The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-18

Election Law. etc. am sure no member.
of the Legislature Of 1899 will dispute
this statement
During the last three years, since 1
have been living in Raleigh, my whole in
come from all sources has been barely
sufficient to support my family, although
we live economically.
NV entire estate including property
belonging to my wife, would not probably
sell for more than seventeen or eighteen
thousand dollars and it is encountered
by unpaid mortgages of over three years
standing for eleven thousand lollars.
Even my home is mortgaged for about
half its purchase money.
l do my banking business with the Citi-
zens National Bank of this city, and its
books will show | have not had to my
personal credit at any one time during
the last two years as much as one thous-
and dollars.
When the campaign Of this year closed,
the committee was very much behind.
There were a number of urgent bills to
be met, for which | was responsible.
borrowed, upon the endorsement OF
friend, from the Commercial and Farmers
Bank of this city, one thousand dollars
and gave it to the committee as my con-
tribution to the campaign.
Painful as it is to do so, l deem it
proper to make this statement about my
private affairs that the people of the
State may see how unjust and cruel are
the charges with which it is being sought
to injure and destroy my reputation.
During the last three years / have
given to the Democratic party year Of
my time without any compensation, hay-
ing actually borrowed money to pay, in
part, my expenses while engaged in this
work, and l have also given to it this
year more than one-seventh of my net
fortune.
l have done this ungrudingly and If my
State should ever again fall back into
the horrible conditions from which it
has been rescued, and again wish my
services, l shall not answer not now. but
at a more propituous season. have
not made, and do not intend to make
any demands upon the party for these
sacrifices. A party has right to expect.
in time and money, sacrifices from it's
adherants, but no party exigencies can
require the sacrifice of a mans character.
Neither, can I believe that any mans can
didacy for office will be promoted by the
assassination of an opponents character
During the last three years the Fu4G
sionists have heaped upon me a degreeat
of Islander and vituperation which per-l
haps never before fell to the lot of any
man in the State. | have borne these
assaults with patience, counting myself
| fortunate that l was considered worthy
| to suffer in the name of the cause for
| which | was struggling This abuse has
| been directed against me, not only as
an individual but / have been denounced
| by the enemies of Democracy for every
| thing done by the Democratic party which
has not pleased them. s.
1t now seems that these charges made
| by the Fusionists have been revamped
and are being circulated to my detriment
by men in my own party, because, for
sooth, / am in the way of the ambition of
their favorite. So be 1t, l am not the
only victim. Others yea thousands of
others, have felt the mailed hand of Il
power which brooks no opposition to the
accomplishment of it's purpose, and
which, though it was not always SO, has
recently become in this country a power
mightier than "the man" himself.
There is no skeleton in my closet. For
three years the enemies of Democracy,
with evil and vicious eyes, have turned
| the searchlght of inspe lion upon my
| life and character. In BE midst of it
all l have stood defiant, y.sking no quar-
| ters and giving none. l ask none now,
| but there is difference between injus-
| tice from foes and injustice from friends.
| The former may be regarded with indif-
| ference the latter is sharper than a SER
| pent's tooth.
| My Democracy is without qualifications.
] | stand straight square and flatfooted
| for every principle and declaration in our
| platforms, State and National, and for
| Mr.. Bryan, the great leader of our hosts
| There is we'll defined and largely sue
| cessful movement in certain parts of the
| State to organize, against me and in
favor of one of my opponents, certain in
terests and influences which, though
usually acting with the Democratic party,
are out of sympathy with and actually
hostile to some of its principles end
| policies, and more or less unfriendly to
| our candidate fer the Presidency. ] have
! no apologies to make to anyone fer my
| advocacy of the principles of the Demo-
| cratic National platform, nor for my earn
| est admiration and support of Mr. Bryan.
| stand for these principles separately
and collectively; not for part Of
| them. but for each and every one of
| them. / am glad that my position in
| North Carolina because I do not want
to secure any mans vote uron false pre-
/ fences.
Very truly yours
F. NJ. SIMMONS.