The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-24
MR.. PRITCHARD'S IRIDESCENT
DREAM

Pritchard as saying that the opportunity
for building up a strong Republican
party in North Carolina is excellent. He
brings out, as the reason for the faith,
that North Carolina chestnut which Re-
publicans have been repeating since the
Wings and Democrats organized the
Conservative party in 1868, which in the
next campaign was called the "Conserv-
alive Democratic" party. and then be-
came simply the Democratic party. That
chestnut repeated by Senator Pritchard
is in substance: North Carolina was
once a Wing State. There yet remains
hostile sentiment toward Democracy 1t
will naturally, now that the negro ques-
ton is not uppermost, become Republic
can." AsIi = ~
During every campaign this old chest
nut has been brought to the surface,
and after the election been buried, only
to be resurrected at the next election.
1t is an ireidescent dream, and yet it BIZ
victory that springs eternal In the Re-
publican breast.
Before the war there was strong
Wing party in North Carolina composed
of thousands of the States best sons
They had nothing in common with the
Republican party. The Wings believed
in protection for ''infant industries"
not as "the mother of trusts" Henry
Clay would turn over in his grave if he
thought his advocacy of a policy to build
up American industries, to make this
country Independent of all other coun-
tries, was invoked in behalf of the Ding
ley law, properly termed 1.-The bill of
nominations
When the white people of North Caro-
lima, at the beginning of Reconstruction,
saw that they must unite to rescue their
civilization and protect their homes, it
was that great Wing statesman, Will
liam A. Graham, who merged the Wing
and Democratic party into one strong
and indestructible organization. AS
long as he lived and took part in public
affairs, he was the leader of the North
Carolina Democratic party and in har-
mony with Governor Bragg an old time
Democratic leader, and other Wing and
Democratic leaders, welded together the
white forces of the State. When these
men passed away, their mantle fell upon
that great young Wing, Zebulon B.
Vance. who from 1872 to 1894 was the rec
ognized leader of the North Carolina
Democratic party. Under his leadership,
the last trace of difference between the
before the war Wing and Democrat
passed away. The Democrats gave up
their opposition to internal improve
ments, and the Wings, seeing that pro-
lection had accomplished all that they
intended it to accomplish. became advo-
actes of tariff for revenue only. The
people of this State for twenty years sat
at the feet of Vance upon tariff cues
tions. He spoke as one having author
ity and the lessons he taught are believed
in as fully by men who formally belong
ed to the Wing party as by lifelong dis
ciples of Jefferson.
During Vances life there was more
than one movement among some manu-
facturers to go over to the Republicans
upon the protection issue. In one of his
last campaigns, when Senator Vance
reached q county in which there were
many cotton factories, he was approached
by Democratic county leader, who said
in substance:
eve have very close fight in oul
county this year. The cotton mill peo-
pie. most of them, believe in protection
but will vote with us on State issues.
have come to request you not to discuss
the tariff question here today. 1t Nigh,
drive off votes"
The great War Governor, who was al.
ways more noted for fortiter in re thar
for suaviter in modo, replied. substan-
tally saying: 'If most of your cottor
mill people believe in protection, my dut,
is plain. I must speak on the tariff an6
give them the truth that will destroy
the sophistry by which they have beer
deceived. I would not be true to my