The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-27
CAPT. COOKE CHAIRMAN
THE PROPOSITION FROM THE
POPULISTS DECLINED.
HARMONY AND GOOD WILL PREVAILED
Col. Carr Made Temporary Chairmau--Capt.
Kitchin's Speech Speeches of Prom
inent Democrats From all Sec
lions of the State.
lions of the State /.

lions OF the State.
at 12:15 o'clock by Clement Manly
chairman of the Democratic State Ex
ecutive Committee. Prayer was offered
by DIR. Eugene Daniel, of Raleigh.
Mr.. Manly congratulated the conven-
ton, on the splendid aggregation of the
best white men in North Carolina that
he saw before him, and said:
CHAIRMAN MANLY'S ADDRESS.
Gentlemen of the Conventions:
Il congratulate you that you have been
chosen for this post of honor: sent here
by your people from every part of the
commonwealth. / congratulate the Deo-
pie of the state. the intelligent and yir-
tuous of the land, that you have met in
the cause.
I'm thus speaking, | mean no fulsome
compliment. 1t is manifest to all that
the Democratic party alone can save the
state from the misrule and disgrace we
are now enduring. and restore good gov
ernment to the people.
We have in North Carolina to-day
three political organizations claiming the
privilege of ruling this fair land
Ine Republican party of 11S,000 ne
groes and $1,000 white men. The Popuist
party having for its constituency about
32,O00 white men. The Democratic party
composed of 141,000 white men. Which
Of those parties is entitled to rule: which
shall rule is the question. To the Demo
cratic party. the state looks for succor
and aid. whatever may be the calamity
which demands the patriotism of her
sons
when the blast of war rings in our
ears and the government calls on her
citizens to go to battle against the enc
mics of the republic-to demand satisfac-
tion for the dark assassination of our
sailors, and to prevent the cruel and in
human treatment of a poor people, strug-
Cling for freedom at our doors. who an
swers, this call to duty and to honor
Ninety per cent. of those brave boys, the
1000 of North Cardinals sons, who are
now in the ranks, are your brethren and
Democrats.
Now, when in peace our state de-
mands that her sons rescue her from 4
worse enemy than the Spanish, political
y
Il solemn and mighty responsibility.
II should here nominate your temporary
presiding officer, and leave You to youI
deliberations. but since the party last
held its convention in this hall, your com
mittee has taken such action as demands
Il statement to this bOdy-the supreme
counsel of the party.
''In the campaign of 1896 the commit
tee left to exercise its Judgment in the di
rection of the party policy, when not il
conflict with principles, which you haC
promulgated. made every honorable eff
fort to bring together the people of NortI
Carolina that those holding the same
great principle then in issue might SEE
those principles triumphant.
THE Populist party had nominated oul
candidate for president. The Nebraskan
armed in his holy cause-that silver be
restored to its position as money OF
final redemption, and thus check the ever
increasing power of money and the equal
ly decreasing value of property--was be
fore the people. Our plain duty was t.
give him effective, intelligent and there
fore united support. Your committee
thought this amaIgamation of the cleo
toral ticket a duty dictated by every rea
son and principle, and the thanks of the
party should be given to those who, a
the wish of the party resigned their po
siton. They are unselfish patriots.
Later. when we saw the Populis
party drifting again into the arms Of tn
Republicans, and knowing that ut leas
50 per cent. of the voters of that part.
were Democrats at heart. and seeing be
fore MS the dreadful and disgraceful con
sequence which must follow this fusion
your committee made last effort to &c
back those people who had so recent.
before stood III our ranks beside us
manifold reasons urged this course
which. this is not the time or place t.
discuss-but did not succeed.
II am well aware that our action me
the criticism that the committee ha,
exceeded its authority. | do not admi
IT. ret | want to say TO this convention
that the action of your committee wa
that of unselfish men having alone "a
their guidance the welfare and integrit,
of the party. that integrity of the grea
Democracy which means so much To th
good people of the State.
II do not mean by this rehearsal O
our past conduct to forestall any actioI
of this convention different situation
now presents itself from that which con
fronted the committee in '96 but | deer
this statement a duty which the CON
mittee owes to this body. soon to be i
deliberation as to party policy | hop
for YOU all that wisdom and concord ma
hold sway over your c0unsels. We ma
hold different views today. tomorro,
1lLNust have but one opinion--a unite