The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-04
THE CAMPAIGN
An Address to the white Voters of
North Carolina by the Chairman of
the state Democratic Committee

Democratic State Chairman Simmons
today issued the following address:
The most memorable campaign ever
waged in North Carolina Is approach
ing it's end. 1t has been a campaign of
startling and momentous develop
ments. The issues which have over
Swallowed all others have been the
questions of honest and economical
state government, and White Suprem-
acy. These issues were not planned
and inaugurated by parties or I'VE
tons, but they were evolved out of the
extraordinary conditions of the situa-
ton. Strenuous efforts have been made
by the fusionist leaders TO divert the
attention of the people from these con-
ditions and to throw the campaign into
other channels, but all their efforts in
this direction have proved impotent.
The people of North Carolina are suf-
fciently intelligent to discriminate be
tween good and bad government. They
are sufficiently v%irtuous to want good
and honest government. They have
seen the government OF the last two
years and they recognize it to be bad
anu C~OIIupI,diId Lilty WE'RE not ~ Dc Sc
duced from their purpose to sharply
arraign the party, which has debauch-
ed the state, before the bar of public
opinion. The horrible condition of af-
fairs in the eastern counties, and the
progress there of negro domination
over white communities, raised the
question Of whether in any part of
North Carolina, men of A~nglO-SaxOn
blood should be subjected to the rule
a nj TnaGfnrU of tho nnprn q nd fhic ic-
sue burned itself into thNhearts Of the
people, and kindled a fire of indigna-
ton, which cannot be smOthered by eX-
ecutiVe proclamation, or by the threat
of Federal bayOnets.
On these two issues, therefore, the
democrats have Waged an aggressive
and relentless campaign. Our enemies
have been on the defensive from the
very start. To the charges of extrav-
agance and corruption, they at first
made G. 'ial; then they attempted
evasion, tLen they had resOurse to all
sorts of subterfuges, but the charges
were pressed, the conclusive proofs
were offered, the people sat in judg-
ment, and when the evidence Was in,
rendered their verde Of guilty.
No one knows better han the lead
ers Of fusion in North Carolina, that
this judgment Of condemnation has
been rendered, and on the 8th day of
November the final decree will be en-
tered by the people at the ballot box.
Here are the material specifications of
the bill of Indictment.
1t was charged and proved that the
fusiOniSts coming into power under a
promise to reduce expenses, had, in
three years, increased the expenses of
the state government three hundred
thousand dollars.
It was charged and proved that the
expenses of the legislature under flu
sion government had increased in two
sessions fourteen thousand dollars.
1t was charged and proved, that in
one year salaries and fees paid the Of
ficers and employees of the peniten-
tiary were increased nine thousand dol
lars.
1t was charged and proved, that the
fusion legislature of 1897, coming into
power, under a promise to cut down
salaries and fees to the level of the
price of farm products, did not de-
crease the salary of a single officer, did
not decrease the fees of q single Off
Cial. did not decrease appropriations,
stopped no expenditures; but multiplied
officers, increased public expenses and
taxation throughout the state.
To the charge of extravaganza was
super added the charge of corruption.
II was charged and proved, that
W CtlldlOI L IlICIldIu 70 Dc d SOlu
republican, nineteen fusiOnists, elected
as popu]ists and pledged to silver, be-
trayed the cause of the honest pOpu-
lists, who voted for and elected them,
and sold their votes to CnatO Pritch-
ard, in consideration of appointments
under NcKinIey's administration.
1t was charged and proved that pub
lie Office was made a commercial COM
modify. and bartered and sold for a
rrf,, 80 1,,,Ii- 80 - n,~,oI- o.1 =
atiCally.
1t was charged and proved that the
superintendent of the penitentiary had
S~Quandercd and miSapprOpriated the
public property of that institution un-
til his conduct had become notorious.
and the governor. then transferred him
to the head of the agricultural depart
ment where, he said, the opportunity
for ~deSpOiling people would be less.
1t was charged that the books of the
p~enitentiary would show pilfering, pee
ulatiOns, false entries, and untold cor
ruption. 1t was not proved because the
Custodians of these books closed them
to the public gaze.
Nor were the scandals and disgraces
of the fusion administration confined
To ~Nenality. corruption and offering.
AS the superintendent of the peniten-
tlary was removed for his misconduct
@'N' ~ III phN Via - LII
insane at the p~enitentiary fled the
state upon charges of vile conduct too
repulsiVe to name. n the penitentiary
farms were shown to be dens of in
EQUITY, too foul to be described.
AS these and other like charges. one
after the other were presented and the
proofs adduCed. the chief witnesses
being members Of the party in power,
the fusiOniStS attempted to take refuge,
first, behind one cover and then behind
another, but all in vain. They were
driven from every position by the
memorable logic of facts. Facts that
could neither be successfully denied
COntrOverted nor explained. Pressed to
the wall. exposed in all their naked
ness. they resorted to a campaign as
d~espicable as the cause which they de-
Tended Against evidence, facts. and
argument, they opposed falsehoods
misrepresentation. and SANDER. AS
diSSraCeful as had been their admins
tration of public affairs, their method
of defense when brought sharply to the