The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1906-03-29

have born the heat and burden of the
day. Your statesmen have demonstrate
ed their ability not only to take care of
the interests of their states and their
section, but. they have been the only
dam against aggression at home and
the threat of discredit abroad. Among
them are men with the knowledge, ex-
perience, honesty and courage to rep
resent their fellow-partisans without
the surrender of principle and their
fellow countrymen with sefety and hon.
or. 1 myself, placed at the front for
time, have every reason to be grateful
to democrats everywhere, especially to
those of the south. appreciate the hon.
or thus conferred upon me and have no
regrets for the past, but no one, think.
can know better than how futile our
effort has been in the past and how un-
promising the outlook is for the future
unless we throw aside isms and grasp
the great moral issue now so clearly
preceived by the people. The time has
come when the really effective demo-
Gratis of the country should be receg-
nized and when they themselves should
no longer hesitate, decline or refuse to
seek or to accept those hOnors which
are their just due for work well done.
1t may possibly be that the party will
go to defeat again, but since 1896 it has
done nothing else under northern lead
ership and certainly it cannot do worse.
believe firmly that it will do better
because it will at once eliminate the
as their leaders feel that they have on
i ly to capture a few state organizations
| in the north, nominate their candidate
and then depend upon the south to sup
tainly no faction can refuse TO support
worthy southern candidate in the
light of loyalty of the south to every
party candidate. But if this course
would give southern democrats the
recognition they deserve, it will also put
them upon their mettle. 1t will make
it necessary for them to insist upon de-
votion to ideas and principles to avoid
as their character and traditions assure
extreme policies: to keep themselve'
thoroughly in touch with all the ele
ments to be found in national anC
progressive party: and be willing to an
iticpate and promte all the needs of ;
great country. The contending am
billions of self-seekers, the claims of in
terests purely local, the demands tha
grow out of popular clamor, the shift.
and shifting methods of the demagogu
and the agitator-all these must b.
avoided, whether leadership come
from north or south, east or west. Tn
ideas and tendencies behind thes
things are typified by the republica
party of the present day and no attemI
r on our part to enter into competi6io
with it can hope to command success o
r. so to restore character to our party tha
: it may again attain power. If we ar
honest with ourselves, earnest an
" vigilant in the recognition of those pOI
:, ular needs which are both safe an
= Democratic and regardful of our ow
y ideas and traditions, we shall again
. intrusted with power and we shall l
q ready for it. When this time come
a the south ought to be and, indeed,
" must be, the one great effective fore
10 in bringing about such happy COZ
! sumation-sorely needed if our ms
tutions are to endure invio)ate."
1t