The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-24

DENOCR ATTIC SENTIMENT AND
PURPOSE.
There is no mistaking democratic
sentiment and determination this year.
The man who reads may run. II is
plain as a pike-staf. There is to be
no fusion. nor nothing remotely Akin
to it. 1t is to be straightout democva-
cy fighting forA white mans govern
ment in North Carolina. There will be
shifting. no dickering, no servile sub
mission Of any kind either to outsid-
ers or insiders. The convention will
express in plainest, simplest, most di-
rect words the plan of campaign and
the principles to be advocated.
The Dupiin county democracy are
quite sure 70 be true n to stand
four-sHuare on the great fundamentals
of genuine democracy. In the fourth
resolution in Saturdays Messenger
they went for those who usurped pow
er in 1895, and abused their place and
privilege. That resolution says:
90 That we condemn the conduc
of our national and state democratic
executive committee, appointed to ex-
ecute the will of the party, in their
usurpation of power in debating fusion
to their party, contrary to the instruc-
tons of their conventions, and in
trampling upon the rights of a free,
independent democratic people. who
realize that it's people in convention
assembled are the power in authority
pointed by their power are only ser
wants and not masters of the people"
That resolution embodies the right
principle is held by democrats gener-
ally. A leading citizen in another
county writing to us of the Kenans-
VILE convention, and in most hearty
approval, has a view not unlike the
resolution. He thinks and properly,
we believe, that the State Convention
should emphasize the principle of the
above resolution and put it's foot down
heavily upon all attempts to misrep-
resent the purpose and wishes of the
convention of the State committee to
be appointed. The wisest, discreetest,
safest, soundest, truest democrats only
hould be placed on tina committee.
No mar Of doubtful political record in
the past should be placed Upon it. Our
intelligent correspondent writes:
LET the committees know once and
for all that fusion will never again be
mentioned in a democratic meeting.
The old remedy, the hair of the dog
is good for the bite is a specific here,
because the apathy in our party today
is due to this committees fusion in SO
against a convention vote of 625 to $50
on the second state convention idea of
SO which was a ruse of our democratic
politicians for fusion, which fusion has
created a mistrust and want of conf
dence in our leaders and committee by
our voters. If we are to be traded as
cattle without any protest, what is
the need of conventions at all, and
why call people to primaries. This mis-
trust can at one be stopped by a
passage of such a resolution, and con-
1dence restored and quickly too. Our
committee, who today, stand for flu
sion still as seen by their first address,
and the prominence given to Bryan
and Jones letters, n who seem to
misunderstood u people, or who are
acting h part Of imbeciles in this
matter, should be we'll set down IN.
We believe this the best course now to
pursue
We give this because it represents
the opinions of nine-tenths of the east
ern democrats, so far as we are able
to learn. They positively hate the
very name of fusion. A rue man, a
countryman, a man of sense and use
fulness to the party, said to us recent
ly, Il have always voted with and
worked for the democratic party, but
if it ever fuses I cease at once to be a
democrat" And there are tens of
thousands with him. If the next con-
vention does it's duty and pursues a
wise, bold, above board course in will
leave no possible gap open for either
Of power or any chance even
hereafter for a trade with other par
ties upon any plea or any demand.
The white men Of the state have a
greater disgust for and dislike of the
b~lack-radical gang and the trading
part of the popuiists who are ready
for any trick or dicker for gain, who
are led by Butler. Wilson. skinner and
the other little fellows than was felt
in the dark days of reconstruction.
II