The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-08
IT RECOVERED FROM MALONE
ISM BY A CONCILIATORY AND
LIBERAL POLICY.
GREAT RESPONSIBILITY ON CONVENTION
The Question Should be Sobery Considered by
Every Democrat in the State Let Us
Have no Passionate DenunCia-
tons or Hasty Opinions.

the Democratic party ought to meet in Il
liberal spirit any desire on the part OF
the POpulists, or any portion of them
for united and harmonious action IN the
approaching elections; nay, more, am
convinced that it is our duty to the
State and TO the cause of good govern
ment and in the way of "A wise party
policy. not only to meet any suggestion
of the character in generous spirit,
but by legitimate means to promote the
movement.
OF course the Democratic party will
not be required or expected to surrender
any principle in any arrangement which
may be made; that is fully recognized
/ think: if it is not, it should be made
plain at the beginning. The suggestion
of cooperation is, ms l understand, based
Fundamentally upon the fact that the
great body of Democrats and large
number of Populsts in this State, are
agreed upon the principles upon which
the next campaign should be fought, to
VIII. Bi-mptailsm and war upon monopp-
lies in the Union, and white supremacy
and wholesome government in the state
1t is IA fact, | am sorry TO KNOW that
within the Democratic party IN TINS
State. there is faction, few in number,
but respectable in character and M
fluence which is in Il state of revolt
against the party on national issues, and
I susnect it is mainly from it comes the
opposition to reconciliation with the
Populists. Quite naturally it would an
| tagonize any measure which would en-
sure the success of the party upon those
issues. and its consequent loss of prest-
lige and power in the councils OF the
l.party.
| The fusion heretofore made between the
| Republicans and the Populists was de-
! nounced, and properly denounced, be-
cause it was an alliance between two
| political parties holding, or processing to
| hold. Numerically opposite and ire
eoncilable political principles; it was
SIMPLY a disreputable and sOrdid combl-
nation for political spells. l am told
| that it was never acceptable to large
and the most respectable portion of the
| POpulists, but they were forced by the
llbeculiar circumstances, or fancled they
were forced, to give it their support l
am informed by gentlement upon whose
statements / rely implicitly that there
are a great many Populists in Middle
and Eastern North Carolina, who are
men of intelligence, property ana char-
acter; men who were sincere and deVot-
ed members of the Democratic party
prior to 1894. but who. unwisely and
without sufficient cause, l believe, be-
coming impatient and angry at what
IL, fl,n ttnInnaRprgfIH
fluences which dominated the party pol
lev. severed their connection with the
organization and allied themselves with
the new party. The machinery OF this
new party. as mas been almost unlvers-
ally the case with similar movements,
was seized and manipulated by the
shrewd and nprinciplcd politicians VINO
were attracted to it. from both the other
great political parties, because 1t pre-
scented the only opportunity for their
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. The result was in
evitable. land is exhibited in the present
condition in our State. the most scan
dalous immaginable. If it is true, rs |
am informed. that this element i'll the
P0pulist party desires to join in move
ment I'd undo this evil, are we, as good
citizens of the State, or faithful Demo
Gratis, justified in rejecting the oppor-
tunity? OF course we would prefer that
they should come to our primaries anu
in that way manifest their purpose, but
it is said that at present this would be
impracticable. or at least it would re-
suit in individual action, here and there,
and would fail to receive that united ana
general effort which is so essential
We ought not to hesitate to cooperate |
with these people; we did cooperate
- a. Gwv, nVsT
and ,yhv should we not do it again, pro |
yided always we are agreed upon the |
vital principles of party policy. / should |
NOT be SURPRISED if some of the most fu- |
riouS antagonists of reconciliation have
nor within a very few years gone by. !
beeb the most humble seekers of the |
support Of the very men with whom they |
now denOunce cooperation.
admit that the results of the indecent |
fusion Of the Republicans and POpulists
have been very disastrous to the public
welfare, and we'll calculated to arouse
Indignation, and am not surprised there
is strong feeling to revenge what, to
some, appears to have been a base be-
t,aval of the State and the Democratic
marty: but if we were childish enough to
hermit our party policy to be controlled
by our passions, and should continue the
llnwise course of the past four years, it
is an almost absolute certainty the pres
ent deplorahle and humiliating cOndi
ton of affairs will become fixed upon
our people for wears to come. 1t is folly,
approaching idiOcy, to expect that tho
Democratic party can now accomplish
anything without the cooperation of that
clement of the Populist party to which
I have referred; and in my humble opin-
ion that Democrat who attemnts to pre-
vent that reunion assumes n very grave
and dangerous responsibility.
We NAV all profit by the experience
of our neighhors in Virginia. We recall
how they robbed Reconstruction of many
of its horrors by wise fusion with the
moderate wing of the Republican party: