The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-22
pledges the party to give.


passenger and express rates, ana OF
telegraph and telephone tariffs TO the
gold standard level; that will endorse
the action of Commissioner Pearson
Che is the only Democrat on the
Railroad Commission, and the only
fit member of the Board-Editor) III
taking a stand for such reduction
and which will favor UNFOLDING the
Railroad Commission law, making
the same effective according TO al
of its intents and purposes, ana
which will enact legislation providing
for the election of Railroad Commits
sioncrs by the people"
The Democratic platform contain
ed two planks covering the above.
1. eve favor the extension OF the
powers of the Railroad Commission,
and closer scrutiny into their affairs
i'm order to ascertain, establish ana
maintain such rates as shall be fair
and Just to the people ana to the
TRANSFORMATION and transmission cor
porations;" =. 1--WE favor the cleo
tion of United States Senators and
Railroad Commissioners by the peo-
pie"
The Republican platform upon
this live questions contains MOTH
ING AT ALL. Why? Because the
Republican party's representatives on
the Commission, one Republican and
one assistant Republicans, represent
the Republican policy of accepting
the dictation of the corporations.
They dare not declare in favor of
doing Justice between the people and
the roads. or of letting the people
elect Railroad Commissioners, be-
cause their bosses and owners will
not permit them to do so.
Is it not clear, therefore, that no Pop
uljsts can act with the Republicans this
wear without repudiating their platform
i'm every plank, State and national! AZ
far as the Pritchard traitors are con
cerned, we make no reference to them
They are already Republicans in every
thing but name, but those POpulists wht
believe in the principles and policies oil
their party can not be led into co-opera
ton with the Republican party again
If the machine attempts such dishonor
able and dishonoring dicker for offices
the honest men who believe in the prin
cipes enunciated by the Populist party
will no more ratify such unholy agree
ment than they would commit perjury
They have resolved to vote for the legis-
lation demanded in their platform. They
cannot in this year of grace, 1898, with
the Republican utterances and legislation
staring them in the face. have any more
alliance with the Republican party than
Christian minister can cooperate with
with the priests of Buddha.
But it may be argued that the failure
of the Democrats to accept the PROPOSE
ton for cooperation has given so much
offence to the Populists that they can
be induced to fuse with the Republican
party out of spite. There is no doubt
that there was much of this feeling last
month. Some of it still remains. Those
office-holdcrs who think the Populist
party was organized to give them an of
flee are busily engaged i'll trying to fan
that spark of resentment into II flame.
They are actuated by the same spirit
that moved the silver-smith to stir up the
people of Ephesus to croy out Great is
Diana of the Ephesians." Just as these
siver-smiths had their wealth by making
images of Diana, so the office-holders
have their wealth by selling out party
to get Republican votes. Unless
they can stir up the people their occu
patton is gone. They may be depended
upon certainly most of them, to use
their own and Republican money, to Gre
ate and keep up an uproar fol-
election had taken place last month, the.
might have gone in on the wave of tho
resentment, which is now ebbing upon
consideration.
The Democratic party stands for Ger
tain principles. The Populist party
shares with it in the advocacy of som,
of the fundamental issues before the PEG
pie. There have been differences anG
friction between them which have pre-
vented united action. Because of the
failure to come together. is it defensiblt
for either of them to join hands with
the common enemy of both? Because
Shafter and Garcia have not welded
their soldiers into one army, is there any
reason why Garcia should join forces
with Blanco. the common enemy of both!
If he were to become irritated because
Shafter has not seen his way clear to
accept all his suggestions. would he
not betray all the principles for which