The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-07-15
INDEPENDENCE IN THE PARTY.

Hon F. II. Bushels Fourth of July
speech at Weldon is causing almost as
much of a sensation among the press of
the state as did the federal decoration
address OF President Roosevelt through
out the south. There is this difference,
though; while there was general una
nimity as to h Appropriateness Of the
latter. there is division as to the propri-
ETY. of the former.
The editors on one side declare that
they a see no improperly in the
speech; that Mr.. Bushels remarks
were along the line Of argument used
during the constitutional amendment
campaign by the democratic stump
speakers while advocating the adoption
of hat amendment; that the people
were urged to vote for that amendment
in order to get rid Of the negro issue,
which had become a burden to the white
people of the state; that its adoption
would put the politics of the state on a
higher plane and get rid Of the democrat
izing effect of the methods necessarily
resorted to for keeping state and
county governments in the hands of
the whites. Men would then hin and
act for themselves. They would not be
any longer hampered in exercising their
electoral privileges by the fear of negro
domination: in other words. we would
get rid of the demoralizing and debas-
ing Practices of suppressing the negro
vote by one means or another, which
under existing law was deemed neces-
sary to keep the control of affairs in the
hands of the white people. This was
the argument used, and this argument
secured for the constitutional amend
ment the votes of a great man demo-
Gratis who were at heart opposed to it
some because they thought it wrong in
principle, others because they foresaw
just what is now happenings division
in party lines Of the white voters of the
state. These latter NEW that there
were many white men in the state who
were kept in the democratic party only
by the negro issue and when that was
eliminated they would no longer stand
by the party through thick and then;
in other words, there was danger that
this amendment, instead of increasing
the democratic strength in the state,
would weaken it.
Those who adversely criticise Mr..
Busbee's speech found their opposition
to it in the charge tina he went to Hal
flax county to advocate independence
in politics. These critics of Mr.. Busbee
seem to lose sight of the difference be-
tween independence in politics" as
synonymous with boiling nominations
OF democratic conventions and support
ing independent candidates allied with
republicans for the purpose of defeating
the regular democratic nominees, and
that independence in politics, pledged
by the advocates of the constitutional
amendment, which means release from
the thraldom of party ring-rule and
slavery to party machine government.
If the party rings and cliques are to
still control its affairs and to brighten
all white men into doing their bidding
by simply raising the cry of negro
rule as sent out from democratic head
quarters last week, where ome in the
advantages and blessings to the party
from the constitutional amendment
promised by it's advocates on the
stump"
There is in our mind, a difference be-
tween independence in party and bolt
ing the action Of the majority in county.
district and state conventions. The
first is exercising ones rights as a par
ty man; the other is deserving the
party.