The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-04
The lessor of 1t
Richmond Dispatch.)

When the lesson of the situation in
North Carolina is reduced to it's last
analysis, it is very plain-SO plain hat
he who runs may read. 1t is that the
only hope of the south is in the demo-
cratic party. The conditions there point
unerringly to the fact that as it has
been in the past in the south, so it
must be in the future. Whatever other
issues have arisen, or may arise, with
us, the paramount and OVerShadOWing
issue has been, and must continue to
be, the preservation of our civiliZa-
ton. We have preserved our civiliZa-
ton heretofore by maintaining the SUI
premacy of intelligence in the matter
of administering local government. By
that token alone can we preserve it
hereafter. Whenev subordinate is
sues, economic or what not, impinge
upon and threaten to obscure the vital
issue, wisdom and true patriotism de-
mand that the subordinate issues be
allowed to go to the wall. This is not
theory, but a cardinal truism demon
strated by experience.
In the south democracy and intelli-
gence are synonymous. Only by throw
ing out the sheet anchor of democra-
cy, and %clinging to it, was the south
enabled to save her civilization from
utter wreck during the few years i'm
mediately succeeding the civil war.
But for her recognition that the civil
lZatlOn issue was supreme, mo the
Steadfast resistance of the intelligent
classes to the Establishments of the
republican party, the reign of fraud,
corruption, ignorance, Vampireism, and
cupidity, inaugurated by he republi-
cans in reconstruction days, would
have been perpetuated indefinitely. And
in every instance since the hour of
our deliverance, in which any consid-
cradle portion of the white people Of a
southern state nave forgotten or ig-
nored their debt of gratitude to true
democracy, such state has trOd the
path Of danger-haS trOd the path
leading back to negro domination. So
it was with Virginia in the movement
hat led to the establishment of the
Mahone regime, and so it is with North
Carolina.
But the true people of the Old
North State have been bordering these
facts, and to a we believe, as
election day will show. 1t has been we'll
said of North Carolina that she is slow
to move, out that her staying quail
ties" are proverbial throughout the
union. She has taken a stand for sec
Ond deliVerance. She has aid to those
who would overthrow her civilization:
Thus far shall thou go, and no fur
ther.' Nay, more, she has declared
that the tide hat has already wrought
such political voc to her must roll
back. From our hearts we sympathize
with her.
Yes, there is in the situation in North
Carolina a lesson hat he who runs
may read. And it is a lesson we would
have the Virginia democrats read
most thoughtfuIly at this particular
j~uncture. We would have them read
it to the end. that on the Sth of this
month they shall show such perfect
organization, and such loyalty to their
party as will constitute unmistakable
notice hat any efforts to wean them
from party allegiance hereafter will be
fruitless. We would have them read
1t to the end Of preventing the posi-
blllty of the party's having to cope
with the conditions that confront the
democracy of the Old North State.