The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-10-26
AN OPEN LETTER ON
OUR INDEPENDENTS"
Rev. Dr. Frank H. Wood Writes to F. H. Whitaker
Concerning the sntegence and Integrity of
the State'' He had Never Before Heard
of Mr. Thos N. Hill

| wishes of the bone and Drawn, and
brain of the voters of North Carolina.
One of the most inexplicable things to
me is, how wocfully dcluded Intelligent
men may become, and into what gloom
and fog such delusion lead them, until
they find themselves surrounded on every
side by Jack Lanterns, which decoy
them into the briars, thorns and brush
wood and muck, who never realize their
condition until the light of the morning
comes, when they find themselves all be-
draggled, and torn and bleeding, sadder
if not wiser.
After a thorough beating of the bush"
all over the State, only eleven men could
be mustered to join the organization OF
an Independent Democratic party. l think
/ know personally every one of them and
l count them my friends, but with posi-
bly, one exception, the Democracy OF
every one of them needs dOctoring.
And yet this little handful arrogate to
themselves more wisdom. patriotism, iu-
telligence and integrity, than the whole
Democratic party in the State besides, as
expressed in convention assembled, and
and to insist, that they should follow
them, while they turn their back upon
the action of what was claimed by the
press of the State as the largest, finest
looking, and most intelligent and repre-
sentative body of men ever assembled in
the State.
The Charlotte Observer in the same
editorial quoted from above, says Thu
the most substantial men of the State
farmers, business men, men of all occu
pations. who are in large part the men
who in past campaigns. have furnished the
money and done the work of the Demo
cratic party"
This is in keeping with the statement
of Mr.. Lindsay Patterson in his speech in
Durham recently in claiming that he re-
ceived his nomination for Congress by the
business men of North Carolina and
that the independent in politics had al
ways been among the most intelligent in
the whole country. Will it not be funny
after the election, when all the independ
ent Democrats are lined up to learn what
the Observers idea of a mass" of indie
pendentS is who in large part" have
been furnishing the money and doing the
work of the old Democratic party in
North Carolina? And when. according to
Mr.. Patterson we shall be able to en-
umerate the vast number of business
men and the sum total of the 'intell-
gence" which he represents, no one need
be surprised at the indOmitable and her
culean effort which Governor AycOck and
all the friends of education are making
in North Carolina to improve the intel
lectuaI and material condition of the
people Ut may be.that the result of this
so-called Independent move in three or
four counties of the State, will draw the
line so distinctly and definitely between
the ignorance and intelligence of the peo-
pie as to furnish rational basis from
which the friends of education can work
more intelligently and with greater GER
tainty of success.)
Gentlemen Independents: Possessing the
money. the integrity and intelligence of
the State, (for mo doubt we are the peo-
pie, and wisdom shall die with YOU
you may also be the only ones whose
sublime courage is capable of reaching
such lofty heights as to enable you to
lead such forlorn hope as you are lead
ing, but it is very much like the courage
of the little yearling coming up out of
the swamps, when to his amazement he
found a railroad lying across his path,
and looking UP the line and seeing the
heavy freight coming laundering down,
he determined to hurl the monster in
truder from his domain. and leaping
upon the track believing and paving the
| ground and throwing aloft the dust, con-
1dent of victory in the contest: but when
the grand old thing of life had swept
by there was not to be found vestige of
the plucky little fellow, but a few hairs
and horns and hoofs That he was cour-
ageous there cansbe little question. but
his judgment was badly at fault
And now. Mr.. Whitaker. the above is
submitted TO your consideration, and IL
YOU should conclude that it will promote
your cause you are at liberty to give it
to the press of the State.
Respectfully yours,
FRANK II. WOOD.