The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-13


President The Populists could do moth
!. ing more than to endorse this nOmina
ton, disagreeng, however as to the
Vice Presidential candidate; then it was
that the silver Republicans, (the boilers
from the Republican party of the Vest
also endorsed this same nomination
The result was the defeat of Mr.. Bryan
but the cause of silver still grows, anC
Mr.. Bryan still grows in favor with the
people, and were the nomination of 1906
to be made now, there is absolutely nC
doubt but what the silver men of all
parties would fully agree upon one
candidate, and that man would be Mr.
Bryan.
The silpver forces, although marching
under different names, are daily growing
stronger and stronger, and although
they have been marching side by side
for only two short years, we find the
slight differences that exist only in
names gradually melting away. until
as we believe in 1900 they will be one
| and the same in fact.
I But what of the Populist party OF
| North Carolina?
Again i'm 1896, it was decided best in
| order to secure a stronger fOothold,
to cooperate with the Republicans, the
result proving n success in so far as the
election of our officers were concerned,
but what of the interest Of the people,
and what especially OF the fair name
of North Carolina? In 1892. at the Or
| ganization OF the Populist party, when
the charge was made by Democratic
speakers that we would soon become one
and the same as the Republicans, the
charge was received with Indignation,
and the answer came back from every
P0pulist stump speaker throughout THE
State, THAT we represent the only true
Jeffersonian Democracy, and will never
go to the Republican party
| What of the Populist party OF today?
Marching side by side with the Repub-
| licans, we, too, have become like unto
| them, and just as tits true that the bar
riers are being broken down between the
silver men of the different parties ma
tionally, by their marching together,
just so in North Carolina, the differences
that existed between the Populists and
Republicans are fast passing away, until
today, il is almost impossible TO tell
some POpulists, so called, from Repub-
| lcan.
Now Mr.. Chairman, what OF the elect
ton law, we polled for Governor. say
$4,000 votes: in 1896, with one of the
best men of the State for our candidate,
We polled $4,000 votes all told; in 1892.
We are told that we were cheated out of
10000 votes. and yet in 1896, holding an
| election under a law of our own framing,
we poll 30 per cent. less votes than in
1892. Now, at this rate how much
Nicf TT
sir. are compelled to stop. take our bear
ings and pull straight for the open sea.
This is rather n dark picture, but it is
only facts as | see them, and facts that
we are daily called upon to meet
Now, what ought to be done? What
is best for the State, and at the same
time best for us as a party? And just
here allow me to say, that no one in the
Populist party appreciates more than I
do the benefits that come to me as an
individual, through the cooperation of
the Populists and Republicans, and par
don me, sir, but | believe that no one
has striyen harder than / to discharge
my duty, and certain it is that many OF
my most intimate friends are Repub-
licans, and no man, / respectfully SUBJ
NIT, has struggled harder than / to get
into the Republican camp and if lived
North of Mason and Dixon's line, and
could make up my mind to agree with
the Republicans on the financial ques-
ton, I could very easily compromise any
views that / might have on the tariff,
because / do not believe that the cause
of our financial troubles), and join with
the Republicans, but Mr.. Chairman, +
1ln - 81
again even cooperate with any party
whose views are in direct conflict with
my own, and that OF the party to which
/ belong, on that which we believe to
be the leading issue. and more especially
when the party with which we have
heretofore co-operated in North Carolina,
have abused the confidence that has been
placed in them to some extent at least,
especially when they place our public
: schools for whites, under negro school
commissioners. l claim the injustice is
equally alike both 10 the whites and
colored.
The negro question is one that has
often been discussed, and no doubt there
are those who would gladly legislate
the negro out OF existence if they could :.
but they are here and here to stay. and
that not OF their own choosing. They
are here for some wise purpose; they
were brought here by the white man,
and by him sold into slavery: by white
men they have been liberated, and as
lab0rers for the South especially, they
have no superiors. Amongst us they
have become civilized, and christianized:
they have among their number many
who are well educated, and / verify be-
lieve for a special purpose, and that pur-
pose is far different from the one taken
advantage OF by the average politician
1t has been my privilege to listen to
entertaining, interesting and instructive
lectures, from several returned Foreign
Missionaries. | have heard men who
spent forty years Of their lives in for
eign fields, in Africa, others from Greece,
Japan, China and perhaps others. but it
remained for me to hear the most in
teresting and perhaps the most instruc-
tive lecture, fall from the lips of ne
gro, returned Missionary from Africa.
the Rev. w. III. Sheppard, of the South
ern Presbyterian church, who was and
is now actively engaged in carrying on
the work begun in Africa by the Ia
,,1on+a1 Dow Tapslav who d{ad n hi.