The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-09-05
EX-JUDGE A. {. AVERY
Replies Vigorously to Those
Who SIander Him.
WHAT Is TRUE
DEMOCRACY?
Chicago Platform Contains
the Eternal Principles.
THE SOUTHERN RAILROAD IS DEflED

n Cannot Direct the Policy Of the Democratic
Party While Supporting Mckinley,
the Gold Standard and
Protective Tariff.
10 the Editor: My attention has been
called to a statement which appeared
simultaneously in the letters of their RAJ
eigh correspondent in the Charlotte OBJ
server, Wilmington Messenger and Ashe-
willie Citizen. The statement is in effect,
that Gov. Russell, Senator Butler and
"a certain western Democrat have a
greed to combine influences and form
new party. Being credibly informed that
this correspondent, who happens always
to get his news items from railroad en-
ployes or Mckinley Democrats, has ac-
knowledged that he meant to refer to
me in this covert way, l deem it. due to
myself, that l should brand the state
ment. as a falsehoOd made out of the
whole cloth, and follow this denial by de-
Sniny INV position on the issues of the
day.
/ was brought up in the school o.
State-rights Democracy and was fighting
its battles against the combination of
carpet baggers and railroad plunderers,
who were looting the State treasury in
1868, when some Of my assailants were
being reared upon the spoils. When |
retired from the bench at the beginning
OF this year it was my purpose to devote
my time and energies to the establish
ment Of remunerative practice. Be
cause / dared to turn aside from this
purpose to do battle for the people against
an arrogant corporation, which was then
and is now, trying to control the State
government, am threatened with ex-
communication from my party by ats
servants and hirelings. The unblushing
effrontery of the Southern Railroad
Company and the scribblers, who do its
bidding, has never been more striklngly
exhibited than in it's efforts to shape
the policy and name the leaders of the
Democratic party, while it is claiming
control of the Republican patronage at
Washington, as a reward for its princely
contributions to Hanna's campaign fund
in 1896. l stand by and reaffrm every
line and letter of the Chicago platform
and invite the true Democrats of the
State to recur to the fundamental princi-
pies Of Jeffersonian Democracy therein
announced. propose to fight inside the
ranks and under the banner of the Dem
ocratic party, and to urge all who sub
scribe to the Chicago platform, as the
true creed OF the party, to begin the
work of reorganization for the next
campaign by expelling from the council
- %{ao
member, who cannot stand a trial by
the party touchstone of fidelity to the
principles therein declared. The COM
mittee must be purged of unfaithful men,
not only Of those, who after acting as
spies for the Southern Railway Compa-
ny, and helps for Hanna, voted openly for
Mckinley, but of those, who scratched
the Bryan ticket and above all of third
class, who voted for Bryan but secretly
rejoiced at the election of Mckinley.
Until the governing body of the party is
purged it's leaders can never stand up
as did Vance as the highpriest Of his
people in 1875, and say for themselves
and those whom they represent "These
hands are Clean" My quarrel is with
such members Of the committee as retain
the post Of helmsmen with the design of
wrecking the ship-not with the straight
forward men, like Mr.. Caldwell, who de-
clined unanimous election as member
Of the Central committee because he
foresaw the probability, that he might
refuse to support the ticket agreed upon.
THE PLATFORM OF 1s96-THE
MONEY PLANK.
The issue mainly discussed by our
brilliant young leader was clearly raised
by the declaration for "the free and un-
limited coinage of silver at the present
legal ratio of 16 to 1 without waiting
for the aid or consent of any other ma
tion." / utter the sentiments Of all the
laboring and producing classes from the
seashore to the mountains, when / de-
clare for the same presidential candidate,
standing upon the identical platform Of
1896 without dotting an ''i'' or crossing
a st." But the people of North Carolina
ought to know, that the same moneyed
influences, that nominated Cleveland in
1892 are at work to palm off on the people
in place of Bryan a gold-standard candi-
date with silver pretensions, who will
talk about as much and do about as lit
tie for silver as Mckinley. 4 move
ment is already on foot to establish So
called silver newspapers throughout the
South, that will be really owned and con-
trolled by gold Democrats and the South
ern Railroad. The tolls are being woven
around them and the snares are being
artfully set for the dnwary masses. The
only avenue of escape left is for the peo-
pie to rally to the rescue and begin the
work of organization in the township
primaries and the county convention, and
follow it up by sending men to Raleigh
next year to nominate their judges who
are neither gold-bugs in disguise nor Sc
cretly in the service Of the Southern
Railway Company. The first work that
ought to be done at the convention is
the selection Of an executive committee,
after each man suggested has proven
his fidelity. The latest and most i'm
proved method Of conducting campaign
is an invention of Mark Hanna. The
plan is to use money to have certain
men put on the committee Of the adverse