The gold leaf., 1900-03-08

spairing of Any Reform Inside the
Present Organization of That Party
he Has Determined to Abandon It
and Become One of the Outside
Majority.
Hon. Cy. Thompson, Chairman of State
Executive Committee Of the Peoples
Party, Baleigh, N. c.
DEAR SIR:-I herewith tender my
resignation of membership OF the
State Executive Committee. do so
with regret. l helped to organize the
Peoples Party in this State, and
took somewhat active part in the
memorable campaign of 1892. and
have since given more of my means.
time and strength to advance its in
terests than | could afford, and en-
tirely without any pecuniary reward
directly or indirectly.
When fusion was inaugurated in
this State in 1894 l opposed it to the
utmost, and refused to take any part
in it. l urged that whatever appar-
ent gain might be secured by it such
sacrifice of principle would divide
and diminish our forces and deserved
ly forfeiting the respect aud conf
dence of our fellow-citizens, cut off
recruits and, therefore, sooner or
later, destroy the party.
l was for long time, encouraged
to continue in my allegiance to the
party or organization by promise of
reform and by the hope that those in
control of the party would see the
unwisdom of any further continuance
in such conduct, and returning to the
defense of our principles, refuse any
affiliation with any who opposed
them.
In the meantime. the ma jority of
the party had abandoned the organi-
zation and left it in the main, if not
entirely to those who seem bent on
continuing in their courses. Des-
pairing of any reform inside the pres
ent organization of the party, | have
determined to abandon it and become
one of this outside majority.
| am as earnestly devoted to the
principles of the Peoples party as l
ever was There are thousands in
the State of like mind in fact,
Populism is more widely accepted to-
day, than at any time in the past.
but without organization nothing can
be done to secure the adoption and
enforcement of these principles. If
was otherwise qualified to take an
active part in organizing this latent
sentiment. my poor health would pre-
vent me from undertaking it. | can
only watch the current of events.
| am not in the least discouraged.
There are abundant indications that
the great revolution that has already
been fully inaugurated has not been
ovorthrown, but simply baked for a
time. This is always sure to happen
to all such movements, as the history
of our own country abundantly proves.
Unwise and selfish conduct on the
part of many of the leaders in the
movement, is mainly responsible for
its present status. The present wave
of prosperity is lulling some into
security, but such will ere long be
rudelv awakened as this prosperity is
only on the surface and will prove,
like its many predecessors, only tenn
porary.
Under the surface the sores are
eating away on the vitals OF the
country with more virulence than
ever.
If the masses were disposed to be-
| come Indifferent to their real condi-
ton, the Plutocratic Oligarchy. that
is now indirectly but none the less
truly running the government and
ruling us with a rod of iron. would
not allow them to remain so, They
are, by their excesses, constantly
calling to mind the old adage "whon
the gods wish to destroy they first
make mad" But when were greed
and selfishness ever satisfied? When
did vaulting ambition ever fail to
overleap itself?
There is abundant evidence thai
the discomfort and unrest among oul
people is broadening and deepening
1t is extending more and more to
those who are unduly conservative
They are at last getting their eyes
open to the evils that environ us, anc
to some extent, to the perils that con
| front us.
do not despair OF the Republic
have the fullest confidence in thu
patriotism, courage and intelligence
of our people. 1t is only question
of time when they will become
united and move forward to the over
throw of the despoilers. l am yer.
sure it will not be under the banne
of either of the old parties. There il
every indication that it will be by ;
new movement that will be entirel,y
free from the passions and prejudice
that would cucumber it il moving il
anv of the old channels.
agree fully with Rev. DIR. Josial
Strong, that this will he one of tn
three great revolutions of moderl
times. The first gave religious, tn
second gave civil and the one nov
under way will give industrial free
dom. GEO. +. BOGGS.
Haywood Co., n. &.