The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-31
AS OTHERS SEE US
DEMOCRATS WILL SWEEplTHE STATE LIKE
A FOREST FIRE.
Degradation Ct The State Under Fusion RUIZ
Unparalleled -Popuisis Everywhere
Breaking Away from Radi-
cal Fusion Leaders.

A staff correspondent writing from
Raleigh on the 25th inst, to the Atlanta
Constitution, said:
Public sentiment in this State is deep
ly infamed The respectable white peO-
pie are getting together, irrespective of
party lines and IL crusade is on 20 re
store Anglo-Saxon supremacy and decent
government
SO demoralzing has been the regime
of the fusionists. that horrible con
dition of affairs has resulted.
Negro leaders on the platform and in
their newspapers are daring the whites
to make the race issue and encouraging
their men to commit atrOciOus crimes
This week has seen the pent-up indlg-
nation of an outraged people burst into
flame which is sweeping the State
with the fury Of a forest fire.
The issue of white supremacy and
protection for the family has been made
up. and on that line the decent white
people declare that they will rescue their
fair State from the fusion politicians.
-Four wears ago the Republicans and
Populists captured the Legislature, and
from that day to this life has been a
burden to the whites throughout a large
part of the State. Ignorant, incompe
tent, vicious and corrupt men of both
races obtained public office, and their
scandalous conduct has had no parallel
in any State since the days of carpet
baggery. Uncomfortable crimes have
been perpetrated by officials i'll high
places. Political power has been freely
prostituted to prosecute personal enemies.
The domination of the black race owe,
the white has been as complete as it
was in the dark days of the early seven
ties.
The rank and file of the Populists are
breaking away from the unnatural al
lance which they made in 1894 with the
Republicans. For the past year they
have been realizing more and more
forcibly every day that fusion with the
Republicans had restored radical rule
and was operating to defeat the bed rock
principles upon which Populism was
founded Populism in the South drew
it's strength from the Democratic party.
Thousands of sincere men left the old
organization in 1892 and the two sue
ceeding years because they believed II
could not redress the evils which afflicted
the country. In North Carolina the
pOpulists were strictly n third party in
1892, but in 1894, under the leadership
of Marion Butler, they fused with the
Republicans and gained control of the
State Legislature. The fusionists had n
great victory at every point and in 1896
they repeated their success and elected
their candidate for Governor. For the
past two years they have been in full
control of all departments of the State
administration.
This should have a special interest to
Georgia Democrats and Populists for
the reason that "A similar fusion scheme
has been arranged by the Republican
and Populist politicians in the Eleventh
Congressional district.
Thousands of North Carolina Popu-
lists, sending greeting to their brothers
in Georgia, warn them to beware the
Greeks bearing gifts"
Thousands of the honest, conscientious
Third party men are coming straight
back into the Democratic party just as
their brothers are doing in Georgia and
Tennessee White supremacy as the
campaign issue will finish the business
for the fusion regime.
The Democrats are fighting for prin.
ciples, honor and good government, while
, their opponents are cOnfcSSedly after the
offices. Hal Aver, State Auditor and
one of the leading PopuIst politicians.
admitted this in q conversation / had
with him day or so ago.
'"rhe only principle involved is to
beat the Democrats" he said.
In other words. the fusion politicians
are after what they call the ''pie" and
, they hope to induce enough Populsts
10 vote with them to again elect flu
sion Legislature and capture the county
offices.
In the Eastern counties the negroes
give two or three of the best offices to
white Republicans and Populists and
take everything else for themselves. In
one county there are forty negro magis-
trates. The deputy sheriffs, deputy
clerks, magistrates, policemen, constables
and aldermen are mostly black. The