The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-10-02

Of Agriculture, and the repelling condi-
tons that obtain while John r. Smith
S Commissioner of Agriculture! From
Polk to Smith is a descent from good
government and peace to bad government
md strife. Will not the voters of the
State restore the conditions pictured
BY Polk and end the reign that denies
he State good and desirable immigra-
ion?
COL. POLK ON THE NEGRO.
VIII not Col. Folks word stand against
he SANDERS of Hal Aver and Cy Thomp-
SOM I knew him well and l do not be
ieve if he had lived that his followers
would ever have joined hands with the
negroes to degrade the State and elevate
he negro over the white man. Upon
what is this faith based? In a public
paper issued in 1879, Col. Polk gave his
views of the negro question and the re-
ations that ought to subsist between the
whites and the blacks in North Carolina,
Hear him:
''Since the war various influences
have conspired to prevent immigra-
ton to our State to any considerable
extent. Hence, since political ennis
saries and designing, corrupt men
have exhausted their powers for
evil over the colored citizen, the ques-
ton fraught with such important re-
suits to both races is placed in the
hands Of the former master and
former slave for solution. The POI
litical rights of the negro are guar
anteed by ample and liberal provision
in our organic law. Misled
and deluded by the syren voice of the
designing and corrupt political dema-
gogue, who, taking advantage of his
immature and exaggerated ideas of
the privileges of freedom, he has
wasted many precious hours in grasp
at shadow, only to learn at last
that the best friend he has on earth
is his former master. The
feeling or the whites is to encourage
them in all their legitimate under
takings and aspirations, as is shown
not only by the legislation of the past
few years, but by the generous and
kind sympathy displayed in numer-
Gus ways To show the amicable
and naturally friendly relations ex-
listing between the races in our State,
it is sufficient to state that during
the last general election. which was
distinguished for the lively enthusiasm
and party feeling aroused, in can
vass of eighty counties by the dis
tinguished and able candidates, not
n single arrest was made for a tur
hulent disturbance Of the peace.
And when the colored citizen of
North Carolina shall fully understand
that his interest demands a study Of
the theory of how to make respect
able living, rather than the theory OF
political government; when he shall
see that he cannot embrace the dam
gerous teachings of designing men
without endangering the happiness
and peace of his race he will then be
on the proper road to an intelligent
solution of the problem involving his
ultimate destiny"
Contrast these utterances with those OF
Republican agents, Incorporating as Pop
lists, and the condition of affairs under
Democratic rule and the present carnival
f assaults by negro brutes on white wO-
men. The contrast tells of the heights
from which we have fallen and The
depths to which the State has been hurl
ID by designing men"
POLK WOULD NOT SANCTION NE
GRO FUSION.
Does anybody believe that Col. Polk
he virtual founder of the National Popu,
list party in North Carolina, would have
the present fusion arrange
nent by which white Populists must
lelp to elect negroes as Congressman, so
icitors, registers, treasurers. and make
hem inspectors Of white blind institu-
ions and the white public schools of the
State? If he had lived, his views upon
he financial question would have caused
lim to support the National Popullsl
ticket, but the degradation of the party
by making it a partner in the elevation
IF the negro in his native State would
never have come with his consent. AnC
t will not now be perpetuated by the
consent of those honest men in the
Populist party who joined it for reform
md not to become cats paws to pull
the chestnuts out OF the fire for the ne
gro monkeys.
COL. SKINNER AFRAID OF Ne
GRO RULE.
But to return to the history: The re-
sentiment of those Alliancemen who hat
become Populists when Cleveland was
nominated by the Democrats was Sc
leep that Populist State convention
was called in 1892. Though there was
much bitterness between the Democrats
and PoDulists then, the action of thu
nan they nominated for Governor showed
tnat there was no complaint against tho
State administration. 1t was against
national policies, rs Col. Polk had de,
rared that POpulists protested. Before
he became ''the arch traitor" as the
Populist caucus called Col. Harry Skin.
ner. and while he still wanted to pro
-ect the men and women of his State, he
was very much afraid of negro rule
When nominated for Governor on Au
gust 18th. 1892, by the Populists, Col
Skinner said:
Before | accept this nomination j
must be upon known and well-defineC
terms. And what are those terms? II
is this: That if at any hour there ap
pears such a division wrought among the
white people of the country that the Re,
machine, the common enemy OF
rs all and of our country, and the cause
Of all our evils. has and is surreptitiOusly
taking advantage and white supremacy il
| want to advise you OF 1t
| shall be a patriot to North Carolina
and advise you Of the dangers in which
you are. And unless you give me thai
power, unless you are willing to entrus'
me with that confidence, unless you are