The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-06-06
Iie Wessengm.
CHANGING AT DEMOCRATIC OPIN,
ION.

Wa ~ 49,
platform. 1t is noticeable that dem
ocratic papers that opposed Bryan in
1896, or gave him half-hearted support
are active in trying to depreciate him
still and to create among his support
ers distrust or open opposition. OF
the more than $4,000 who voted for
him there are 10 doubt thousands who
prefer some one else. But there are,
it may be believed, more other thou
sands who did not support him in 1896,
who for good and sufficient reasons
will vote for him in 1900.
There is a strong hope, it seems,
among the boilers that silver will be
abandoned altogether by the silver
democrats. In this they will be DOOM
ed to complete disappointment. Silver
will be a leading issue if not the issue.
We attach no great importance to what
goldbug organs say Of democrats who
were bimetallists in 1896, and from
honest conviction being now gold men
-monometallists. There are always
fuctuating men without solid convic-
lions. There are probably dis
gusted men at republican abuses, at
wild notions of conquest, at great and
rapidly increasing taxes, at the ire
mendous strides and expressions and
wrongs of the huge trusts, whose name
now is Legion who will support Bryan
than will desert him because of their
conversion to the plea of plutocracy and
the reign of gold by wal upo the
other metal.
An organ Of bimetallism says:
F'The democratic national convention
of 1900 will commit no such blunder
Gas leaving the country without a rem
edy against trusts.) 1t will point out
the specific remedy for trusts, viz:
"Bimetallism at the ratio as it ex-
listed prior to 1873.
"The abolition of national banks Of
issue.
"A modification Of the tariff so as to-
totally eliminate special privileges.
"This is the platform of 1896 over
again. There will be no meaningless
campaign against trusts
The st. Louis Republic, the chief
democratic paper in Missouri, says:
"The campaign against the trusts,
headed by the full strength of the ma
tional democratic organization, will
cease only when the trust evil has been
adequately checked and the safety of
the people guaranteed. = = 1t is des-
tined to the triumphant elimination of
people" d.
Representative Bankhead, of Ala
bama, thinks the democrats will still
be committed to free silver" He met
a drummer who said: "He told me
that he had been a republican all his
life, but believing that the republican
party was responsible for the huge
combinations that were being formed,
me would hereafter vote the democratic
ticket"
Mr.. Bankhead says that Bryan still
CONTINUES the favorite amongAlabama
democrats" We quote from Washing
ton Post.
Representative Meyer, OF Louisiana,
is also reported as saying: L am
afraid Bryan will be nominated" and
because he is afraid Of his strength.
He is probably a goldite. He says:
eff we make silver the prominent is
sue, we will be handicapped, to say the
least.
4My own judgment is that our fight
should be chiefly directed against
trusts"
Most simon-pure democrats will take
no Bankhead Gin thern." Who is so
strong as Bryan? Not German who is
a goldbug. Senator Cockrell, Of Mis-
souri,. thinks the trusts will be active
Iy opposed by democrats, and that
"the financial question will be to the
front next year." and no siGe-tracking
of it.
Mr.. JOsephus Daniels, editor OF IA
leigh News and Observer, has been 70
ST. Louis as a member Of the National
democratic committee. He was inter-
viewed by his W paper and among
other things said:
1.-THE sentiment among the democrats
/ met was that the next national dem
ocratic convention will reaffirm the
Chicago platform without crossing a
'tt'' or dotting an ST." 1t will also show
the methods of the trusts by which
men are driven on! OF employment and
the profits of labor nl~onOpolized by
these OUTLAWS of commerce. and it
will promise such Legislation and such
honest and aggressive enforcement Of
the law as will stop the trusts or put
the trust m%anipulators in the peniten-
tiary. 1t will also condemn the policy
of criminal aggression" which the
administration is pursuing in the Phil
ippine islands, and it may, as a fit de-
-r,o;o4;zo of tho nniifV NIT Wash