The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-07
@essenger.
{" ORDER TO WIN 1T Is NOT NEG
E6SARY TO rMPROMISE

Ink lfoo " A6AA ~
necessary this far from the campaign
~ next year-a year before the cleo
zion or more-to write daily or weekly
h IN the approaching contest. In two
what it thought might be best done.
1t has not been silent because it did
mot appreciate h Importance Of the
coming struggle for the redemption Of
Che state, but because it was an off
year and there were more timely and
Instructive questions up. The Messen-
ger has copied scores OF opinions from
the state press. SO far as we nav OBJ
served there Is very nearly practical
agreement as to two propositions:
l. The state canno be redeemed un-
Bezs the democratic party receives help
1r0rn outside.
z That 1T is of the first Importance
k0 the best interests of the state that
from place and power.
We have heretofore discussed these
propositions and do not propose to en-
ter upon their consideration now. They
are to be thought OF by all true friends
al just, sound, economical government,
and all desiring these ends to be
sought must some how agree as to duty
and as to the surest way of reaching
them. We do not believe that any gen.
wine democrat will be ready to enter
Erfn nnu ooraornonf III t 10 n ichonnrin y
personally or that would lower the
name and prestige of the democratic
party. We do not think that unworthy
propositions, by WhOmSOever offered,
should be tolerated, much less accept
ed Principles must be maintained or
Tine name democrat is a sham and a de-
ceptiOn-an empty, pretentious thing
unworthy of an honest. conscientious
xr5an. Their is no little talk outside of
This state as to abandoning principles
10 make terms and even votes. Among
7Dd7est men that would be a sure way
10 lose votes. Politicians ordinarily are
not ~scrupulous. They go in for win
ming. With them as with the recip-
tents of cigarette trust favors-the end
sought sanctifies the means used.
States that cannot be carried without
diShonor should not be carried. The
trend is to separate personal honor
from politics. 1t is held hat a man
may be a very decent member of soci-
ETY., v a reputable communicate in
a church, and yet practice rascally
methods in politics. We believe that
character is character, hat homo is
honor, that truth is truth everywhere.
1t may be old-fashioned, out of date,
to stand by the virtues, and insist that
IA man must take with him everywhere
mis- truth, his integrity, his manliness,
his high sense of right. Individually we
would scorn a proposition involving an
abandonment of principle and a be-
trayal of honor. We will not be party
20 any abandonment even in politics of
primary virtues. In the northern pa
pers you will read of plans by which
this or that state may be lost or saved,
and read between the lines you will see
hat it is tantamount to a sell out, a
compromise Of basic principle, a con-
oesyiOn to r~ascality and insincerity.
Since we wrote this we have seen the
following in a recent issue of the
Nashville Daily Sun, a staunch, IN
wavering democratic paper:
"The democratic party ann afford
70 sacrifice a principle ever for the GER
Ha1ntU IF clJopoCC Sl1Ph CI1pnnCS would
mean nothing beneficial except the
gaining of the caves and fishes Of Of
flee. and no great party can afford to
make these things it's prime object;
when 1t does the sooner that party
goes out of business the better. On
the other hand such success would
mean much harm. The only n.y.
pothesis upon which it can be explain
ed is that these papers do not appre-
~ciate the magnitude Of the sacrifice Of
ANY principle; those who have them
selves sacrificed principle never do.
= 1t is time for the democratic
party to cease trucking to New York.
We have been trucking to her for the
last quarter OF a century. She has
been the dictator of the party. One lit
Gle word boss in New York state has
been held in higher Importance than a
whole coterie of broadminded states
men from this section. With thumbS in
his waiscoat and fingers wagging with
the conceit Of his own power, the lit
fle word boss has gone about making
Eis demands of the democratic party,
with the threat that unless those de-
mands were acceded to he would
knife the party and defeat it in New
York. To such an extent has this con-
<cession of Importance to New York
been carried hat actually a fight for
constable in some God-forsaken district
In that state has been made to assume
greater national interest than a contest
Tor governor in a southern state.
We are heartily tired of having New
York politics and New York methods
injected into our national campaigns
Let the democracy stand by their
guns. They should invite recruits to
sheir ranks. They should extend hearty