The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-09-27
Tuesday Sept. 2e, 1904.
APATHY.

40 ~ an - "NA
state by a good majority no one doubts'
We will surely elect eight out OIL the
ten congressmen and perhaps nine Or
all of them. We will have a large
majority in both houses OF the @egis-I
lature, and the Parker and Davis elec-
tors will be chosen by handsome major
tiles. Because this is so, though, IS
no reason that a single democra-
should fail to register and vote. I
No one can deny that the republican
party is making desperate efforts TO
gain a strong foothold in this state.
and that it is making good progress is
another fact that we cannot deny.
The greatest danger t. the democratic
party OF our state is not that we may
lose in his election, but hat through
carelessness and ack Of party zeal we
will allow the republicans to so en-
trench themselves IN our state that the
time may soon come when We will find
them in power.
From one end of the state to the 9TH
er come reports of indifference of the
people as to political matters. This is
not right. No matter how great the
uCIIlOC dllS SbiC7lSiis VIZ ohOoio AIt>
efforts to increase it. This political
apathy, if not checked, will be the ruin
OF our party.
In the county of Union, for example,
this condition has reached such an ex-
IRENE that the democratic party mas
declared that there will be nc v
of the county. The Waxhaw Enterprise
says:
There will be no canvass of the
county candidates. AT least that was
the decision reached by the DEM
ocratic executive committee in their
meeting at Monroe last Saturday.
As there is no opposition to the demo-
cratic ticket in this county: such a can
vass was wisely decided to be unneces-
sary. However the chairman Of the
was requested'to arrange for
political speakings i'm all neighborhoods
where they are wanted and he will
do SO.
This is all wrong. h will be the
result if such action is kept up? Moth
ing less than the capture of the state
by the republicans in a few years.
We may as we'll lock existing condi.
tons fairly in the face and be candid
with ourselves. The republican part5
is stronger among the White people OF
the state today than it ever was be.
fore The elimination of the negro vote
~ has had the effect of strengthening
the hold of the republican party or
the white people. We venture the PIE
diction that more white men in Norti
Carolina will vote,the republican tieket
on November Sth next than in an!
election ever held in this state. an
rr~I1-G tie D,,-
from the present apathy. born of thu
false idea OF perfect security, that vote
will increase from year to year unit
we find this state no longer with tn,
solid democratic south.
In reference to the condition in Un
ion county we find the following sen.
sible communication in The News an6
Observer from Mr.. r. Ii. Redwine o
MonEyae. He is or the ground and HI
knows what is the situation and wha
are h dangers:
There is a disposition to let the cam
paign go by in this county withou
taking much interest in it. T believ,
that this is a mistake. OF course tn,
result is already settled, but there ar;
two reasons why the voters should TAX,
an interest i'm the issues before tn
0OdAAAl4 ~ ~ III hOAS Ol SI6
ton day. One is a party reason ant
the other is one of citizenship. d
course the latter is much more impor.
tant. In our party conventions of al
kinds, the strength of the county will, FOL
the next four years BE based upon thu
vote cast in this election for governor
In the conventions we want all tb.
strengths that we are entitled to by
reason OF our large democratic vote
But in order to get it we must vot:
strong this year. We don't want coun-
ties in the state with much less party
strength than ours to be more power.
full in the conventions than we are
Then. there Is great danger in thi.
country from the fact that PEOPLE seen
to be losing interest in public affairs
The nope of our country for lastias
good government is in the intelligence
and patriotism of the people. The poo
pie cannot afford to lose inSerest sr
their government. Every day in our
country more intelligence is required
and the duties Of citizentship weigi
more heavily than ever before. Tne
people ought to study public questions
and be able TO vote on their own juds.
ment on all issues. We need q grea,
revival of patriotism.
We know there are some people VIII,
will laugh at US and say this is ALI bosh
that North carolina will be democratic
until Gabriel blows his horn. Maybe
so. But those people who have fell
the pulse of public sentiment in
rural districts and in many of tht
towns know better. . There is a feel
ing of Indifference and a desire L
break loose from the former strict par
" discipline among the people which
is dangerous to the success OF the dem.
ocrat1c party.
The leaders of u party should look
beyond tie results of the nearby elcc.
ton. They should not be content alone
with victory this all. They should