The news & observer., 1898-08-24
Mr.. CALDWELL'S INCONSISTENCY.


Zeb. Vance Walser's fidelity to political
corporations, endorsed Mr.. NJ. Ii. ii
f, Caldwell a POpulist, for Congress. IL
is not difficult to understand why the
| Republicans should do this, for it is the
| only way they have of getting Populist
| votes for their candidate for solicitor,
| Judges and legislators. AT the last
| Legislature. the Republicans and Prit
| chard Popuists largely to punish Con
| gresham ShufOrd because he antagon-
| lied pritchard. took the two best Re
/ publican counties out of the district,
| and as now constituted it is a very
, close district. and it will certainly go
Democratic this year.
We say we are not surprised that the
Republicans. in n district where they
have not the rcmotest chance of win
ming. should be willing to trade with
the Populists. 1t is a surprise that Mr..
Caldwell would be willing to surrender
his convictions in order to obtain Re
publican support. Only Il few months
ago, in communication to the Cauca-
sian, Mr. Caldwell wrote:
"The campaign of 1898 is but the
marshalling of all the reform forces
for the great battle of the ballot in
1900, which is to decide the fate of the
American people.
'"The true Populist has ever been a
patriot and the Populists of North
Carolina have vein of patriotism
which must not be dimmed in the coming
campaign. * Let the will of
the people prevail in the campaign, and
trusts will tremble in their strongholds.
The people are in no mood to he trtled
with. and they will not tolerate the
slightest betrayal of POpuliSt principles
on the part of any man or set of men.
Not only is the future of the Peoples
party in North Carolina ut stake, but
the success Of patriotic cooperation
against the gold standard in 1900 will
depend upon the spirit of that conven-
ton. 1t is asserted that the enemies of
financial reform are alive to the danger
that threatens to annihilate them, and
are seeking TO sow seeds of discord in
our ranks and endcavoring to prevent
any cooperation Of silver men in this
State.
IF this be truc, it behooves us to use
great care in the selection of delegates
Let every county convention instruct its
delegates to vote for n patriotic CO.
operation of all the silver men in North
Carolina"
If the campaign of 1898 is but the
marshallng of all the reform forces for
the great battle of the ballot in 1900"
as we believe it is, "to decide the fate
of the American people" how can CO.
operation with the gold standard party,
and the acceptance of nomination at
the hands of a convention that endorsed
the gold standard and the trusts-we
say, how can the trusts be made to
''tremble in their strongholds" if the
opponents of trusts unite with the
party of Trusts?
Mr.. Caldwell is right when he says
'"The people are in no mood to be
trifed with" They want clean govern
ment at home and financial reform.
They are tired of RusSellism. Pritchard-
ism, Jim Youngism and McKinleyism
This is true of the masses of white
voters of all parties. AS far as the
Populist voters are concerned. Mr.. Cald
well spoke truly when he said that "thcy
will not tolerate the slightest betrayal
of POpuiist principles on the part of
any man or set of men," And yet Mr.
Caldwell, after making this prophecy
which will be fulfilled in November
seeks and accepts support of men who
despise and openly spit upon POpulist
principles, and in return for such sup
port votes for and helps to elect gold
bugs all over his district. When the
ballots are counted in November, Mr..
Caldwell will be sorry that he did not
stand firm in his brave words quoted
above. He will find that 'the people
will rot tolerate the slightest betrayal
of populist principles on the part of any
man or set Of men'-and now that Mr.
Caldwell is betraying those principles
by cooperation with goldbugs, he will
find that the people will not tolerate"
it, and they are ''in no mood to be
trined with" They want ''the white
man and the white metal enthroned, and
they will not tolerate the slightest be-
trayal on the part of any man
or set of men"
Mr.. Caldwell will read these words
with a sad heart on the 9th Of Novem-
Der, and wish he had remained true to
his programme Of making trusts trem
bic in their strongholdS."