The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-04-05
STAND BY THE OLD PARTY MEN.

didate for the st. Louis nomination
iustifies an inquiry Is to whether. In
the political sense. Mr.. German may
be considered a southern man. He
was not in sympathy with the Southern
~Confederacy. During the civil war he
was an officer OF the senate and sym
pathized with the union cause. At the
close of the war he accepted a federal
appointment in Maryland at the hands
of Andrew Johnson, a republican pres
ident. and held it for several years. II
was not until Genera Grant took ONCE
Mr.. German became a democrat since
then he has affiliated with tina party.
Washington Star.
We are not specially favorable to
Senator German as the democratic
candidate for the presidency. but We
must say that, according to presidents
established by the democratic party IN
this state, the fact that Senator Cor
man was once a republican is no bar
to his having high honors conferred
upon him by the democrats. Has not
the party In this state time and again
nominated for the highest offices men
who had only a shor while before been
I'm alliance with the party's enemies,
QOlDR Oil lhcJ So0lo ~ 0CAC6N $1,000
party's nominee? Did not the pres
ent governor appoint to a high judicial
office a man who only a short wfiile be-
fore had been the candidate Of he re-
publican party for a similar office and
who welcomed a negro as his running
neutrality-suspicious. him upon his
bright prospects for the nomination n
election and stated that it would be q
pleasure to him to ride the Circuit with
the negro? This man is. we believe
now a candidate for the nomination by
the democratic party to n OF the
highest offices in its gift.
We dc not think that. because a mar
once affiliated with the republican
party he should be ostracised and de-
barred from ever holding office in the
democratic party after. seeing the error
of his way, he has changed his polftl-
cal faith; but we do not think fit right
tina those men who have stood by their
party through thick and thin, who
have been as loyal to it in the hour OF
uclcdl dS LII In 1looh L. vi NANNSA
who have themselves suffered defeat IN
endeavor to secure nomination to office
but have never for that reason "
ed in their allegiance. should be stood
aside for recent converts from the
ranks of the enemy, especially when
that conversion comes close on the
heels Of political changes showing that
the party of the converts former affl-
iation has forever been defeated be-
You'd the power of revival in his state.
We believe hat men who stand by their
party as faithfully in defeat as in
times of victory, who accept their own
defeat for nomination in party v
tons or caucuses without bitterness
against the party and do not allow such
reverses to effect their party fealty are
the men who should have the endorse
men of the party when it has Offices of
trust and honor to dispose of. Let's
recognize the services to h party of
the old line democrats-those who have
stood by her in times of defeat as well
as in victory and reward them for their
f~aithfulnesS in preference to standing
them aside in favor of men who have
only recently allied themselves with
our forces and who but a short while
ago were the worst enemies the party
could have-whitemen trying to get
into office by pandering to the negro
vote. There are two kinds of republi-
cans in this state-those who want to
see a party formed of men who embrace
the faith of that party through BELIEF
that it's principles and tenets are for the
best interests of the country n others
who are republicans because they want
federal office. Some OF the latter class
have turned democrats because
they saw there was no chance to
get office from the republican party
through the appointment of the federal
administration or by election within
their county. district or state. The
men of the first class are entitled 20
the respect Of their political opponents.
Those of the second class deserve the
fate of Benedict Arnold.
The ranks of the democratic party
should be open to all men who wish to
embrace it's faith. but the new recruits
should be willing to serve a while rs
~privates and not expect to be promoted
over the heads of those who have stood
the burden of the fight against republi-
canism for wears.