The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-17

MEN WHO THINK ALIKE SHOULD VOTE
IOGE TIER.


There has not been a time III the his
tory of North Carolina when it was SO
;mnortont for the white people of the
STATE TO take counsel of their wisdom
and patriotism as at this time.
The State and Federal offices are
largely held by men who are unfit by
character or capacity. The low tone
of public morals that is inseparable from
government administered by Southern
Republicans is a reproach to our civiliza-
ton. The history of every southern state
controlled by Republicans, is seen IN
North Carolina. Scandals and jobs anu
debauchery have followed each other in
rapid succession until every decent man
in the State is preparing for a return
of that clean, simple and pure govern
ment that prevailed when the white men
were in control of our State govern
ment.
In Federal affairs, so far rs the South
is concerned, the offices as a rule are
filed by negroes and their base allies
The men in office, with few excep-
tons, do not represent the patriotic mass
es of the people. In the main they arr
politicians who are Republicans because
it is the only party in which they can
lead. and they would see negro and cor.
rupt government permanently enthronea
il thereby they could get good salary
for themselves.
But the presence of such unworthy and
unfit men in positions Of trust, bad as it
is. is the least of the evils which Re-
publicans rule has brought. The scan
dial of State legislation and State admin
istration. the increase in taxation, the
multiplication of public offices, and the
general disregard of the right of prop
erty and person are enough TO disgust
even the honest Republicans. In Fed
eral legislation the effect of Republican
rule has robbed our already burdened
people to enrich those who bought and
paid for the last election. Mr.. Bryan
was most happy in his Washington
speech where he said that one definition
of confidence was trust" and that the
enrichment of the trusts was the only
proof OF the return of the confidence
promised. The Dingley tariff robs its
thousands and the gold standard its ten
thousands every day.
Where shall the people, Disguised with
bad. government and robbed by bad leg
islation look for relief?
TO the white voters of the State.
There is no hope in the Republican
party. 1t is dominated by men who de
light in the degradation of their State.
The hope is in reuniting the white
men who are the only men who have
given us clean and just government.
Many among us, seeing the wide diff
fercnces and the enlargement that has
come since 1892 between the men, who
never separated while the voice of Vance
reached every neighborhood in the State
have almost despaired of restoring gov
ernment, such as Vance gave us in North
Carolina and such as Bryan would give
us if he were i'll the White House. Is
the grief between the men who left the
Democratic party in 1892 and 1894 ana
those who remained in the party fixed
and impossible" Is not the common
evil of permanent bad rule at home and
destructive federal legislation enough ic
cause them to forget differences forgiye
wrongs, and unite to put in the State in
the hands Of good men and get ready to
elect Bryan in 1900? Is there not pa
triotism, unselfshness and craftsmanship
enough in the Democratic and the Pop
ulist parties in North Carolina TO rail-,
OH the Bryan platform?
Thoughtful men in both parties arc
asking these questions. Patriotic mel
are longing for n coming together of tht
mighty army that in every year from
1876 to 1892 made negro domination
and Radical misrule impossible in Nortl
Carolina. In 1896 these elements united
in carrying the electoral vote for Bryan
the best, type Of the American states
man this country has known since An
drew Jackson's time. There is a ceaI
majority Of 10000 white men in Norsl
Carolina who believe in what Democra