The Charlotte Democrat., 1897-02-04
Cut Loose From
the Republican Party,

the Republican Party.
The Populist caucus in the State
Legislature has formally dissolved
the fusion with Republicans, and
cut loose from that party. They
issue an address to the Populist vot-
ers of the State in which they say:
"The election of Mr.. Pritchard,
he candidate of Hanna, Sherman
aud Wall street, to represent the
silver sentiment Of North Carolina
n the United States Senate is a
shock to every true patriot of this
State, as we'll as the nation.
"He was elected by the votes of
those who called themselves Popu-
ulists, aud at a time when they
could as easily have elected Popu-
list Senator. Populists who fail IN
a 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 con-
tract to support the caucus nominee
of the Republican party for United
States Senator-regardless of his
position on the financial question
(even though the Governorship
might have been gotten in return for
such pledge,) they then laid their
plans to secure the votes of enough
individual Populist Senators and
Representatives of this Legislature
for such Senatorial candidate in
spite of and in defiance of the Peo-
ple's party organization. To ac-
complish such a result it was nee
essary for them to find some one or
more prominent member of the Peo
ple's party whom they could infu-
ence to barter their principles and
become their agents and tools to car
ry out conspiracy to corrupt, de-
| bauch, and, if necessary, split the
Peoples party to accomplish their
purpose.
"They found one of their agents
in the person of Col. Harry Skin
ner. The allies and satellites of
this arch traitor inside the organi-
zation played their part and by their
acts uncovered themselves to the
world in casting their votes for Mr..
Pritchard for United States Ser "a
tor. The next step in their hellish
plot is already taken. Having dis
rupted the Peoples party caucus
and accomplished the election of a
gold SenatoS by open and defiant
alliance with the minority, they are
studious}y endeavoring by every in
fuence at their command to disrupt
and destroy our organization, be
cause they and every corporation
monopoly, trust and combine, which
is represented by them in this con-
test, hate our principles and are
alarmed at the growth and increas-
| ing strength of the Peoples party
which represents these principles.
"This they will endeavor to &C
complish by using as their agents il
every community in the State eithel
some local Republican boss, or some
so called Populist, who is willing tt
accept mess Of pottage in th
shape of Federal patronage from th
Mckinley pie counter to make in
situations and false accusation
against the character, motives ant
purposes Of the majority of tn
members of the Peoples party eau
Gus and those who stand by thei
9 action. It is absolutely necessar,
, to the consummation of their con
:, spracy to break the confidence o
,, the people at home in the men VIII
: have fought without falterin
y in the face of tremendous odds an
: terrible temptation to preserve tn
integrity of the party and Its princ'
pies and to retain the balance o
i, power in the United States Senat
to prevent the further encroach
ments of the allied enemies of goo
government upon the liberties an
9 prosperity of the people.
: s:it is a part of their scheme, i
l attempting to accomplish this pun
pose, also to back up these boltin
members of the Legislature IN thel
8 respective counties and districts wit
patronage and other equally sui
Y stantial means Gas the price of the
O treachery) to enable them to eith'
= capture the Peoples party organic
/. ton and force it to approve thel
e t1eachery or to split the organizs
n ton and take their corruptive po
e ton into the Republican party.
,e either of those insiduous and deer
lie laid schemes should succeed
,r would mean the disruption if ne
e the death of the Peoples part
Is Shall we allow this hell conceive
d conspiracy against the interests al
" welfare Of suffering humanity
le succeed, that few by treachery al
IN corruption may feed and fatt'
upon the misery of millions?"