The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-29
Platform a Denunciation of Every.
thing Democratic and Lauda-
tion of Republicanism.
GRAND STAND pLh hAsAlNsT THE NEGRO
The Platform Declares That the Adoption Of
Inc Constitutional Amendment Has
Taken the Matter Out of Poll
tics and is Then
Silent.
LEAD CONVENTION STORY


Greensboro, N. c., Aug. 2s.-The Re-
publican State Convention assembled
promptly at II o'clock today and was
called to order by Senator Pritchard. R.
NJ. Douglass, Jr., welcomed the convention
to the city of Greensboro, and the re
sponse was made by Zeb Vance Walser,
OF Lexington.
Senator Pritchard then arose and pro-
ceeded to address the convention. In
a speech of an hour and a halfs dura-
ton he spoke with his usual vigor and
was frequently applauded.
PRITCHARD'S SPEECH.
Senator Pritchard began with a re-
view of National political conditions in
the manner of a Republican handbook,
commencing with the administration of
Harrison. He contrasted the prosperity
under his administration with the lack
of it in the closing days of Cleveland's
second administration, but failed to note
that the prosperity was world wide and
not the result of Republican policies,
but of natural conditions. as was also
the lack of it.
MIR. Pritchard then sketched the COM
paign of 1896, declaring that the Demo
cratic platform promulgated at Chicago
was ''an attack upon everybody and
everything in general and contained
many things calculated 10 appeal to
prejudice rather than to reason" He
discussed the currency question and
used all the stock arguments to show
that the conditions which followed the
Inauguration of Mckinley were due to
Republican policies and to Republican
policies alone.
Proceeding with his argument the Sen
ator took up conditions in the State,
claiming that the rapid industrial de-
velopment herein is due in great part to
the policies of the National Administra-
tion, overlooking the fact that North
Carolina under the present State Demo-
cratic government is more prosperous
than at any time in her history.
Regret was expressed at the death of
Pesident Mckinley, and satisfaction in
the present chief executive of the ma
tion.
The ''false issue" of imperialism was
touched upon, and the abusive attacks
upon the American soldiers sent to the
ing the honor and integrity of the ma
tion. and enforcing obedience to the man.
dates of our government"
In regard to the position of the party
with respect to the Philippine Islands,
the speaker said: 1--WE propose to retain
them and to give to their inhabitants the
very best form of government suitable
to their necessities as a people" The
old claim was made that the acquisition
of this territory would in the end result
in more substantial benefit to the South
than all other section of the country
combined.
A good deal of time was taken up IN
discussing the tariff question.
The position of the Democratic leaders
on the present status of the negro ques-
tion was attacked, and they were ac-
cused of not keeping faith with the peo-
pie on the color line, it being claimed
that the adoption of the amendment
would eliminate the issue of the negro
The portion of the Revenue Act tax
ing the corporations came in for a good
ly share of the Senator's berating. The
taxes on merchants were called Every
Objectionable The 'ipquisitorial fea-
lures of the reports" for taxation Were
characterized as 'odlouS In the extreme.
The Senator touched very lightly on
the method of assessing real estate. and
said that if it was honestly enforced, ''it
will result in the citizens of the State
having to pay at least one-third more
tax than they are paying at present"
Many figures were given and several
comparisons were made to show that the
Democrats had expended more of the
States money than the Republicans.
Capital was made fthe fact that the
State was compelled to borrow S2Oo,OOo
in March for one year. The money spent
in the impeachment trial and the in
crease in the Governors salary came in
for special mention, and also the pay
ment of expenses incurred by the election
registrars who were indicted
The amendment came in for parting
slap, the Senator claiming that it would