The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1910-12-15

Continued fr
Why Such a Campaign Was Inaugu-
rated.
At this point, the speaker said
that before proceeding to deal with
the causes that made this special
meeting necessary, it was proper and
important to first consider the condi-
tions and causes that forced the
Democratic leaders. baing in a des-
perate situation, to inaugurate and
conduct such campaign, which was
the lowest and most contemplate
ever resorted to by any political par
ty in the history of the State. The
great audience at once became re-
markably still and followed the
speaker with tense interest as he
said:
II do not blame the Democratic
ring bosses for resorting to the con-
temptible and despicabIe methods
that characterize this campaign, be-
cause their past record of broken
promises and brazen hypocrisy and
their present pitiable plight, having
no issues, and daring neither to face
their record nor any live issue in this
campaign, forced them into a posi-
tion where there was nothing else for
them to do. No one can point to a
single promise made by the present
leaders of the Democratic party, eth
er in Nation or State, which they
have kept or made an honest effort
to keep. Nor can any one point to a
single great economic principle or
policy of government in State or Ma
tion for which the present leadership
of that party to-day stands or dares
to attempt to discuss before the peo-
ple."
At this point Mr. Butler held up In
one hand the last Democratic State
platform, and in the other the last
Republican State platform, and con-
tinuing, said:
Here are the platforms of the
two great parties in the State to-
day. Each one should contain some
thing of vital State and National in
terest, and If they do, then that fall
ure should at once demand the atten-
ton of every voter in the State.
when a great party holds a State
Convention and proceeds to nominate
ticket and adopt State platform,
what should that platform contain?
The only reason or excuse for any
political party adopting a platform
is to first point with pride to prom
ises made at the preceding election
which have been faithfully kept, and
second to set forth the principles for
which the party stands in the present
campaign and the specific promises
which that party makes in this cam
paign to the voters in an appeal for
their support.
Here is the Democratic platform
adopted at Charlotte last summer.
What is in it? I challenge any per-
son in this great audience-not only
every Republican, but also every
Democratic stand up and state the
substance of a single plank In this
platform"
Nothing But q Meaningless Jargon
OF Words.
At this point, the speaker paused.
looked over the vast audience, and
waited for a response. There being
no response. continuing, he said:
There is not man in this audi
ence nor in the State who can give an
intelligent statement as to single
plank in this platform, either as to
a promise made by the party two
years ago which has been kept or q
promise made to the people during
this campaign for the future.
This platform In nothing but a
meaningless jargon Of words. 1t
was written to try and hide the rec
ord of the Democratic party and to
confuse the issues in this campaign.
I have read 1t twenty times and have
studied for months, and the sum and
substance Of this platform can be
stated as follows:
We, the Democratic party of