The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-11-14

While the democrats a cause for
qualification at the result of the cleo
ton in this state there were two cir
cumstances attending that election
which should be we'll considered by
them-the number of democrats who
stayed away from the polls and the
great amount of scratching OF tickets
by those who took interest enough In
h election to go to the polls to vote.
From these two the democrats should
learn an important lesson, which is
That hereafter, they must nominate for
Offices the best men of the party and
moi look upon nominations solely
or even chiefly as reward for past party
services. The best men, the men in
whose ability and integrity the people
have confidence. These are the only
kin Of men whom the democrats can
afford TO nominate. The s-tay-at-homes
OF this election will form a force of I'M
known strength in h next and their
number will be sufficient to give them
the balance Of power.
According to the census statistics
there are in the state 290,0 900 white vot-
ers. It has been estimated that there
were cast at the last election only about
$1,000 votes by both sides. A demo-
cratic majority of 10000. which is in the
neighborhood of the figures. would show
that only 10000 OF the total Of 29O, 600
white electors of the state voted that
ticket. leaving 1900 o made, up Of those
who stayed away from the polls md
those who voted the republican ticket.
Take from these the 40, 600 who voted
the republican ticket and you will find
that $4,000 more white men stayed
away from the polls than there were
white men Who voted the democratic
ticket. IL o add to the democratic
vote the several thousand cast by ne
groes the difference will be made that
much greater. In other words, out of
$500 0 democratic voters in the state
only HOO o took enough interest in the
election to go to the polls. against 14O,-
900 who stayed away through indiffer-
ence. Aycock's majority in 1900, when
he "a about 10O,000 negroes voting
against him was about the same as the
democratic majority this yeag with the
republicans deprived of the negro voLe.
Another feature of the election that
was new to the democrats of this state
was the great amount of scathing of
their tickets all yer the state, especial
ly in the western counties where repub-
licanism has it's chief strength. There
the great amount of scratching of
tickets Hnn6rIc IF untarC u-ha hara-
tofore always voted the ticket solidly
did not hesitate to erase names and
vote only for the men Of their choice,
the reason for so doing, when asked,
being almost universally that the men
scratched were not considered morally
OK mentally qualified for the office. The
great discrepancy in the majorities re-
ceived by men on the same ticket shows
to what extent this scratching was
carried.
These two features of the election are
certainly food for serious thought by
the democrats. They show unmistaka-
bly, that in politics in this state old
times have passed away and former
methods Of conducting party affairs
I'VE changed. We have entered
upon a new era and the party
must recognize it and govern it
self accordingly, or it will melt away
and its supremacy in this state be a
thing Of the past. We look for no sud
den overthrow of the party unless it
commits some grave blunders; but the
will gradually gain on it
until 1t at last becomes victorious I'M
less the democrats conform TO the new
state Of affairs and s. act as to secure
the active support of the great mass of
voters who showed such Indifference
to it's success this cal. Otherwise this
indifference will develop into open an
tagonism and utilization with the repub-
lican party.