The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-02-17
CAPT K[TCHIN'S REPLIES.
Editor Charlotte Observer:

lv embarrassed in attempting to reply
to your recent editorial on an article
written by me in the Scotland Neck
COMMONWEALTH
But feeling that I am dealing with
a gentleman, christian and patriot, l
am encouraged to attempt to reply in
nv feeble way to one or two points III
the editorial.
Now, In the outset, l want to say
NV feelings OF friendship for you are
the klndest, my regard for you as
gentleman, an honest, patriotic citizen
is the highest and if I thought this
controversy would in the slightest mar
the relations between us 1 would not
open my mouth. Now, l am open to
reason and conviction, and If you can
turn on any new light my eyes are OPP
en- to behold that light, and my mind
is, so far as possible, unfettered to re-
celve any new suggestions. l have
great confidence In your judgment and
unshaken faltkin your honesty as
citizen and democrat. But as none
Of us are infa1llbie, and all are liable
to err, it may be possible that you are
right in your position, and that l am
wrong, or it may be possible that 1 am
right and you are wrong.
Now let's see if we can't both be
| right from the standpoint OF each.
And if we find that impossible let us
both agree to abide by the decision
of the Southern and Western democra-
CIV as expressed in the national con-
vention.
The democratic organization Is too
big concern to be butted off the track
provided it remains on the democratic
track, by small minority; and it is
very easily knocked over, if it switches
off on the enemy's rails, as sad expe-
rience has taught Its leaders.
From my standpoint, the democrat
lc party is invinclble, and will always
be, when it hews to the line, and deals
honorably with the people.
Now the question at issue is this
Shall the democratic party make silver
or the financial question one of the is
sues in the state campaign /; not as you
|
Now am free to say, If the people
needed no education on the financial
question, if there we're no possibility
that the next Legislature would have
to elect United States Senator II
there were no congressman to elect
from the nine districts in the state
and if no one in opposition to democ
racy would charge it, In the campaign
OF lodging the financial questions, and
with treason to silver and the State
and national campaigns could be sep
arated, discussed, and candidates votee
for at different elections and on separ
ate days., there would be much force
in the suggestion you make.
But all these things may take place
and some OF them will and must TAKE
place.
Il I must confess that am at loss t.
understand how the state and natioua
campaigns can be separated and dis
cussed on the same stand by the same
speakers.
1 think you could as easily mark The
dividing line between the waters o
the James River and Hampton Roads
or the Elizabeth River, as you coulo
mark the dividing line between state
and national politics.
The identical voters constitute the
party both state and Federal, and just
how they can be neutral on silver ir
the Federal election is one degree
above my comprehension.
| Suppose A Is running for the legis
Iature and B is running for congress
on the democratic ticket and bott
speak to the same audience on tht
same day and place, and one of these
candidates says, have nothing to d.
with ths state platform and the othe
says I have nothing to do with TIT
national platform. Both disown ont
of the platforms. What nonsense
Such lodging, such trimming, sucf
political and moral cowardice woult
make even Ohio Wilson or Marion
Butler blush.
No, no, my dear friend, let us all b.
pigs or pups one. If the party is TO
free silver why conceal 1t, or be afrait
to proclaim 1t from the house topsy
And why should any democrat hes
J ltate to advocate free silver? VIII,
should gold democrat hesitate to vot
the ticket, when he admits that tn
great bulk of democrats are for sllve
and the party is pledged to the free ant
| unlimited coinage of silver?
How could plank for silve
: in any manner damage party pledg
. ed to silver through nine tenths of it
! journals, nine tenths of its leaders
nine tenths of it's members of congress