The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-20
WHAT OTHERS SAY.
WE BE BRETHREN.
Webst2r's Weekly.

Webstors Weekly.
The time has come for the white mel
Of North Carolina to get together III
spirit of patriotism and Cancellation ano
, bury the differences that have divided
them in the past. They owe it to them
selves, to their wives and children anc
! to the State they love, to come together
like brothers and forgiy@ and forget
They have differed honestly, and neither
side feel they have done anything t(
apologize for, and no tests will be sub
mitted to.
Now let's compare notes and see what
has been gained by division. We cheer
fully conccde that our friends who went
into the Populist party III 1892 and 1891
were actuated by honest motives. Those
who left in '92 did so because they ha(
no confidence in Cleveland and believed
he would bctray the people into the
hands of the money power, while thos,
who went in 81 were mad because the
Democratic party had failed to carry
out its pledges. While dissenting from
their Judgment as to the remedy, We
have never found it in our heart to think
or speak unkindly of those who left th(
Democratic party on account of Cleve
L
those who upheld him in his treachery
but they made a serious mistake in let
ting few traitors drive them out of the
house of their fathers.
Now the Democratic party is with them
in rcpudiating ClcvcIand-it did so in
1896 and nominated as its candidate for
President Il man who satisfied the POpu
lists in every respect and they made
c. "a, Hoo
to the Democratic party POpulist is
not playing the prodigal son act noT
even sacrificing his pride of opinion. fol
his reputation of Cleveland has been
endorsed by his former associates.
The Topulists ought to come back t.
the Democratic party for many reasons
We will name some of them:
T. Because it is the only party that is
capable of giving good government III
State and Nation.
> Because it is here to stay, being
based on the bedrock principles of the
Constitution.
3 Because it is the only party that is
s,Iong enough to throttle the money
power
4. Because it is the party of intelh
gcncc ,and virtue and does not depend
upon the negro vote.
). Because good POpulism and De
mocracy are the same and there Is nc
sense in the lesser body holding alOol
, from the greater.
The people may differ upon matters
of opinion and of policy. but parties are
not made in Il day. The Democratic
party is here because it has Il mission
1t is not Il perfect party, because it is
| composed of imperfect men, but it is
by long odds the best party the SUI
shines on. There are bad men In il
no doubt: there are trickstcrs and wire
pullers. We have no apology to offer
for their existence. Our quarrel witt
our friends who went off on this account
, is that they were not practical; they
weakened the hands of tie faithful, ant
in repudiating one set of bosses took ref
uge with another. The boss thrives il
every organization in the proportion the
members will submit to his domination
Party very often gets the blame that be
longs to human. nature, so prone arr
we to change other people with our fail
ures. The Farmers Alliance did both
itself and the Democratic party a ser
vice in 1890 when it turned its attention
to the regeneration of the party. Ever
largest Democratic majority since the
war was rolled up. SO long as it worked
inside the Democratic party it had
everything its own way in State affairs
but when it went out 1t found it nee
essary to combine with party. that
opposed everything it wanted and enter
into ii cold blooded trade for office.
The pOpulist party is only six years
oil = fuc nth n,
of as many sins as have ever been lait
ut the door of the Democratic party
Butler says Skinner and his crowd solo
out to Hanna and elected Pritchard
Skinner and his faction charge Butler
with being boss and with having bro
ken faith with the Republicans. Ii
this be Populism in its infancy, wha
will it be in it's maturity?
! What have our POpulist friends gained
by putting life into the Republican
party in North Carolina? They have q
United States Senator, but his vote on
party measures is killed by Prlchard
They have Shuford, StrOwd, Fowler
Martin and Skinner in Congress, but
three of these are offset by Republicans
Linncy, Pearson and White. ShufOrd
was defeated for denomination becaus;
he stood by Butler, ana Fowler and
Strowd have been marked for slaughter
for the same reason. Martin was turned
down because he had whecfs in his head
and Il Republican was nominated tC
succeed him, and Butler wants skinner
defeated because he sold out TO Hanna
Our Populist friends say the Demo
cratic party is not united. Did not the
Populist party divide in the last Lcgisla'
turc and the factions dcnounce each 9th
or as dishonest? They say we have gold
bugs in our party. Yes, in spite of all
efforts to convert them: but the Populists
have more in proportion than we have
No Democratic bOlter has ever been able
to carry off enough votes to elect Re
publican Senator, but Skinner corruptea
enough Populists to return Phitchard t