Carolina,
just as fayoritism to trusts and mono
poles followed the election of McKin-
Low tt,o a. Al La 80,