The news & observer., 1897-01-28

KNOW ttuei1s
The only way by which the Peoples
party can be able to maintain it's exis-
tence, strengthen is lines, and advance
it's principles, upon which good govern
ment must be founded, is by purging from
it's ranks all who have committed the
crime of placing self above the welfare
of the people.
Seventeen members of the Legislature
Of North Carolina, calling themselves
Populists, under the traitorous direction
of Congressman Harry Skinner, aided
and abetted by prominent Populists of
other States, high in the councils of the
party, have committed this crime ana
have been promptly repudiated and eX-
PEELED from the organization, and there
fore, branded as traitors 10 the basic
principles of good government and enc
mics to the welfare of humanity.
The seductive, but slimey snake of
fusion has. no doubt, stuck its poisonous
fangs to a greater or less depth, into the
organization of the Peoples party in
many other States. Therefore this
purging must also be done. 1t can not
be begun too soon.
The presence Of this disease was pain
fully and dangerously evident ut the last
National convention of the Peoples
party.
Four years ago when the Peoples
party met In National convention at
Omaha, composed of delegates from every
quarter of the Union, men who, in the
past, aad affiliated with different political
parties--they met on common ground,
moved by a unity of purpose toward a
common end.
In the last National convention we
were confronted by the baneful and
poisonous effects Of Republican fusion in
the South, swinging the party to one
extreme, and Democratic fusion in the
West, swinging the party to the other
extreme, which, not only destroyed the
harmony and unity of method, but also
endangered the very existence OF the or
ganlZati0n.
Thus the heroic and patriotic efforts
of the lamented l.. l.. Polk, in breaking
down the deadly barriers of sectional
prejudice and uniting the patriots Of the
South, and West and their fellowrsuffer-
ers everywhere under common banner
to fight for the restoration of prosperity
and the liberation of humanity, which
was so nobly achieved, was threatened
to be undone by the separate and JOINT
machination of tlle two old parties that
are co-jointly responsible for the evils
and miseries that exist.
The enemy, though temporarily foiled,
is still at work. Only last week here in
| Raleigh, within a stones throw of the
consecrated grave of l.. l.. Polk the com
| bined consmrators from Lombard and
| Wall streets concentrated all their in
| famous powers to deal deadly stab at
| tine very vitals of the Peoples party
organization and its principles; for which
our fallen leader consecrated his best
efforts and sacrificed his life. Thus the
election of Mr.. Pritehard by those pro
Tossing to be Populists, discovers start
ling crisis in the history of the Peoples
party.
Therefore, let all those who believe
in the basic principles of good government,
as taught and exemplihed by Jefferson,
Jackson and Lincoln take heed in every
State in the Union lest the same insidious
and baleful influences be at work under
mining our organization and sapping the
vitality of its principles.
1t has been the purpose of both the
Democratic and Republican parties to
| destroy the organic existence Of the Peo-
pies party, and our life is endangered by
the too friendly touch Of either.
They cooperate with us for their own
advancement, and with a view to our
| disruption and ultimate absorption.
Only last week, Immediately after Sen
ator Pritchard's election by bolting
faction Of the Peoples party, the Ashe-
vile, n. c., Register, his personal organ.
gloated over the apparent disruption OF
our ranks, and boasted that the Repubi-
cans would absorb by 1900 every Populist
in North Carolina that is worth having. I"
The boast and hope of the Republican
party in North Carolina finds, no doubt
II parallel elsewhere in the hope and
purpose of the Democratic party against
the continued existence of our organic
life
But we have not come upon the stage
of political action as food to prolong the
| life of the two old parties, to whose cor
rupt practices are justly chargeable the
| ills the people suffer. We are here for
| the purpose of establishing good govern
mient on equitable principles.
| This purpose cannot be executed if we
follow the example of the two old parties.
In the unconditional repeal of the Sher.
man act under Mr.. Cleveland, the Demo
cratic party, for instance, submitted for
the sake Of harmony and patronage, with
| out serious complaint, to the betrayal of
| its principles The treacherous retained
| their standing in the party on equal
footing with the faithful. The purpose
Of the Peoples party is sterner than any
| plea for harmony, when harmony can
be had only at the sacrifice of the party s
principles; and the existence of the party
cannot be satisfied by barter of it's
| principles for patronage.
Here must lie the line of demarcation
between the Peoples party and the two
old parties, and this line must be sharply
drawn by Populists everywhere in the
| Nation.
Let it be shown that the Peoples party
| is instinctiyely a part of principle and po-
| litical purity 1t will then, in the great
struggles before us, merit the confidence
and support of men Of honesty Of purpose
and patriotic instincts, and will surely
become the majority party OF the nation
This address was unanimously adopted
by the caucus.
THE GCnVvTVGIT DLrE0pA N FI7JnN