The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-25

are tired of negroism in politics. If We
get rid of the negro white men can divide
without inviting negro rule. If the
amendment is defeated. we are doomed TO
another twenty years OF no politics OK
cept negro and anti-negro. | am tired
of it and so are my neighbors. and in
order to get Il chance to vote as we
please, without bringing about negro
oftice-holding, we are going to support
the amendment no matter what DEGREES
or addresses the executive committee or
the conventions issues
By request we reprint below the let
ter to Butler. which has utterly demoi-
ished the sanguinary Senator:
To the Hon. Marion Butler;
Sir:-I was not present at the meeting
of the Populst State Executive Com
mittee i'm Raleigh, but ] have read an
account Of what took place at the meet
ing, and your speech particularly, with
surprise, chagrin and dismay.
| went into the Populist party from
principle, believing that, tAere was Il dis
tinct work for that party to do in the
State and Nation. ] have remained in
the party for the same reason though
conscious that it has often made serious
plumbers and that it has laid itself open
to severe but justiiable criticism. | was
content to believe that it's faults were
such as with growing age and strength
would be overcome, faults grounded IN
circumstance rather than in deliberate
intention. With this reflection ! have com
forted myself i'll the past and have con-
scientiously striven to hold it to the aims
and ends conceived and embodied IN its
declaration of principles, believing that
whatever issue of grave import might
arise the Popuist party would be found
favoring the right.
Now, sir, the people of North Carolina
are confronted by the most serious crisis
in their history, since the time when
the States Intelligence and worth
Scourged ignorance, vice and debauchery
from its high places, quarter Of cen
tury ago. 1t is proposed TO right
wrong done the State through force,
fraud and fanaticisln, at time when
her worthy citizenship was imp0tent and
when her protest was considered good
cause for fresh indignities and more
high-handed outrageS by the aliens and
renegades who held bayOnet to her
throat while they despoiled her. For thir-
ty years the State has worn the fetters
riveted upon her limbs i'll her hour of
weakness and has done it patiently, hop
ing in the end that they would drop away
of their own weight or would be struck
off when the animositieS engendered of
war and blood had passed away, and
when q new generation in the union
should see conditions in perspective not
distorted by passion and hate. The hope
has been vain, and the State mas now
taken up for herself the work of remov-
ing the incubus that has delayed her
progress and menaced her peace ana
safety. In this undertaking she has
right to expect that every son who has
nursed at her breast will stand shoulder
to shoulder in her defense.
Under such conditions what do ! find
is the attitude of the Populist or5ani@A-
ton Il do not say party) Of which YOU,
Mr.. Butler are the Acknowledged leader!
] find that at your instance thai OrTanlz'l-
ton has adopted 4 resolution placing it
in irrcconcilable antagOnSlm to those who
would right this wrong Of thirty years
standing. In your speech to the commit
tee you tell them that you will "WLip
this gang from the State What gang,
Mr.. Butler, is it that yOu propose to
whip from the State? i = the men
whose fOrebears have made the STATE
great in peace and terrible in war from
the day that it was carved from the will
derneSS and claimed from SGTagery. Dl!
it occur to you when You We're uttering
this jaunty threat that these men have
never been ''whipped' in all lh1'r his
tory? They are mortal and n,aE be killed;
they can not be cowed Their rambler
is limited and they may be oyerppWercd;
they can not lie whipped
And who, sir. compose NGlr cohorts
that are to go gaily forth 20 7@hip the
men and the SONS Of the men Wa
marched mp to the redoubs III Gettrs-
burg? Not the rank and file Of the
Populist party. They are white men aud
will stand with their br2Lhrcn for &
white mans rights and Il white man
State. They are honorable men and will
stand for the States good name. They
are intelligent men and will stand with
the men who make up 80 per cent of the
States intelligence. They are free men
and therefore. sir, are NOT to be made
the chattels of a petty cabal that bargain
to sell the State to lDfamy to Gat offices
for themselves to enrich themselves with
the price of her prostitution. they are
chivalrous men and there )ra will ti"ht
with those who have al
ways protected the virtue Of
our women. Your army is made
up of 100000 negroes Differed by tie
few white men who have lived by trad
ing on their votes and who are naturally
enraged that amy one should be about to
end that traffic Negroes and renegade
whites. Mr.. Butler, may do what British
veterans failed to do and what the battal-
ions of Grant never did-but | doubt it.
You are at liberty. sir. to sell yourself
if you can find a purchaser. There are
some who believe your search in that
particular has been rewarded: it is no
wild inference from your conduct. You
can not sell the men who compose the
oopulist party. You may attempt to be-
tray them they have come to expect that
at your hands. You can not lead them
within the lines of your negro and rene
gade army. What price, Mr.. RNtler. has
been offered you? The Senatorskl" again,
doubtless, when you have whipped" de-
cent white men ''out of the State. You
will not get it until you accomplish that
undertaking, and none would then be
more eminen1ly fitted for the position.
Negroes and mistaken whites would per-
haps find you to their liking. You cen