THE PUBLIC LEDGER.
FULL, TEXT OF COL. 8
LETTER,
Democratic Unity Must be Preserved
Special correspondence State Chronicle.
The time has come when I cannot
permit those who have been my
friends, associates and co-laborers,
in the cause of Democracy, to be
longer deceived by the misrepresen
tations of designing men. I have
stood the fire as long as I can with
out making a plain statement rela
tive to my advocacy of measures for
financial relief, so that the people
may see how unfairly I have been re
cently treated by the press, to whose
good opinion I am entitled.
I commenced to give thought J:o
the financial problem in 1873-74,
while I was a student at Transylva
nia University, Lexington, Ky. I
rad the press of the day with inter
est and had the pleasure of hearing
such Democratic lights as Senators
James B. Beck, J. G. Carlisle and J.
C. S. Blackburn, make campaign
speeches on the line of financial re
form and denouncing especially the
demonetization of silver. These led
me to investigate the subject further,
and I have tried since to read all the
current literature bearing upon the
subject that I could find. My read
ing and study have brought me to
the sincere and decided conclusion
that the financial problem is of the
first importance among the issues
that must be settled by the Ameri
can people. In this view I find my
self coinciding with Alliance and
non-Alliance Democrats in the State.
In January, 18S7, I attended the
Agricultural convention in Raltigh,
presided over by IIon.Elias Carr,and
introduced a resolution looking to fi
nancial relief. In March, the same
year, I wrote an article entitled
4 Land Basis for our National Bank
Issue," which appeared in the Green
ville Reflector and News and Obser
ver about the same time. After this
I wrote an article dealing with the
cotton problem, entitled, "The Hope
of the South. " This was first pub
lished in the Progressive Farmer,
and afterwards in an abbreviated
form in Frank Leslie's. Both of
these articles were widely copied. I
followed this with "Hope of the
South No. 2." Subsequently I have
now and then contributed to differ
ent papers on the line of financial
reform, especially in advocacy of the
sub-treasury plan. These questions
naturallv brought me to the notice of
the Alliance, an organized body
working for legislative reforms, and
consequently I received many invita
tions from different parts of the
State to address Alliance gatherings.
Some few of these invitations I ac
cepted. In mid-summer I received
an invitation to join Col. Polk in a
series of speeches throughout the
State. Before consenting to do so I
consulted many prominent Demo
crats, among them chairman E. C.
Smith, Hon. T. R. Jernigan, then as
sociate editor of the News and Ob
server, Hon. T. J. Jarvis, who has
always shown himself a wise and
conservative leader, and others.
The' advised me that it would do
good for me to accept the invitations.
Following the few speeches I made I
was flooded with other invitations,
and at a sacrifice, with only the good
of the people at heart, have deliver
ed speeches in twenty-five counties.
I leave the character and tendency
of my speeches to the people who
heard them as well as the telegraphic
reports of them in different Demo
cratic journals, invariably reporting
me as having done my party good,
which could not have been other
wise, as I made the same class of
speeches that I was wont to do in
the campaigns from 1870 to 1890,
and also the same kind of speeches
spoken by Hon. Jesse J. Yeates, Hon.
T. R. Jernigan, Hon. D. M. Carter,
Hon. L. C. Latham and Hon. Thos,
G. Skinner, in their respective can
vasses of the First District, and the
electors for the State-at-large, and
as Senators Vance and Ransom have
made throughout North Carolina for
the past twenty years. They de
nounce the demonetization of silver,
the resumption of specie payment
and the credit strengthening act.
They have held up the tyranny of a
gold standard, promised'the remone
tization of silver and general finan
cial relief through the Democratic
party. So have I.
In the present hour we only differ
as to the plan of relief. I believe in
the sub-treasury plan. They do not.
As Democrats each is entitled to his
individual opinion. As long as free
dom o speech is guaranteed in this
country we all have our individual
right to express our own views and I
trust without having our Democracy
impugned or ourselves personally or
politically proscribed. Mr. Bland
can favor free silver and be a Demo
crat ; Mr. Harter can oppose free sil
ver without having his Democracy
questioned ; Mr. Randall was a pro
tectionist and yet a recognized leader
of Democracy in Congress ; Mr. Car
lisle can reverse himself on silver
and all the while fight against the
abolition of internal revenue a rPv-
nianent plank in our State platforms
and yet is to North Carolinians a
great leader m Democracy.
But Mr. Skinner, it would seem,
cannot advocate a measure which he
sincerely believes would relieve the
people of their great agricultural
stagnation and arm the fields with
the power to command higher prices
for their products, without having
his political heritage taken from him,
his past services cancelled and his
futuie proscribed. Hence I desire to
say, as much as I may be maligned,
sharp as the criticisms may be made,
nothing can cause me to waver or
falter in my political faith, for I ex
pect to follow the flag when many
who now judge me wrongly shall
have deserted and joined with our
common enemy.
My advocacy of the sub-treasury
plan has always been in the pale of
the party. I discuss it only in a gen
eral way, trying to impress two piv
otal thoughts that Democracy is the
rule or strength of the people, and
that a majority have the right to
control; that Democracy means lodg
ing all power with the people possi
ble; that what we call money, whether
in the shape of government credit or
coin, is the most powerful controller
of human action and the great dis
tributor of the results of labor ; that
as governmental credit has to be in
voked either in the form of treasury
notes, certificates or guaranteed
bank notes, to do the business of the
country, that it is more Democratic
to put this powrer in the hands of or
near the people at first cost than to
delegate it to corporations with the
power to crush the people ; and that
the government can extend its credit
under proper supervision upon land
and staple crops as well as upon
bonds, gold or silver, for the reason
that these must redeem the bonds
and furnish the power with which to
purchase gold and silver.
Now while these are my indiviudal
views I have no desire to force them
upon Democrats who cannot see
through the same glasses as I do,
and certainly would not want them
incorporated in our State platform,
recognizing as I do that there is that
difference of opinion among Demo
crats that would hazard the harmony
of Democratic councils and jeopor
dize our success at the polls, reali
zing further as I do that our white
people must be held together within
the organization of Democracy to
preserve home rule, to prevent the
common enemy from re-enacting the
era of its misrule, to perpetuate
white supremacy and to stand as a
barrier against amalgamation and
the evils that would flow therefrom.
The people of North Carolina may
be assured while I claim the right of
my individual views, I stand ready
to make any sacrifice to prevent the
disruption of the Democratic party.
And if I may be permitted to make a
suggestion, without criticism, to Al
liance and non-Alliance Democrats
in the interest of harmony, it would
be to carry out what I intended at
the last meeting of the State execu
tive committee, to recommend to
the different county conventions,
with as little variation as possible,
the State platform of 1890, and rele
gate all of our differences of a na
tional character to the different Con
gressional conventions, as this class
of relief must come through the
channel of Congress, and these are
the political bodies that should be
impressed with the importance of
reiief on the line indicated. In mak
ing this suggestion I am not retreat
ing from the Domo-.-yatic principles
involved in the the sub-treasury plan.
I shall attend the Democratic con
vention of the First District and do
as I did at our last district conven
tion, use my power to have incor
porated this plan in the platform,
and work for the nomination of a
man that will stand flat-footed upon
such a platform. If I fail, it will
not diminish my Democratic ardor,
but I wTill follow the majority. As a
financial reformer, I cannot see how
engrafting anything unusual in our
State platform will advance our
cause. I can see how it may divide
our people and endanger our local
institutions. I give the Alliance
credit for too much wisdom and
jmtriotism, even if in the absolute
control of the State convention, to
act either in naming the ticket or
the platform, so as to bring defeat
upon the work there committed to
their charge. My opinion is, they
will act wisely and conservatively,
and on the day after will deserve
the appluse of patriots. Let non
Alliance Democrats stop their bick
erings, mad criticisms, tone them
selves down, be prepared to act con
servatively, meet on a common
ground, help enact a common plat
form that all can stand upon and
name a satisfactory ticket that will
inspire union and solidity in city,
town, hamlet and country, and
under one flag march to an assured
victory.
To this end let us all meet as true
Democrats prepared to make some
sacrifices and concessions for the
common good.
Harry Skinner.
Wanted for Chicago World's Fair
old Postage Stamps from 1847 to
1S80. Best on the original envelops.
From 75cts to $150 per hundred paid
forthm. H. Grosman,JLhvflle,N,C
DRY GOODS,
Must Be Closed Out
-AT-
Reduced
The large and splendidly selected stock of
DRE38 GOODS, NOTIONS, CLOTHING,
SHOES, &C, OF
Hart $c LawrriK.
Will be closed out for
Call and secure excellent bargains while you
have the opportunity. " W. E. DANIEL,
Apr.i-im, Trustee.
J' i i m. m a 11 m ii m ik t-t-i
POUN D E D 1864 by the present executive Occupies tour uiimngs unnvaneu iu iacii
13 ities for educating YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN for success in life. The outlook for
II s. Is most favorable for business opportunities. The
school, owing to its H I C H standard of excellence, has placed in business more young men and
women from Md.f Va., N. C., S. C. and Ga. than all similar institutions combined. Catalogue and
particulars mailed. W.H.SAD LE rf, "RES.,
DO YOU WANT
TO MAKE
FINE TOBACCO ?
IF SO CALL ON
T. D. CLEMENT
AND BUY THE CELEBRATED
FERTILIZER
Which stands unrivall
ed as a producer.
Place your or-
ders now.
mch.55
IS YOUR SIGHT FAILING ?
IF SO CALL ON
JOHN G. HALL,
OXFORD, N. C,
And Buy The
GLASSES
PAT? JULY 15! 1879.
A full line of all kinds on hand and satisfaction
guaranteed or money refunded. feb.4-ly.
J. E. JARGK.
DANVILLE, VA.
Largest Jewelry
Establishment in the
BY ST
It
W WilO
Bsale
Jeweler
South. Special bar
gains in
WATCHES.
CLOCKS,
JEWELRY,
SILVERWARE.
Send for catalogue.
FERTILIZER, &c.
- Prices !
T
gANTANDSTRATTONl
DLL
. - "WT 1 1 .1 f. ..'1
demand for our graduates is unprecedented. No
vacation : nunils can enter at any time with
equal advantage. Never attend a school because
the tuition is cneap, ior j n bAK is very ueai ,
it means cheap surroundings, inferior facilities,
and offers NO opportunities for securing POSI
TIONS for its pupils and graduates. This
I" H.&MULtK,OECY, daltiniore.iyid.
!
THOMAS, BOWLING & CO,
-PROPRIETORS
Minor Warehouse
-OXFORD, N. C.
Having rented this large warehouse we an
nounce to our farmer friends that we are in po
sition to
Sell Your Tobacco
as high as any warehouse in North Carolina or
Virginia. We employ no drummers, but if you
will try us with a load we guarantee you the
HIGHEST MARKET PRICES
AND GOOD AVERAGES.
THOMAS, BOWLING & CO.
march 25-1 m.
NEW CANDIDATE
FOR
Public Favor !
Cash The Watchwor d !
Having: opened a first-class stock of Groceries
in the store recently occupied by R. W Jones &
' o., on Commeacial avenue, I respectfully solicit
your trade and will surprise yon with the ceeap
ness of my prices on FlOUK, STAPLE Ar D
FANCY GROCERIES, CANNED GOODS, MO
LASSES, VINEGAR, CANDIES, NUTS, CIGARS
AND TOBACCO. I am in the race for patronage
and will take pleasure in giving yon the best
goods for the least money.
Yours to please,
J. J. MEDFORD.
march 25-lm
FONTENOY,
IT
7
f ,
IflrilflHffll Mill
FotT 1 mm IP"
My highly bred Trotting
Stallion Fontcnoy
Will make the season of 1892 at my farm near
Oxford. Terms reasonable. For information,
pedigree, &c, address W. C. REED,
feb. 2d-3mo. Oxford, N. C.
HARDWARE, &c.
J. F. EDWARDS.
THOS. W. WINSTON.
Edwards & Winston.
it
tBtmMMuiiiMLTjmmHHinnipjnmwpmiiiiiiiiwiiii.j
HARDWARE
OF EVERY DESCRIPTION,
TINWARE OF EVERY DESCRIPTION,
CROCKERY AND GLASSWARE,
LAMPS AND LAMP GOODS,
Cutlery, Guns, Pistols,
BLASTING POWDER, &c.
FULL LINE FARMING IMPLEMENTS.
Plows.
Dixie, Farmers Friend and Boss, one and two
horse. Axes, Grub Hoes, TViattocks. Picks, Shov
els, Spades, Forks, llocs. Lawn Mowers, &c.
Smith's Straw Cutters and repairs, Cora 81iell
ers, lielting, Paints, Oils and Varnish, Bruhe
c.
Cook Stoves.
Excelsior and other reliable Cook Stoves at
prices to suit the hard times. Full line of stove
repairs.
Buggies.
We sell Randolph Busrgies, which is one of the
prettiest and best, Buggies sold on this market.
Full line of other high grade Bugeies and new
styles. Road Carts, Surries and Carriages.
Wagons.
White Hickory Waeons, Nissen Tobacco Wag
ons, North Carolina Wagons, Wheel Barrows.
Full stock Sash, Doors, Blinds, Lime, Cement,
Cow Hair, &c. Double Shovel Plows, Colters
and Iron Age Cultivators.
Tin Roofing, Guttering, Gun and Locksmith
ing, &c., done. Give us a call, we will be pleased
to quote prices and show goods. We guarantee
to sell as low as any one.
We have too many buggies. Will sell at re
duced prices for the next 00 days. It will pay
every man in need of a buggy, wagon or cart to
see us. Nissen Wagons ordered when customers
want one. Truly yours,
EDWARDS & WINSTON.
Jno.C.Wilkerson,
DURHAM, N. C,
Dealer In
Granite k Marl Monuments,
All Kinds Of
FINB: RUSTIC WOEK, HEAD
STONES, ETC.
Iron Fencing futnished to order. All work
guaranteed to give satisfaction, both in price
and style. Give me a call before yon buy, or
write for designs and prices to
J NO. C. WILKERSON,
mch.!8-3m. Durham, N. C.
PROFESSIONAL CARDS.
A,
A. HICKS,
Attorney at Law ami JSotary Public
OXFORD, N. C, and
"-p T. HICKS,
Attorney-at-Law,
HENDERSON, N. C.
Will practice together in the Courts of Granville
Vance, Franklin, and Warren Counties, and in all
matters requiring their joint attention.
We hope by prompt, diligent, and faithful atten
tion to business to deserve and receive a portio
of the law business of this section-
g II. CASXADT, M. I-,
OXFORD, N. C,
Offers his professional services to the peo pie o
Oxford ai d surrounding country.
Office over Hall's drug store.
Residence at R. I. Devin's.
jQR. J. E. WYCHE,
Dental Surp;cori,
OXFORD. N. C.
Pure Nitrous Oxide Gas administered for th
painless extraction of teeth.
Rooms in Hebkdon Bank .Building.
gTUAYIIORN fc WAIILICK,
Attorneys-at-Law,
Will practice in the courts of Granville, Per
son and Caswell countiee. Office at Co'. Har
grove's old law office, 6,
ill IU mn mm m b mfisg.
mm mm I S3 Ww6iaPK