The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-09-09
OH messrnan
A Two-EDGED SWORD.

ShOflD.
A two-edged sword has this Watts
law become-and it behooves the con-
sentative, patriotic people of h state
10 see 10 it that its slaughter of the
hopes Of continuance Of good govern
iHent n democratic rule in our dear
old state shall cease. A t~wo-edged
sword 1t is, and both edges are being
used TO dismember the democratic
party. Between thu advocates and the
opponents Of this measure there is
elimination and recrimination. Meth
er Side a lay the blame on the
other, for o seem to be determined
on the wreck and ruin of the only
party which can save the state from
return to The extravaganza. debauch-
cry and disgrace of the days of fusion
ism and carpetbagism. FAC side to
which, while 1t is called a moral issue,
Is brought directly into politics, seems
to be trying to secure the political adj
vantage of the other.
In the fight between the two. what
is going to become OF the democratic
party. on which depends so much or
the prosperity and advancement of
our people in wealth, education and
mora improvement? Both sides seem
to have lost sight of everything but.
whether there shall be liquor sold III
certain localities at all or not,
OF whether from private or munich
pal saloons.
In some counties. because the
men nominated by the democratic
convention are not prohibition
lists, the ticket is considered no
good by a minority element. and it
meets and launches into the already
disturbed ranks of that party a full
county ticket composed of men Of its
own views on the liquor question. Cal,.
anything be more absurd? Can men
who do this call themselves demo-
Gratis? In other counties men who
opposed the Watts law declare they
will not vote the county ticket because
that law. Do you call such men DEM.
ocrats? A democrat is a man who
stands by his party platform and
votes for the candidates his party men.
in convention nominate by q majority
vote.
There is plenty of time after the
political issues have been settled and
the party candidates have been elected
to settle the question as to local option
~dispensary or open saloons. Keep
these out of the political contest. No
thing can be gained by bringing them
into it and a great deal can be lost.
Let's all unite as we have done here
tofore in electing the democratic can
to republican rule. then take up this
mora question. For heavens sake do
not bring it into politics. You men
who stood by the democratic party in
those days when it was IN a life and
death struggle and who have stood by
it from the day it hurled the republic
can party from power. with it's fraud,
corruption and ~rascality, pause and
consider before you now bring upon ii
defeat and submission to the dark
forces which nee Inundated you and
ground you in the dust. Pause before
you take the fatal step. and consider
whittier you are drifting. Don't let
your opinions on a mere moral ques-
Jon, which, if o must faint with
politics, can be settled within the par
ty, lead you to desert that party which
has made our glorious il state whal
she IS.
In this fight over the liquor Ques-
ton, if brought into politics at the ap-
preaching election, the democrats have
everything to lose and nothing to gain
and nothing to lose. The republicans
know that in a fair fight on the politl-
a issues they have no chance of win
ming, and therefore it is to their inter:
est to stir up strife in the democratic
ranks. They wish to divide h party
against itself, and every move toward
independentism of difference
of opinion on this loQuor question is
fostered and encouraged by them,
Every move of this sort plays into their
hands. If we are to be defeated in
this election. let it be by the enemy
and not by men within our own ranks
Stand by your party unit after the
election; then, if you must, divide OF
the questions OF the Watts law.