The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-16
OF ]. B. COOK,


cred at Raleigh, on the 4th day Of July, 1867
Mr.. Chairman and FelLoso-citizens :-Wher
the Christian father arises at morn he CALI
around his altar, dedicated to his Maker, th'
wife and children of his bosom, and lifting
his voice to high Heaven breathes thanks
for the past and asks instruction and gui
dance for the future.
So all loyal Americans once in each veal
gather around that common altar of oul
country, the q" Declaration of Independence,
erected by our nrefathers-baptized in theil
blood consecrated to liberty by that new
baptism in the blood of their children, chris
tened anew that page in history, the free
mans hand writing upon the wall" to ar
istocrisy of every cline. Here to drink new
inspiration, that in the coming future they
may be the better able to perform the duties
thew owe to themselves, their children, and
their children's children.
What. then. are the duties OF the hour
We find our country almost FRUSTRATED by a
fierce war, waged to subvert our liberties
with two political parties-one standing by
the Declaration of the fathers. The other
standing in the dark, brooding in despair
over their fallen fortunes, and ready again
to strike hands with those who stood fore
most when treason walked the soil of our
country at monday.
The first, that grand, glorious party, the
Republican party, liberator of four millions
of Gods down trodden children, and the
Saviour of a land, dedicated the home Of
the oppressed of every cline.
The last, a party upon whose tombstone
shall be written, here lies the body OF Cop
perhead," slayer of four hundred thousand
of freedoms best and bravest sons.
1t is unnecessary for me to ask to which
party, nv colored fellow citizens have at
tached themselves, for in your beaming eyes |
have read the answer, and have only to eX
press the hope, that no toll or labor will be
too hard or severe for them to perform, until
they and their children shall have at least
acquired common school education.
The hour for the registration of the loyal
men of North Carolina is near at had, and
l entreat every man who is entitled to regis
tration to see that his name is upon the lists.
and when the day comes, and you are called
upon to cast your vote, be careful that you
understand what you are going to vote Tor,
and then vote just as you please.
They say remember, l say they, that
these men of the North who have come
down here and engaged in business are mere
adventures, ," interlopers," and & teachers
of sedition." To this l answer, that l was
a Northern man and Radical Republican,
too. Now am citizen of Johnston Coun-
ty, North Carolina and of the United States
of America, and here intend to remain
just az long as it shall please me to stay.
Are we mere Adventures ? No! no! l
tell you we are the vanguard of that mighty
concourse which shall make the Old North
State the garden of America.
"Interlopers" Why, outright here dates
from the foundation of this government and
is guaranteed to US by the great ballot of
1860, and by the bayonets of those 1reemen
who supported the election.
Teachers of sedition No, never! Blood
has flown; sons have fallen; dear friends
are in mourning, and are they not satisfied
yet2 There is no malice in our hearts, we
do not seek revenge, but only justice. We
can forgive that comrades dear to us were
starved in "cattle-pens," but we shall never
forget. If to teach the principles that every
man who has soul and is accountable to
his God, has certain rights that we are bound
to respect is sedition, then we are all guilty.
Then bearing no malice in our hearts we
shall urge all to unite to secure the blessings
of peace and prosperity to our country
again.
I desire very much to reach-they are the
,nen who toll from early morn until the
shades of night come to darken the earth,
I mean that class of persons who are denom-
mated the poor whites" There are, per-
haps, but few here whose sun burnt hands
guide the pillow or chip the boxes In your
back piny Gods. To these few, 1 intend
this message and know that when the ar
istocrat is dreaming this shall be related one
to the other by the light of their ightwood
fires.
Sons of toll Let me ask you what has
past legislation done for you and your chill
dren9 What has it done for you? Has it
fostered the arts and sciences Has it de-
veloped the mineral resources of your State ?
Has it created q market here at home for the
produce of your farmers? Or can you point
to anything it has done to benefit you p
Where are your children? Are they educa-
ted, refined and accomplished scholars q
Are your children able to walk the school
room floor the equal in every respect of your
wealthy neighbours pets? With a sigh and
heavy heart you answer that the school in
our County is an Academy, and the tuition
is so high that were l to send my children
one year it would eat my little patch up, and
so you are obliged to keep them as your
father keep you Flooding on in ignorance to |
transmit to their children that great boon |
of the domineering class, poverty and a sad |
life. How much longer will you quietly |
bear this? Is there no spark of ambitious |
fire left in you9 No hopes for you or yours
Must you toll on for a mere sustenance until
your Maker shall call you home, or will you
turn to that bright and beautiful era now
dawning upon you3 Civilization looks down
eager to clasp you in her arms. Your coun-
try calls Won to take your stand beside others
OF her loyal sons, and your native State bids
you renew your life in her own regeneration.
1t has been said. and often repeated, that
the soil of our own State is very poor and
yields scanty harvest. If this be so, why
is it 2 1t is because of the rude and barba-
rous manner in which it is cultivated. With
one-half of her white population, unable to
read orwrite, is it strange that the rude nipple
ments of one hundred years ago Furnishes
the soil and it refuses to yield? There is no
people upon the face of the earth that can
wiring from the soil the wherewith to pay an
other for its brain while they remain in
darkness.