The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-04-29
Yours very truly.
JAMES. w

Inc polllcal situation III North caro-
lima is one Of some uncertainty. The
approaching election is to be held un-
der conditions and circumstances that
are new to us: we cannot with any
certainty ~foretell the result Of the vari-
Gus changes in the constitution and the
election laws enacted since the last cleo
ton. The enemy is awake, preparing
for a vigorous campaign. It therefore
behooyes US TO look we'll TO our defences.
TO take counsel Of n another, to plan
wisely. to execute carefully.
We are just now emerging from the
baneful effects of Fusion rule in North
Carolina. The education of our people
n the industrial development Of our
natural will 500 put our
state in the front rank of
Wealths: but a mistake now would be
fatal. 1 feel that my lifelong adhec-
ence TO the democratic party gives me
the right to speak to democrats. My
knowledge of a peculiar danger that
confrontS the party impelS me to warn
1t. / respectfully ask the thoughtful
attention OF all democrats, leaders in
party thought and action. as we'll as the
rank and file, to what / have to say.
The candidacy of Associate Justice
Walter Clark for the nomination at the
hands Of the democratic party for the
office of Chief Justice of North Carroll
ma, is openly avowed, and seems to he
lCSClNeu. ISISOIdI ihJGSllCc
received at the hands of this man led
me to an investigation, the result OF
which / feel it is my duty to make pub
lie. II any charge / shall make is IN
true, Judge Clark has his remedy in a
suit for libel, and he may be sure 1 shall
plead justification and produce proof
Judge Clark should not be nominated
by the democratic party because
/. He is not a democrat, and was
against US during the fusion regime.
2. He is morally unfit for the place.
l. He is not and was not, during the
fusion regime, a democrat. In the first
place. he was elected in 1894 by fusion
votes. The democratic judicial ticket,
headed by Judge Shepherd-includiug
Clark-was defeated. The fusion judi
cial ticket, headed by Faircloth-inclCG-
ing elected. Judge Conner
declined the fusion nomination Gas n
other democrat would have done).
Judge Clark accepted it, at least by not
declining. and was elected by fusion
votes. Clark, democrat, was defeated,
and there has been nc such person in
, North Carolina since that election.
Having turned his face towards Sod
om," is it any wonder he was soon
deep in the flesh-pots Of fusionism?
What was his own estimate of his po-
litical status at that time? Let us see.
He undertook to convince the fusion
legislature of 1895 that he was good
enough a populiSt to go to the United
States senate instead of Mr.. Marion
Butler. He held private interviews with
| leading populistS in the legislature Of
1895, n sought at their hands the SEN
atorShip, pleading that he had the ci.~
dorsement of the populist party in the
election of 1894. When he says for m
self that he is a populist, shall demo-
Gratis gainsay him.?
He was the confidential adviser Of
Butler. Russell. Aver & Co.. He had
private, nay, even secret conferences
with them; he inspired and suggested
editorials in The Caucasian while the
%fusionists were in CONTROL; he was one
of them. Throughout the whole of hat
black page in North Cardinals history
he was in close touch with the enemles
Of Democracy. He had no sympathy
nor encouragement for the democratic
party during the White supremacy cam
paign of 1898; instead he was comforting
secretly with Marion Butler, with DIR.
Thompson, with Hal Aver, with Mr..
Cade and other leading populists. IIe
thought the democracy was done for in
North Carolina, and aligned himself
with. what he thought was, the Win
ming side. After Judge FaIrcloth died
and before he was buried, he requested
DR.. Cyrus Thompson to see Governor
Russell in his behalf, asking for himself
the appointment as chief justice to sue
coed Faircloth, saying that his appoint
ment would be acceptable to the fu-
%sionists. and referring again to the
supper they gave him in 1894.
His correspondence with Governor
Russell. Mr.. Butler. Mr.. Cade and other
populists was very voluminous, yary
interesting, and a part at least is still
in existence. He wrote and spoke free
ly then. because he thought democracy
was a dead duck in North Carolina. He
was not a democrat then, ne is not 4
democrat now, and he cannot be elect
ed chief justice of North Carolina. II
nominated, the correspondence / have
referred to will be produced and scat
tered broadcast owe the state. Repub-
lican and populist leaders may be able
to whip their follower in line and elect
unfit men to Office. but democrats have
too much Intelligence and TOO much
honesty to vote for such a man.; they
cannot be made to do it.
Already these things are flying from
muth to mouth. and his hidden history
of "a to 9S is even now the subject OF
common talk. If Judge Clark shall be
the standard-b bearer of the democratic
party in this year Of 1902 democracy is
doomed to defeat.
In October. 1898. when it became APP
parent that the democrats would win.
Judge Clark abandoned his former po-
liticai associates, jumped on the demo-
cratic band-wagon and tried to take
charge Of it. In order to make peace
with the democratic organization he
was willing to sacrifice all his populist
friends and impeach the men with
whom he was elected on the fusion
ticket Of 1894.
Politically. he has been all things 10
all men. Prior to 1894, posing as i
democrat. holding office as a democrat.
From "a to '9S the confidential adviser
of the leaders of the populist party, still
holding office In 1898. turning his face
to the rising sun OF democracy, holding
out both hands for more office. Winds
from the four qarters of the compass
blowing salary into his pocket. The
rest OF us suffered defeat and went
down In sorrow and chagrin before the
unholy alliance of black and tan; not
he. The Kentucky postmaster VINO
had held on for thirty years, and ex-
planned his staying qualities by saying
that 1t took a darn smart administra-
ton to change any faster tha he could,
can learn tricks from Judge Clark, even
as Saul Of Tarsus at the feet OF CANA
lia1