The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-11-07

10 race the ou1um attaching TO the re-
publican name. 1t was a mistake on
their part to seek TO achieve a victory
by so-called Independent organizations.
The Independent movement was in its
last analyses nothing but a republican
movement. 1t deceived nobody. 1t
disguised thousands of people. The
American spirit likes courage and di-
rectness of purpose. We have had III
North Carolina a surfeiting Of third par
ties whether liberals, populists, or in
dependent. The republican leaders at
tempt to ead people, who may have
been ~righteously indignant against To-
cal political machines, to join with
them, not from conviction, but under
the shadow of an independent move
ment, was disastrous. 1t was an appeal
to party leaders. 1t was an appeal to
~selishness, for them to endeavor to in
duce democrats to join the Independent
movement with liberal promises Of po-
Iitical preferment. The effect Of this
was to ALLEVIATE men who. honestly be-
lieving in the republican national poll
cies, would have been inclined to unite
in a direct and vigorous campaign to
educate the people to the republican
view of the tariff, expansion, and other
political questions. If the republican
party in this state is to have an exis-
tence it must place it's campaign upon
higher grounds than that which they
have taken in this recent campaign. 1t
was a position of fool-hardiness on their
part to invite the comparison Of state
issues. 1t necessarily was to the detri-
ment of the republican party even
though the discussion did not go beyond
the record of the two fusion legislatures
and the administration of Governor
Russell. If it is to exist. it will have to
invite into it's ranks the men in this
state, who think with it. and whose
records in the past have not been asso-
ciated with doubtful politics and the
past regime. It's mistake in this cam
paign was its failure to foresee defeat,
merely to forcibly place before the peo-
pie the position Of their party upon
the great national questions. Had it
made straight republican fight, with
it's best men for candidates and upon
the lines suggested, n had it refused
to have been led into associations with
any Independent movement. Sc called,
the party today would have stood high
er in public approval, though defeated,
and be better prepared to have entered
the great national contest two years
hence with dignity and courage.
This paper is bold enough to say,
what in the campaign of 1900 was so
forcibly urged as a reason for adopting
the constitutional amendment, that it is
far better for the state at large that
there should be w respectable parties
in this state to either of which a citizen
might align himself, without feeling
that he would be regarded any the less
for his personal worth by his fellow
men. This is a condition that thought
full and intelligent citizens much desire
may be brought about. 1t is to be hop
ed hat the campaign of two years
hence may be fought by the respective
parties boldly and c~ourageously upon
the fiscal issue alone Each individual
citizen should consider these solely with
reference to the betterment of his state
Inc nation. We will have no normal
condition of public affairs in North Car
DINA until the differences upon the
great issues find their expression in d
normal alignment to that political par
ty, whichever it may be, that best rep
resent the views of the individual voter.
1t will not be conceded that the views
of the people of this state are today COR
rectly reflected by the vote in the re-
cent campaign. Men have voted with
the democratic organization, who yet
icies. because, in the first place., they
were not prepared in state matters to
trust the present republican regime,
and because. in the second place. they
were not prepared because of an honest
conviction to support a political organ
ization which, instead of making a bold
n manly fight in support of their
views, s~ubordinated the educational
methods of up-building their party to
the reelection of their state leader.
Senator Pritchard, by creating a repub-
lican side-show under the guise of in
dependence. The state wants a straight
fight on public questions between the
two respective parties. 1t is to be hop
ed that the next campaign will witness
the permanent Punishment of the dead
issue of the past and a discussion be-
tween the opposing parties upon the
present issues, that bear so materially
! upon the future interests of the state.
Each of the political parties in this
state will best build itself stronger by
discussing the live issues, and solely
| with reference to the education of our
| people to hear, honestly consider, and
then with manly courage, to vote their
| convictions.