The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-01
POPULIST BOSSES ARE FIGHTING
BRYAN.

LA ANs
In 1896, when the National Demo-
cratic party wrote a declaration OF
independence from government by
trusts and money syndicates, there
came some division in the party.
There were some Democrats who
broke away from the party and re-
fused to support Mr.. Bryan because
they held with the Republicans on
the money question. In that cam
paign the bulk of the Populists in
North Carolina supported Mr.. Bryan
because upon the silver question the
Democratic position was identical
with the declaration of the Populist
National convention.
In the election in November 1895
the Bryan electoral ticket carried
North Carolina by something like
twenty thousand majority, though
10000 negroes voted against Bryan
and for every principle for which he
stands. 1t was won for Bryan largely
because those two patriots, Hon. Cyrus
B. Watson and Maj. VIM. A. Guthrie
put the reforms for which Bryan
stands above any personal ambition.
But even then it was hard contest
because the gold bugs and monopolists
had this solid 100000 negro votes to
cast for their candidate without eff
fort and at no trouble to convince
their understanding. 1t was like a
black wall of stolid opposition ana
Bryan and his friends had to use
every exertion to scale the wall.
There are going to be future con-
tests between the men who stand for
the rule of the people and those who
stand for the rule of those who have
special interests to subserve. Bryan
ism is strong because it represents
the rule of the masses; Republicanism
is strong because it represents the rule
of the classes. In one shape or
another the conflict between these
forces will be fought out until the
masses win i'm their fight for equality
and right. The lines that were sharp
ly drawn in 1896 will be even more
sharply drawn in 1900 and even more
sharply still in 1904. There will be
no middle ground-every man must
range himself on the side of the peo-
pie in the party founded by Jefferson,
or on the side of those desiring
special privileges in the party estab-
lished by jefferson.
The passage of the Amendment and
the consequent elimination of the
mass of the negro voters, will make
North Carolina again what it was an
hundred years ago when this State
insisted upon giving Jefferson a third
term. If no negroes had voted in
North Carolina in 1896, Bryan's ma
iority would have been 100000 instead
of 10000. If the Amendment to the
Constitution had been in operation,
the majority would have been at least
100000 majority. In the conflict that
is irrepressible between the people
and the resolve of political corpora
tions to control, the elimination of the
negro vote assures the victory to the
people. In the future similar con-
tests for national supremacy, it makes
cratic principles as Mississippi. There
fore, even though the Amendment was
not submitted for any reason except
to secure permanent white rule, it is
incumbent upon every supporter of
the measures that find their best eX-
preston in Mr.. Bryan, to use their
every effort TO secure the ratification
of the Amendment. 1t may be that
when the Amendment is adopted the
protectionists, imperialists and gold
bugs in the Democratic party will join
the Republican party. 1t will certain
" make for independence in politics.
but there is not the shadow of q doubt
that the good State of North
Carolina will not only be redeemed
from negro rule and the danger of it,
but will also be free from corpora
ton domination. We will not again
see great trusts and political corpor-
atoms walk into the halls OF legisla-
ton and dictate Legislation as was
common in 1895 and particularly in
1897 when they busted themselves
to re-elect Senator Pritchard.