The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-04-28
COL. A. II. WADDELL ON FUSION.

A representative of The Morning
Post was IN Wilmington Yesterday and
understanding that letter had been
addressed by Chairman Jones, of the
National Democratic Executive Com
mittee, to Col. A. M. Waddell, of that
city. requested that Colonel Waddell
permit The Post to publish his reply,
which is as follows:
Wilmington, N. c., April Goth, 1898.
Hon. James K. Jones,
Washington, D. G.
Dear Sir: I have toe honor to ac-
knowledge the receipt of your letter Of
the 18th inst, enclosing copy of your
address as chairman of the Democratic
National Committee, and have careful
ly read what you say in regard to the
policy which ought to be pursued In
the campaign of 1900, and your appeal
to me to go to the State Convention
and work for this policy.
You say that you understand per-
(we) are surrounded in North Carroll
ma" ETC., etc.
Permit me to say that am sure you
do not understand the real situation,
or the plalnness of the path of duty
and self-respect which lies before Dem
ocrats here for, if you did, I am sure
you would not ask or expect them to
accede to the demands which will Ger.
tainly be made upon them by Mr.. But
Ter and his party as conditions of ''co-
operation" am, and have always
1 Toll co. -
Chicago platform. would rejoice to
see Mr.. Bryan elected President, but I
am not willing to see my patty enter
the open market and bid against the
Republican party for Mr.. Butler and
his followers, at the upset price of vot-
ing for him or his allies for the most
important offices affecting the welfare
IOf the State. The fight here is one
between barbarism and civilization
between white men and negroes ma.
nipulated by unprinclpled demagogues.
Mr.. Butler and his friends put the lat
ter in power and they have degraded
and dishonored the State. Ifhe wants
to undo his foul work because it was
toul, it is very easy do so; if he
wants to undo it, only on condition
that he and his followers shall contln-
ne to hold Office, I will never agree to
accept such condition, because it would
be condoning great crime, and would
afford no substantial relief to the peo-
pie. l will be no party to any such
infamous transaction. 1 would sooner
make open war upon such scoundrels
than to yield to their demands. If we
cannot win without snch dishonorable
methods let defeat come. We have
stood it heretofore, and can stand it
again better than win by such means
I know this is not practical poll.
tics" out haven't much respect for
practical politics at best, and none at
all! for this particular species of it.
| However, I am out of politics OF any
kind, and my opinions are of little
consequence to anyone. do not ex.
pect to be delegate to the State Con
vention. I shall certainly not ask tc
be ;but If am, while I will do anytime
to induce honest white men to act to-
gether to rescue North Carolina from
the degradation with which she is af-
tlicted, shall never agree to accom-
pllsh even that high purpose by Offer
: ing higher price to the demagogue'
who betrayed her to return to thel1
duty, than that offered by their present
allies to remain with them.
Local self-government by white men
is infinitely more important to us thar
the silver question, and if we cannot
get it peaceably without trading with
Messrs. Butler & Co., we will get it by
force at their expense, "and don't yol
forgetit."
have plainly given you my homes
conviction.
Yours truly,
(Signed) A. M. WADDELL.