The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1908-07-16
DEMOCRATIC PLaTTORM.

Justice shows Some of abe Many In
consistencie~ OF Democratic Policy
Adopted at Chariotte-How ths
Democrats Have Checked Indus
tries I'm This State.
said last week that thought I
would notice the Democratic plat
form q little this week. which I shall
do. But before ! begin I want To
tell your readers that this instru-
rlent was carefully drawn. the evil
dent intention being TO mislead the
people and give them feeling of
fancied security while they we're be-
ing really seriously injured.
This platform Is too long 10 be
discussed in complete detail. no !
shall take only a few sections and
point out what / think are some OF
the misleading statements In IL and
your readers can judge the reat by
these.
Let us take. for instance. the very
first paragraph OF this platform:
The Democracy of North Caro-
lima In convention assembled re-
afirms its allegiance to the cardinal
principles OF true Democratic gov
ernment, and congratulates the peo-
pie upon the wise. the progressive
and the economical conduct OF pub
lie affairs eince it's restoration TO
power in this State"
The word Democracy IL composed
of two words which mean the peo-
pie govern" and the most vital prin-
ciple of that assertion is. according
to Thomas Jefferson. that the nation
should do nothing that the State can
do, the State should do nothing the
county can do and the county do
nothing the individual can do; that
local self-government should be the
central idea and protected under all
circumstances. yet pledging them
selves to this principle right here in
Forsyth County this same party de-
MES TO our people the right TO elect
our justices Of the peace. but on the
contrary uses these Offices To be be-
slowed as rewards for political ae-
tivity. Yet IL Ii an once that II the
closest and most important 10 the
people. We have a road supervisor
who has charge of the road fund In
each township and the people OF
each township should certainly know
who is best suited for that ONCE. yet
under the law passed by the last
7 lofn he nf
Ger is not left to the people OF each
township, but left TO the entire
county. That is, Bellows Greek says
who shall be supervisor IN Glenn
monsville township and Clemmons-
vile in Bellows Creek. Yet there IL
not one voter in hundred Of either
township that passes over the roads
| in the other township once a year.
One other illustration and / viii quit
/ this part of this paragraph. We
have Just had a prohibition election
where the idea of local seif-govern-
ment was entirely ignored For in
stance, the five adjoining counties Of
Yadkin. Wilkes. Allegheny. Surry
and Stokes, in which there was not
a single distfllery or bar-room, voted
wet, yet they are not allowed 10 be
controlled by their own votes. but
must remain dry because Cherokee,
lCurrituck and other counties of the
State say so; that Is. these counties
are controlled not by their own citi-
zensf but by others not one In q
thousand of whom ever have or eTer
will set foot in these counties. But
the closing sentence speaks Of ''the
economical conduct of public af-
fairs No comment on this Is
needed. All we have to do Ii to ex-
anime the Auditors report and We
will find that the expenses Of run
ming the State are now more than
double what they were under Gov
ernor Russell. / make this assertion
and dare the Democratic papers TO
publish the figures. and IL they don't
do it I think I will
The next paragraph or part Of a
paragraph that I will notice II this:
"a stable government has in
spired confidence. Local improve
ments are pushed with vigor. Good
schools and good roads are no longer
"a dream. but are growing realities.
State institutions have been man.
aged with credit and without scam
dal. The record Is unmarried by Of
Il CONTINUED on Page 2.)