The times., 1899-07-05
DEMOCRATS ARE UNITED
The Parry in North Carolina to
Present a Solid Front.
Republicanism and PopuIism Bccom-
ing Things of the Past-RusseII's
urc - No More QuarreIing - MIR.
Bryan still the Popular Leader.

A representative North Carolina Demo-
cratic leader, who has recently travelled
widely in his State, and who is noted for
his accurate and discriminating political
observations, talked confidently of Demo-
cratic prospects in the Old North State
when seen by Times man yesterday.
Il am fresh from trip throughout the
State" said he, land / made it a point
not only to observe what the political con-
ditions now are in each section, but also
to compare the situation as it is today
with the situation as it was four or FIVE
years ago. l tried to get at the whole
people. I sounded business men, profess
sional men. and men who belong to the
great agricultural and industrial classes.
l talked with men who have money in
vested and with those who are producers
in the strictest sense of that word. l tried
TO go round andround the peculiar politi-
cal situation in the State and to examine it
carefully and dispassionately from every
possible point of view The upshot of all
saw and heard is that l am positively
convinced that the Democratic party in
North Carolina is in better shape today
than it has been for ten years.
Il base that opinion on a number of
facts. Political affiliations in North Caro-
/ lima are shaped largely along geographical
| lines. The State is divided into three dis
| tinct sections-the eastern, the Piedmont,
I and the western. Each section has it's
| peculiar political coloring and each is in
| fluenced by its own particular prejudices.
| Perhaps / might better say that each has
been in the past so influenced. The
numerically dominant negro population in
| the eastern section gives a remarkable
perspective to the political horizon
throughout the black belt'-indeed, in
| all localities from Raleigh to the eastern
shore. The Piedmont or central section
was the hotbed of Populism. The west
| ern or mountain section used to belt is
growing less so with each successive year
the stronghold of Republicanism Within
the last four years these once distinct
boundaries have been effaced. popular
| tide of Democracy has risen and rolled
| irresistibly from the east to the west
| The result is that the State is now less
| politically provincial than for a number
! of years. The Democratic party. from
Murphy to Manteo. is united by bonds that
are easily understood by all reputable
white men-by all reputable. intelligent
men of whatever class or color"
What is responsible for this gradual
but emphatic changer" was asked.
Several causes. First of all, the COM
! bination of Republicans and Populists
several years ago, and the disastrous con-
sequences that have followed that alliance.
Wise Democrats knew there could be but
one alternative-the Republicans and Pop
ulists would either ruin themselves or dis
grace the State. They have done both.
The Russell administration has sounded
the death knell of Republicanism and OF
Populism in North Carolina for a genera
ton. If the leaders of that alliance had
sat up nights studying how they might
politically cut their own throats and re-
establish the Democrats in power they
could not have succeeded more thoroughly
than they have. They raised and were
responsible for the negro issue in the
eastern section. That issue has rallied
North Carolinians, like wall of living FIRE
into the Democratic lines. On that ISSUE
alone they have parted company forever
| with the Republican party.