The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-25
FOR Il. r. COMMISSIONER.
Mr.. John III. Pearson Has Been Fear
less, Honest and independent.

less, Honest and independent.
sIorganton, y. c.. Dec. %, 1898.
TO tbs Editor
Sir:-After a careful survey of the po-
lifical campaigns in North Carolina dur
ing the past ten years. the conviction has
forced itself upon me that this is State
Of thinkers. That this State favored a
liberal policy and a tolerant Tone was
evidenced by the unfailing support Of
that great exponent of the doctrine of
equal rights to all men, Zebulon b.
Vance, God rest him. The recent cleo
ton has demonstrated one fact in par
ticular; that the good people of North
Carolina can arise to any emergency an
meet it. Bnt let no Democrat delude
himself with the idea that our recent
victory pressages numerous others, no
matter whether our course is consistent
or not. Not so. We gained because we
had right on our side and our people
wanted to repudiate negro domination i'll
the East. But we must not lose sight of
the fact that under ALL and more power
full than all, is the Chicago platform
This issue was side tracked during
the last campaign. but let no man take
to his bosom the idea that it will not
rise like "Banquo's Ghost in our path
in 1900 This issue will arise. so surely
as the sun rises, and must be met hon.
estly and openly. Ifhe aspersion has
been east upon us. that Col. Andrews
elected us. and will rule us, and if we
be men. we viii prove our denial. (yet
nnmade), that this is base calumny.
The great mass Of the Democrats in
North Carolina oppose the domination
Of the Southern Railway and will 90 to
great lengths to emphasize this opposi
ton. Our coming legislature knows this,
and the people are waiting for their ver-
dict. It must ring clear on it's opposi-
ton to this corporation or else the vox
populi will ring out knel for the Demo-
cratic party in 1900. If we were not
honest in this doctrine, why did we
preach it in '96? Are we children that
we cry for that which we do not want?
Our campaigners and our papers said
we opposed monopolies in general, and
the Southern Railway in particular. Did
we mean that? If so then. why not now?
Have the times and conditions changed?
Some one has said that the Southern
Hallway would prevent the Jim Crow
Car" law, and would name the new rail-
road commissioners. That may or may
not be true. but does any one doubt
that n certain Sine Italian hand" will
appear in the adjustment of these mat
tiers? Have a care gentlemen of the
Legislature. Your course will be closely
scrutinized on these matters and will be
recorded in the memory Of more than the
writer of this Western North Carolina
has decided opinions on this matter. and
the Legislature will do well to heed them.
As to new railroad commissioner.
why not endorse and elect Mr. John III.
Pearson. who has stood for free silver
and all other measures the people favored
since the spring Of '96. and has labored
unceas ingly for the Democratic party :?
He made the race for the Legislature in
Burke county, and won, when nobody
else wanted to try. Since then he has
been an able exponent Of Democracy, in
every way, and people in this section
know this. To say that his record in the
late Legislature was satisfactory, is I'M
necessary, as no Democrats was more
So As a railroad commissioner he has
done his full duty, and no man has dared
10 intimate that he wore the collar of
any railroad of corporation. He has
been everything that we expected as a
railroad commissioner and he should not
he slaughtered to please anybody That
he has been fearless and honest will APP
near by referring to the columns of the
News and Observer Of last spring and