The news & observer., 1898-05-21
THE STATE CONVENTION.

To-day the last of the county conven-
tions will be held. and by the middle of
next week Raleigh will be filled with
representatives of the Democratic party
from Cherokee to Currituck. The indi-
cations all point to large convention
"a consummation deyoutly to be wish
ed. A big convention. composed of men
imbued with the vital principles of
Democracy, is sure to create an enthus-
iasm that will have much to do with
controlling the election in November.
In every Southern State except North
Carolina and Maryland, Gor Kentucky
is now back again to stay in the Demo
cratic column the Democratic party is
in full control of public affairs, and
wherever that party is in full sway
there you find safe, conservative and
good government, free from the scandals
and abuses that offend the nostrils in
North Carolina and in Maryland. Vir-
ginia tried the Republican party for
time until the dose so nauseated the peo-
pie of the Old Dominion that they rose
up in their might and brought their
State back to the only party that has
given decent government in a Southern
State since 1860. North Carolina will
follow in the footsteps of her sister State.
learning only by better experience. The
Rauuhlioon no ttv IN tho Coutl 4, 5ba no
gro party. It's leaders as a rule are
men who affiliate with the negroes sole
ly TO get offices. Republican conven-
tions, from the one in which Russell
bought the nomination for Governor in
1896 to the poW-wow called county
convention in Richmond county last
week, are little less than mobs of negroes
and office-seekers, animated by the de-
sire TO grab the biggest piece Of pie.
The duty of the Democratic party is
plain. 1t must destroy Republican rule,
and all other rule vitiated by Republican
taint in North Carolina. TO do this it
must be true to it's principles, turning
neither to the right nor to the left, and
it must use every effort that is consist
ent with honor to carry out Democratic
principles. 1t would be dishonorable for
the Democrats anywhere to accept as
allies men who support the gold standard
or negro domination, and defeat would
be thousand times to be preferred than
any alliance with those who are commit.
ted TO either the gold standard or negro
rule.
The Democratic convention ought to
seek to find common ground upon
which it and the 10000 to 10000 for.
mer Democrats who left the party in
1892, can stand and fight shoulder to
shoulder for the restoration of the condi-
tions that prevailed in North Carolina
when Vance was the great party leader
Is there wisdom enough in the white
men of the State to forget the past, lay
aside prejudice, trample side issues un.
der foot, and make a great campaign 70
utterly crush the power Of the negro and
his base allies? If Vance were alive
there is not room to doubt that he would
find or make a way for such united ac-
tion as would drive the goldbugs and
negrophilists out of power with the
thunder of public Indignation. Is the
spirit of Vance dead? Is there no
Moses to lead MS out of the wilderness
of an oppressive Federal administration
and scandalous State administration
into the promised land of just legisla-
tion and clean government?
The State convention ought to
be judicial and deiberative
body. 1t ought not to be in a hurry. 1t
ought to remain in session two days,
giving to its platform committee time
TO prepare and consider party declara-
tions that will put the position of the
party clearly and succintly before the
voters of the State. If the representa-
tiyes of the Populst party make any