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

At the recent meeting of the Populist
State Committee in Raleigh, Senator
Butler made speech that was the most
blood-thirsty and CORY heard in North
Carolina during this decade. 1t was u
plea to his followers to fight and to go
into the campaign for gore. 1t was in
ilammatory in the extreme, calculated to
incite bloodshed and a wholesale bloody
campaign In order that the people may
read again his sanguinary language we
quote it below:
Having entered this fight we cannot
forsake it. We must go forward. Now
even more than then are our liber-
ties threatened There is one issue and
but one and WE MUST FIGHT TILL
THAT Is SETTLED. That issue is
whether or not North Carolinians are
free men.
let us join hands with all who will
help us and Wipe out such conspiracy.
Il am satisfied that those in favor Of
free suffrage can. by combining their
strength in the coming campaign, redeem
the State from the Red Shirt Gang.
The negro question | know confronts
us, and it must be settled, but we can't
trust the man who has lived on the negro
for thirty years to settle it. We've got
to settle it. We are the folks who at
heart want it settled, not they. We want
ii settled so they can 70 longer use it as
Il scarecrow. The Republicans also are
anxious for it's settlement, and they Ii
help to settle it in the proper way"
LET Us JOIN HANDS AND DE
FEAT FOREVER THIS LITTLE
GANG OF ANARCHISTS AND RED
SHIRTS who try to take by violence
that which they cannot win by fair
means But it takes something more
than red shirt to scare Il Populist. In
the eastern counties in the campaigns of
recent years the Populists haven't been
running. They have been in more dan
ger there than anywhere else, but they
have stood true as steel.
I'VE HAVE GOT TO FIGHT AND
WE HAD AS WE'LL MAKE UP OUR
MINDS TO DO IT. | believe there are
enough votes in favor of free suffrage
10 win III the campaign in spite of their
ballot-bOx stuffing and red shirt lawlesS-
ness. But to do it we have got to be on
our guard. The election law of 1891
was wide open and | wouldn't ask any
thing easier than to steal JO,WO votes
under it. The new election law is worse.
But well win in spite of 1t and OF SIM
mons and the red shirts.
THE Republicans are in this fight to
the death. LET Us JOIN HANDS
WITH THEM AND HELP THEM
WHIP THIS GANG OUT OF THE
STATE. Let us announce to the worlds
that North Carolina will no longer be
ruled by anarchists, red shirts and Il lit
tie gang of toadies-men who have be-
trayed everybody and everything.
The Republicans are willing for us
to take the lead, go ahead and hold
convention and name a ticket. They will
help us elect it. OF course there will
he some Republicans on it, and it may
be we can find al Democrat who will
join in this anti-anendment fight. There
are some such prominent Democrats and
| think it possible that one or more OF
them may offer to take a place on the
ticket"
This letter created Indignation
throughout the State and the expressions
of stern disapproval of the incendiary
utterances We're by no means confined
to Democrats. Not few letters have
been received at this office from Popu-
lists as well as from Democrats, declar-
ing that if Butler still had any followers
who paid attention to his advice, his
speech would provoke encounters that
might lead to bloodshed. 1t was u fire.
brand thrown into Il campaign that had
been inaugurated on the part of Demo
Gratis by an appeal to the reason and the
calm Judgment of the manhood of the
State
A few days ago we published Il reply
addressed to Senator Butler signed by
A Populist and White Man That
letter has been widely read aud com-
mented upon. y Populist, who prefers
that his name be withheld for the pres
ent, writes:
Il do not know 4 Populist and White
Man who wrote that great reply 10 But
Ter in Sundays News and Observer. but
| wish to thank Him There We're. 5000
Populists i'll North Carolina i'll
1892. In 1898. when the party
leaders tried to make us vote to continue
negro rule in the Eastern part of the
State. the party walked out of itself
leaving not more than $4,000 POpulsts
who voted the Fusion ticket, If so many.
Some of those who voted it did 50 under
Il misapprehension. This year the oppor-
tunity is offered to get rid of the bulk OF
the negro vote Most of the Populist