The gold leaf., 1898-09-01
(NewS and Observer,

The white people OF North Caro-
Ina when in power did more for the
material and educational betterment
OF the negro in one year than Re-
publican Fusionists have done in
four years. The difference between
Democratic and Fusion treatment of
the negro is that the Democrats treat
the negro well, but do not put them
IN Office to lord it over whites. while
the fusionists care nothing for his
welfare but put him in places he can
not fill in order to get the negro vote
for their own elevation.
In the earl y part of the year Mr..
John A. Sims, the Populist chief
clerk in the Auditors office, intro
duced resolution in the Populist
State Executive Committee, the
purport of which was that the Popu-
list party in 1898 would fight for the
supremacy of the white man. He
could not get it acted upon, and
later he wrote an open letter to the
POpulist chairman from which the
following extracts are taken:
''AlsO let them have charge of their
own institution of learning here, by
placing only those of their people
who are thoroughly competent over
the same. There can be no objection
to this, although the white man may
pay part, and it may be greater
part, of the tax which supports this
institution, but leave the legislation
and the general management of the
affairs of North Carolina to the Cau-
casian race.
''Why, from political standpoint
do | say it is to the advantage of the
negro to leave the affairs of North
Carolina to the whites? Because as
soon as it becomes a fact which will
be known and read of all men, that
the negro is in authority in North
Carolina, then the white men who
have come out of the Democratic
ranks, who now constitute the Popu-
list party, will flee every mothers
son of them back to the Democratic
camp.
1.-The main issue before us now in
North Carolina, and not as yet fully
agreed upon, is, who shall manage
the affairs of our own beloved Com
monwealth.
'Just here allow me to say that |
give all honor to that noble band of
forty odd Populists, who stood
sOlidly as 4 stone wall in the last
General Assembly of North Carolina,
against some of the vicious legisla-
tion that was attempted to be thrust
upon the cities of Eastern Carolina
(as well as some of the Western,) but
for these the management of the
cities referred to, would have been
turned over to those wholly incom-
petent to say the least.
Il, for one, am opposed to further
misleading the negroes of North
Carolina.
Now, Mr.. Chairman, if you could
only see some of the many letters
now in my possession from parties
throughout North Carolina, who en-
dorse the course that I took before
the recent meeting Of the State En-
ecutive Committee. you would see
that as party we cannot afford
longer to fail to give expression on
the question of white supremacy; if
from no higher motive, we're COMPEL
ed to do it in self-defense. And pray,
tell me, why not? The Populist
party is a white mans party, while
the greatest issue involved affects all
classes, conditions and colors of men,
and it should be a party composed of
all, and more especially y all of labor
ing men, yet the fact remains that
the negro is q Republican, and ever
will be. q know of but one township
in North Carolina where the negroes
are sticking to the Populist party.)'
No matter what MIR. Sims may do.
he may recant and 60 back to his
support Of negro fusion, he may
chime in with the negroes in order to
keep his oilice-hiS present. past or
future course cannot alter the truth
of the above sentiments.
The officeholders are now arrange
ing another fusion with the negro
1t is becoming "a fact known and
read of all men that the negro is in
authority in North Carolina" and if
Mr.. Sims is any prophet at all, 1.-the
white men who have come out of the
Democratic ranks who now constitute
the Populist party, will flee every
mothers son of them back to the
Democratic camp