The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-13

Raleigh, n. c., Sept. IA, 1897.
w. L. Fountain, Esq. Chairman State
Executive Committee, Peoples Party,
TarborO, \. c.:
Dear: Believing that every citizen of
North Carolina should have first, the
interest of his State at heart, and sec.
ond, the success OF the particular pohti-
cal party through which he expects to
best advance those interests, and be-
leying it essentially necessary for the
success of our party, looking as we'll to
the welfare OF the State, | write TINS
deter. reviewing somewhat our past,
present. and outlining what in my hum.
bic Judgment, will be To our interest in
the future.
In the first place what of the Popu-
list party?
What OF its origin, and what was It's
purpose?
It's a well known fact that the Pop
ulist party in North Carolina, is very
largely, simply secession from the
Democratic party; this secession having
been brought about through the in
fiuence or education impaired TO it's
members, ION the financial question es-
pecially) by the Farers' Alliance. The
Alliance having taught it's members to
believe that the Democracy of today
1892 had departed in some respects at
least from what the founders of the
party intended it should be; especially
did it teach it's members to believe in
the free coinage of silver. as still advo-
Gated 1892 by such men as Senator Il.
b. Vance, whom all men of North Caro-
lima. especially delighted to honor.
When the Democratic party had so
far departed from its first position on
this question, as to nominate Il man
for the Chief Executive of the nation,
who was believed to be, to all intents
and purposes, directly on a line, if not
iIi~4actual sympathy with, what all
agreed to be the greatest enemy of the
people, to wit: The Republican party.
/ say when such man was nominated
for the Presidency in 1892, the rebel
lion was so great, especially in the
South and West, as TO bring about
this secession known as the Populist
party. This secession in the South,
largely from the Democratic party. i'll
the West, or rather the Northwest, from
the Republican party.
Hence the purpose of the POpulist
party, was to reform the finances of the
nation.
But it also had another mission in
North Carolina, that was; to so change
the election law that every qualified
voter might not only cast ilfs vote ac-
c0fding to the dictates of his own con-
science, but to have that ballot counted
just as it was cast. In both of these
positions we think the party was right.
If the Republican party was wrong on
the financial question, las all true
democrats belieyedJ,, lets correct the
evil. 1t was very evident that there
was something wrong with the finances
OF the country, at least all could under
stand that it took too much labor or of
lab0r's products TO get a dollar: then if
1t was true that a portion Of our state
did not allow the ballots counted as
cast certainly it was right to correct
that evil. Who will deny that this prop
osition is correct? Right wrongs wher-
ever they exist.
There Were probably no other evils
of which the people of North Carolina
complained, or charged the Democratic
party with, except that possibly it was,
that before any OF her citizens could h1l
any public office, they must inherit them.
We have shown that the P0pulist
PARTY was child OF necessity, the in
terest OF the people demanded it; mas
much as the two old parties were prac-
ticaIly unit on the money question,
another or third party was neees-
sary,
1t is not my purpose to recount The
trials and tribulatiOns Through which
the Populist party Of 1892 passed; suffice
it TO say, that i know whereof / speak,
know by sad experience that there is
no pleasure in defeat.
However, the same issues were kept
before the people, that is the free com
age OF silver, and change of the election
law, until in 1894, in order that the
Populist party might get a foothold in
North Carolina, be placed in a position
where they might show TO the world
their sincerity in amending the election
law, and at the same time, elect, if pos
sible, United States Senator whom we
believed to be fully in accord with an
cient Democracy, (which was now to be
found only in the Populist party, we
co-operated with the Republicans. We
were successful, our Senator was elect
ed, and at the same time the Republi-
cans also secured the election of one
of their number who was, however
pledged to us or with US on the money
question.
In the meantime, the true silver
Democrats, not only of North Carolina,
but of the nation as we'll, having been
taught by the Populists to understand
that they must take their stand either
for or against silver. In 1896, for the
first, time in the history Of these United
States, in Convention assembled, adopted
a free silver platform; to all intents and
purposes the same az had been adopted
by the Populists in 1892, and what was
more to their credit still, they nominated