The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-09-30

There seems to be d complete revolu-
ton in party affairs this year. Every
thing is turned topsy-turvy. Where
democrats should sweep the board in
dependentism is rife. In this state
which is classed as an integral part of
the solid south, there is danger of dem
ocratic defeat or of only partial victory
at least. We know there are democrats
who will scout this idea and say it is
absurd; hat North Carolina is as sol
idly democratic today as she ever was.
That may be their opinion, but they will
find they are very much mistaken when
the voting closes on November 4th. 1t
will require an hurcuIean effort to carry
this state The feeling of independent
ism is abroad in the land. 1t is not the
feeling which gave temporary victory
to the fusiOnists in 1894 and 1896. 1t is
not a turning away from the principles
of democracy, but an assertion of free
dom and liberation from what a
heretofore been a close corporation of
the party rulers in his state. The white
men have been told by the leaders Of
n party that they were free; tina the
party lash would no longer be cracked
over their heads, and they are enjoying
that freedom to h fullest extent-time
will tell hethe to their permanent
good or to their great sorrow. Any how,
they have determined to take an outing
and for a while they will kick up their
heels and ace around in the play
grounds Of independence in politics,
and after a while they will get tired OF
this play and sober down to business.
God knows We hope they will fine they
lave lost nothing by the relaxation and
r~ealignment of party lines which will
follow. That there will be a great
change in this alignment when the two
parties are DRAWN up face to face COR
the contests in 1904 we have not the
least doubt. Our prayer is that our
people will not go into this matter
blindly and that they will come out of
the final contest without dishonor and
without material loss.
Such We find to be the state of affairs
in n of the states of the solid south.
Now turn to the other side of the pic
ture. Go to the solid republican states
and you will find the same unrest
among the people and the same uncer-
tainty and apprehension among the
leaders of the dominant party. The
conditions are reversed from what they
are in this state. There you find the
republicans in fear of losing states that
they consider theirs by almost as much
a divine right as the Hapsburgs claim
the throne of Austria or the HohenZol-
lernS that of the German empire. In
Iowa the republican %populace have re-
volted against what the leaders of that
party have for years seemed to consid-
er the God given privilege of the few to
tax the many for their ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
In New England we find that in the
iron bound republican state of Vermont,
where heretofore all that was necessa-
nv to elect a republican governor was to
nominate him and go through the for
mality of an election, the election for
state officers resulted in the republican
nominee not securing enough votes to
secure the OIllCSy anu lue QucSllOI Is
thrown into the legislature where the
result is in doubt and there is a posi-
bility of an independent republican
winning a victory over the regular NOM
inee of his party.
So it is throughout all the ~hfdebound
republican states. Here we find disaf-
lection and resentment against party
rulers and party tenets. There is a
leaven of unrest and discomfort at work
with the populace from n end Of the
country to the other. There seems to
be an universal opposition on h part
of the masses against the party rulers,
whether democratic or republican.
Where democrats have been in power
and have ruled the people there Is d
disposition to cast them down. Where
republicans have held sway in office
and as party dictators the people are
in revolt and seem anxious for a
change. What all this strife and tur-
MOL within each party will result in no
one can say; but hat we are on the eve
OF a great political revolution seems GER
tain.