The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-24
FRIDAY. ........ February "a, 1899.
cit WILL KILL THE DEMOCRAT
&c PARTY"


1t is becoming very tiresome to hear
the pessimists and croakers say every
day, 1T will kill the Democratic party.
Every time new measure is proposed
that doesn't please somebody, or an act
passes that some fellow thinks hits him.
or some legislator in the discharge of
his duty makes a speech he doesn't like
at each of these occasions somebody
cries out in jeremiah lit will kill the
Democratic party
The Democratic party was charged
with the great duty of restoring good
government and white supremacy. In
the Constitutional amendment already
agreed upon, the two most important
matters are settled. Other important
matters have passed or will be passed
this week, leaving next week for the
consideration of the appropriation bills
and other necessary legislation.
In the main the acts have been wise
and if no mistakes are made from now
on, instead of having been killed, the
Democratic party will have been
strengthened and put in position to carry
the amendment by tremendous ma
jority in 1900.
There has been of late a cry against
the volume of local legislation that has
taken the time Of the legislators, and
we are told that some Of it has KILLED
the Democratic party" We have taken
some pains to look into the character
of the local legislation to find the poison
that is to kill the party dead and
we have not found it. The bulk of it
are the changes made in the vicious leg
islation of 1895 and 1897, re-chartering
towns and cities, incorporating projected
industrial and manufacturing concerns
that promise profitable expansion, and
the necessary local legislation. Our
observation is that the members have
taken unusual care not to recommend
local legislation unless it was approved
by the great bulk Of the people. Take
the matter of dispenshries about which
a great deal has been said. Only four
or FIVE have been established and not
one up to date in any plaue except where
the demand for TWAS practically unani-
nous. There was strong opposition to
the Greensboro bill but the advocates
were able to show that it was the de-
mand of great majority of the white
voters. There was a strong demand for
one at Greenville but Senauor James
and Representatives Barnhill and Mich
obs thought its establishment was unwise
and it was killed in committee. There
has befn great care taken about dis
pensaries. and unless the Legislature had
denied the constitutional right of petit
tfon there was nothing to do but CON
slider each case on its merits, and to
do what was clearly desired by the great
bulk of the white voters. The party
cannot err when it responds to the clear
demand of a great majority of the white
voters in any community.
No: this Legislature up to date has
not killed the Democratic party" If
it keeps on in the next ten most critical
days as well as it has gone on, it will
receive the plaudit "well done.
But
1t does not want to white;wash s.
Ohio Wilson.
II wants to reduce taxation.
1t wants to decrease appropriations.
1t wants to pass strine-n, antitrust
law.
1t wants to keep a close watch on
local legislation and avoid going CON
srary to the wishes of the people.