The news & observer., 1898-08-24
"THlS is NO TIME TO TALK ABOUT PRIN-
ClPLE."

Some days ago, in a conversation be-
tween Mr.. r. \. Wynne, one of the
most influential Populists in Wake coun-
ty. and $. Otho Wilson, chairman of
the Wake county Populist executive
committee, in reply to a statement by
Mr.. Wynne that fusion with the Repub-
Leans was in direct conflict with the
principles OF the POpulist party, Wilson
said. This Is NO TIME TO Talk
ABOUT PRINCIPLES"
cts not by principles nor men
Ny onward course is Sreadied,
! scents what pays the best
And goes for it bald-headed."
This declaration by the Wake chair
man was a frank and true statement of
the purpose of the machine that is eff
fecting fusion between the Republicans
and the Populist office-holders and Popu-
list Offce-seekers. This is a time to talk
deals" "dickers." trades" ''sell outs"
and chow to get and keep pie" how
"to sell out the POpulist party to the
gold bugs and the negroes" and how to
keep the Populist voters in line TO carry
out the IDEALS for Offices When men
pies of the party to which they profess
to belong. il is natural for them to
say THIS Is NO TIME TO TALK
ABOUT PRINCIPLES" For Popu-
lists who are betraying their party by
building mp the Republican party there
is never any time to be true to prnci-
pies. and never any time to "talk about
principles" except when the talk is for
the purpose of deception.
This declaration of Sotho's Is on ali
fourS with the letter written by Hal w.
Aver. Populist State Chairman on the
oath of ROctober 1896, to Mr. John A.
Baird. of RoXborO. Aver had just com
pleted deal with Holton in which, by
betraying Major Guthrie and agreeing to
help elect Thomas Settle to Congress, he
was to be elected State Auditor. Ayers
letter contained the following:
II write this as last appeal to you
to support, with all your power the ac
ton of your committee. You can easily
see that a GAME OF POLITICS Is
BEING PLAYED IN THIS STATE:
You are the chairman of the Peoples par
ty in your county. 1t is not his Ga
chairman'sl business, as a chairman of
a committee TO DISCUSS PRINCE
Piles in committee work. In considera-
tion Of the fact that the Republicans
promised to help us elect five Congress
men, while the Democrats are trying to
beat us everywhere. our State commit
tee agreed to indirectly help the Repub-
licans elect four Congressman. and
write you now rs n good POpulist to aid
us in helping that party which has shown
more friendship to the Peoples party
than the Democrats have shown"
Ayers letter, as will he seen. was writ
ten to a Populist in the Fifth district
where Tom Settle, a pronounced gold
bug, was the candidate he was trying
'to indirectly help" The letter. putting.
the vital issues before the people in the
fippant light of "A GAME OF POLL
TICS BEING PLAYED" and telling
men who had joined the Populist patty
for financial reform that it was not their
business ITO DISCUSS PRINCE
PILES" proved n boomerang and the
honest Populists of the Fifth district
voted for Mr.. Kitchin, the only silver
candidate running. The same attempt
will be made this year to carry the
POpulists over to the support of the gold
candidate. They will be told that it is
not the time and it Is not their busi-
ness ''tO discuss principles" But in
Wake county and in the Fifth district
these Populists who have not sold out
their principles for office will not he
made the trading capital of men who
not only betrayed party principles, but
who also assume the right to tell them
it is their business to obey Holton's or
ders and not to discuss principles"