The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-14
4 GLANCE At HISTORY PRESENT
DUTY.

II 0lANvE NJ UiS tOot..tU1 tuSSIN'
DUTY.
The Democratic party In 1880 was
victorious. carrying nearly every county
In the State. so#
In 1892 the National convention nom-
mated Cleveland for President. He had
not been n free silver advocate. bur the
platform declared for free coinage and
In his letter of acceptance Mr.. Cltve-
land Pledged himself to equal treatment
Of gold and silver. Many silver men
believed him.. Many of the members
of the Farmers Alliance did not lie
Eeye him. For that and other reasons
they quit ahe Democrat party and help
ed to organize the Populist party This
detection made the democratic. lflrty Il
minority party in North Carolina for
the first time in twenty years. though ii
still won ny = comfortable plurality.
In 1894. the Presidents inter reputlia-
tion of his letter of acceptance and plat
form pledges so outraged the people Of
North Carolina that there was still fur
ther detection from the Democratic lrar-
u which could not be stemmed. In that
campaign. with an abandon of principle.
that was something new in politics. the
Populist party made a coalition with the
Republican party by which the Fusion
lists obtained control of the Legislature.
the judiciary. and most of the county
governments. The Democrats were on
the defensive during the whole cam
paiSn owing to Cleveland's betrayal al
Democratic principles. But for this
weight. the nnholy alliance could never
have succeeded. e ts..
In 1896 the nomination Of Bryan for
the Presidency. the reputation of the
Cleveland administrat on. and the NOM
nation Of singularly clean AMI able
candidates in the State. reviv.fe,l the
Democratic. party in North Carolina.
Hundreds who had left it's ranks IN 1894
returned when they SAW that the party
these returned. number of advmates
OF the gold standard and worshipIerS
of the Stuffed Prophet. left the party
and joined new party called the Nh
tioral Democratic party. They sncceed-
ed in polling hetweei five and six hun
drcd votes for Palmer and Rnckiirr. and
kiiley camp Straight. Many nf Them
voted the Democratic State ticket.
bur their actiyify III help reg. stcr ip.Sr.,
Mckinley voters. WIN also votel fnr
Russell. made them effective. If MOI con-
sen ing. allies OF the Republicans lmriy
in eecting their State ticket. tliuilgh tile
facr thar the PopnIists and ..Str;iy,t
Democrats" voted for The same electoral
ticker made il IiipOssihh. for fflrpi . % :siv,.
the eiecinral. vutp Of the state 10 Me
kiniey. earnestly as they dtslpal ~ j"
so. In thai election The ropliltsis III
most IF the. State except in The Fin
district. continued rh+ fnsior, with Ltln.
Republicans on STATE and county ftite>.
except for TWO Safe officers. and the
fusion succeeded il giving ~ the most
iniquitouS aud dsgracefnl State govern
nent known since 1SliS-'tij.
There are reasons 10 believe that many
Of those who voted for Mckinley and
Iailupr NOW see their mistake. aud are
willing 10 come back TO the iaiyt
Democrats" aud help pnt al end Ia Ii..-
gro iostmas1rrS. trliS1-tariir>. contrac-
ton. tvr ccnI cotton and rh,. nthrr evils
that were uslcred IN with Mck;nl"yi>In.
There are also reasons for believing
THAI many nf thos+ who voted with the
tiers sec their mistake. and are will.n.
to come back 10 The "straigit lp,pli,-
craze and help put an end TO Negro
magistrates aud other negro Stale and
county officers. shameless scandals u,
public institutions. In"illaiiuu. hyln.r -
in,itctncy. aild general rrckl,.SSii-Ss. the
reign Of terror and the peace OK w.,-
nlen'> lives ~ the State. 4
Roth classes Of these former
Democrats ought to come back
home. They are largely respon