The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1906-05-03
QUITS DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
Hon. Charles French Toms Joins
the Republican Party.


Eressive Party.
Asheville, n. c., April 2s.-Hon.
Charles French Toms, of Henderson
vile, lifelong Democrat, this after
noon transmitted the following letter
to Governor Glenn, resigning as State
senator for the thirty-third district,
and announcing that he has joined
the Republican party:
To His Exceilency,
Hon. r. B. Glenn, Governor,
Raleigh, n. c.
Sir:-I have the honor herewith to
tender you my resignation rs senator
from the thirty-third district of
North Carolina. By so doing it be-
comes necessary for me to state to you
briefly my reasons for this action
upon my part, and in order that every
body may fully understand, ] make
this public letter.
All my life | have been Demo
crat, fighting for the success of the
Democratic party, and in this inn
mediate section of the State | have
taken quite hand in political affairs.
Up to this time l have never voted
for nominee of the Republican party
in my life. ] have been twice chair
man of the Democratic executive
committee in my county. | have
been honored by the party both by
appointment and election as solicitor
| in the criminal courts, and in the
election of 1898 | came within less
than 10 votes on the recount of carry
ing Henderson county for the legis-
lature.
In the election of 1904 / was
elected senator to represent the coun-
ties of Henderson, Polk, Cleveland
and Rutherford. Since | became a
| member of that body [ have been
treated with every courtesy by my
Democratic colleagues. | am now a
member of a number of important
senate committees, and am chairman
of the committee on federal relations.
Is Not Disgruntled.
All this is a matter of pride to me,
and under no circumstances would |
mention it here were it not to show
that [ am not a "disgruntled Demo
GRAFT" have never asked the Dem
ocratic party for anything that | did
not receive it, and | fully appreciate
the fact that my course in this mat
ter may be criticised; but when | con-
slider, however, that a man would be
more than a moral coward who would
think and believe one way, hold this
office and then vote another way,
am impelled by the highest sense OF
my duty as l see it to make known
my reasons in the premises.
Many Of my best friends in this
State are Democrats, and only ask
of them the same consideration for
my feelings. that they have already
accorded to many prominent and
some eminent members of the Demo
cratic party who in the past belonged
to other political organizations, but
who thought it right, and desired tc
do as l now conceive it my right and
privilege and the right and privilege
of every other American citizen, to
vote as their convictions prompt them
to vote.
Reasons for Joining Republicans.
My reasons for joining the Repub-
lican party are many. First, after
much study and mature thought !
have arrived at the conclusion that
the principles advocated by the Re-
publican party are the best, if not
the only principles upon which the
American people can safely rely.
The Democratic party has been un-
able to adopt or give to the people
one substantial plank upon which to
stand.
It advocated free silver, and great
wing of the party advocates it yet,
while practically the whole balance
of the world has repudiated it as q
false standard, and we are now told
that even Mexico, held up only re-
Gently to be the model free silver
country of christendom, has turned
her back upon it, and the Democratic
party as a whole is left with the
shadow, while the Republican party
holds the substance.
Every conceivable excuse has been
advanced as to why the gold stand
ard succeeded In the combat, but no
reason or excuse has eyer been ad-
yanced which satisfies me that free
silver was defeated by anything other
than the fact that the great mass of
American people who voted for Nc
Kinley discerned further into the
future than many of those who voted
for Mr.. Bryan.
The same is true of free trade. We
love to tell about the great number
of incorporated enterprises and man
ufactories which are fast making
North Carolina famous. We are
glad to know that these thriving
manufactures and business enter
prises of which we SO proudly boast,
are protected and fostered by State
Laws to the extent that they are, but
I am saHfed that were it not for the
protective Laws enacted by Congress,
,,o,1 ;f naf all IF the GREAT MANN