The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-20
Ghe Wessen9er.
a DANGEROUS MOVEMENT.

-2NALA SNO1lIld NioL JoSI NA bhC ' VI
ea@ meeting of the state convention
le-e is so wide a split in the party as
ID trading, amalgamating with the
fellows of the baser sort who are the
Tsaders of that part of the populist
rzzr1y that favors a trade in order to
daEe some showing for a division OF
grub and grab hereafter. 1t is hu-
L2fating and depressing. 1t auGurs no
E%1d Tor victory. 1t is a revelation of
z threatened d-isintegration for more
G1Iccess without principle. But the
great body Of the people who are not
far office, and expect nothing, and
stand for character and principles and
~hat they know to be honorable and
upright and above board, viii not
agree 70 sell out bag and baggage to
me Butler gang. 1t is very noticeable
ihat some of the aggressive traders
are PRONOUNCED office-seekers. We re
peat, it is hin of defeat, when
varied from one Standpoint to see a
harsh, bitter. un~compromising split in
[he old white man democratic party
in this state. "A successful trade will
Cepel the best element in the party, We
must believe. But, then, there will be
no trade. The convention will decide
in great majority, we nus hope,
against it. Men Of character doubtless
@aVOr the fusion, and that is to us the
greatest of political riddles. Men must
carry into politics all the moral char
acfer they have or he party is lower
ed in tone, and the mel themselves
are seriously injured in their morale.
How upright, honorable men, who
claim to be democrats can possibly ask
other men to accept the traitor and
slanderer Butler, and some Of the
EIearnerous, unprincipled, ~unsound,
unsafe populist leaders for allies,
PASSES our understanding, and arouses
Dur most determined opposition. Any
fhing is almost better, to be preferred
IN politics than a gangrenOus and dis
graceful alliance with the fellows of
1he other side who to save their
6acon'' propose a trade, and to put the
democratic bacon on the gridiron
" public censure and rejection.
Strange things constantly happen in
politics. To win in elections, all kinds
OF acts are favored and justified by
some. 1t is this that makes politics
corrupt. and deprives politicians Of
public confidence. When even men
@ho are public teachers of morality
are found swiftly urging a combine
UTith mother party mainly composed
az democratic kickers and teat-suck-
trs. it at once shocks the moral sense,
and forces upon just, rejecting men
Inevitably a poorer opinion of their
party and race. thousand times
Better, from the high biblical standing
r30&nt of morality and honor, go down
in defeat with name unsOiled than to
gain a temporary victory by a sacri-
fee Of principles, and collision with the
G74-y men who have BLASTED and dis
E1Gsored the state, and are responsible
ID The venality and prostitution and
abuses of the present time and through
the last five years. That may be "OlC
EYgyis1n," but it will hold good in any
tribunal in which true ethics and
ELgh standard of. right and .-.Urality
prevail. This standing by honor ant
principles and traditions n all tina
appeals TO reason and high conception:
Of duty, are dismissed by some advO-
x-afes of Z Aicker for office with the
sneer that it is mere sentiment" ThiS
Gas been the way in all the world
TaTDugh all the ages. The men who
TEaEe stood forth championing the RICH
and u~phOlding the principles of free
t1En and justice and honor, have beer
eyrder grave suspicion and reproach
and have been denounced by those wht
moving ON a lower plane of political
And patriotic duty and conviction
have not been able to rise to the
heights of modest citizenship and the
hest manhood of the age in which they
Eyed
y The greatest of English statesmen,
Edmund Burke, O bravely by prin-
{ czple and duty under every changing
sentiment in the nation and every
actions We're ever based on principles
and honor, and not upon a shifting,
eSanescent policy. Some one long ago
Nrote that, actions. words, steps,
fascm the alphabet by which you may
spell characters" Some one else OF the
xzreverb-making turn has written that
~hoaesty is firm and upright and yields
rhSt-" These are wise and true say
Snss. and are good for parties as we'll
as individuals. Good men may differ
As TO policy and what is best, but they
ought to unite when the reputation
and character of their party. is a.
stake. We know that Shakespeare hello
that mems judgments are a parcel o.
: their fortunes" but really true and ex.
9, cesIent gentlemen are now favorfng TN.
z 1aseemly bargain and office-swappins
1I3h Butler and his ~lieutenants, an,
that is just what surprises n puzzle
~ of a h,xon1i, A,~r w. Il