People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 March 1896 — MAYOR FOUNTAIN. [ARTICLE]

MAYOR FOUNTAIN.

Or* TARBORO, N. C-, DESERTS THE OLD PARTY. Declares that Both Old Parties Are Unreliable and False and Says that All Patriots Should Join the Populists In the Interest of Humanity. Tarboro, N. C., Jan. 20, 1896. Editor The O’^asian:—l attended the non-partisan silver convention held in Raleigh on Sept. 25, 1895, as a business man and a democrat, believing that honest convictions were paramount to party and every other consideration when the welfare and happiness of the masses were involved. It was my purpose to support a movement which I considered of supreme importance to our people. I had hoped, inasmuch as the call for the convention was issued by leading democrats, and endorsed by populists and republicans, that steps would be taken whereby all advocates for the restoration of silver could be united, and demonstrate to the people that they were sincere and earnest in declaring for the free coinage of same. Party platforms with double meaning have been used for the purpose of obtaining power. None of the pledges were fulfilled, and the honest party adherents have been betrayed. Partisanship should no longer control men when great principles tending to the relief of the people are at stake.

As the financial question is considered so momentous, it was expected that party spirit would be laid aside, and all would unite at the Raleigh convention. After attending the caucus on the evening prior to its assembling, (in which all parties were represented) and having listened to the speeches of such prominent men as Jarvis, .Ashe, Davis, Whitaker, Mott, Harris, Butler and Kitchen, that aroused and kindled patriotic emotions and elicited such applause, when all declared that the convention was in the interest of humanity and above party—great was my surprise when some of those present the day before failed to attend and participate in the deliberations of the convention next day. Hence my remarks to the News and Observer reporter: “That the convention had opend the way for independent action on the part of all sincere silver democrats.”

I did not expect anything but falßeplaying on the part of the Ransom administration element, but I did expect to see Senator Jarvis, to whom many were looking for leadership, throw himself with zeal into the movement. His failure to do so, and the subsequent declaration of the democratic leaders and ne—spapers to prove their sincerity in support of bimetallism by the endorsement of the resolutions adopted by the convention, have convinced me that the game of deception is to be practiced, and party prejudices appealed to. My object in writing this letter is to emphasize the statement in regard to independent action, and to say that we are in earnest in our advocacy of the silver question, that the time has come for the people to rise above party and think and act for themselves. Selfishness, greed, and bitter political intolerance have dominated and corrupted the two old parties, and proven a curse to this and the coming generation, by placing upon them burdens too grievous to be borne.

I We, as freemen, should break loose j from these fetters and influences, or | they will eventually doom us as a nation. With the dawn of the twentieth century let us achieve greater advancement in Christian civilization, institute a new order of reforms, whereby burdens may be lightened and mankind lifted, and be known in history as a mighty nation of the most enlightened and brilliant age of the world—the electric age, when touched by Divine love formed a mighty current and man stood to man as brother. Both of the old political parties have shown that they are on the side of Mammon. The People’s party was born of necessity. Its mission is to work out the reforms demanded by the mutitude. It behooves all patriots to join it and aid in promoting the good of humanity. .It has been ridiculed, misrepresented ; and spit «Pon by politicians and goldworshipers. Did they do less to Christ?

W. E. FOUNTAIN.