Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-05-26
Reid or Vance-Which


MEssRs. EDITORS: free inter-
change of opinion among members Of
the Democratic Conservative party in
regard to the claims, the merits, or the
ability of the different names men
toned in correction with the nomina-
ton for Governor in our coming State
exigency Ct the times, but will, [
think, be productive of much good.
We will then be enabled after a calm
survey of the field to select standard
bearer upon whom more of the ele-
ments of success will centre, and under
whose lead our triumph will be as
sured. L notice in your paper this
morning communication signed
"Pender" strongly advocating the
claims Ct ex-Gov. David S. Reid for
the nomination. 1 agree with 'sPead-
err in all that he says in reference to
this distinguished gentleman, but is he
the strongest man we could nominate?
We must look that question square in
the face, for we are to have no child's
play IN the coming campaign. Does
Gov. Reid possess the physical strength
(there can be no question as to his
mental ability to stand the wear and
tear of such an arduous canvass as this
will undoubtedly be! Will not his
advocacy of free suffrage years ago,
under which issue he defeated Gov
Manly and which in the opinion of
many, opened the door to the fearfully
grievous ills that have weighed, and
do still weigh like an incubus upon us,
prove an element of weakness rather
than of strength ? As "Pender" truly
says, Gov. Reid was the father of free
suffrage in this State, and that
fact alone in view of the abuses of the
ballot by an ignorant and barbarous
element in our midst will, [ am afraid,
operate seriously to his disadvantage.
L do not stop to argue the point as to
the right or wrong, the policy or i'm
policy of the act itself at the time it
was made an issue in our State poll
tics. A very large minority were OPP
posed to 1t, and opposed to it upon
principle; and however hostile, Gov.
Reid may now be to the uurestrained
right of suffrage, yet the fact that he
was "par excellence" the champion Of
free suffrage few years ago, will. l
apprehend, make many very lukewarm
in their support. [ may be wrong in
my views, if so L am open to convic-
ton, and should Gov. Reid receive the
nomination [ will support him most
cordially. [ throw out these ideas, not
for the purpose of inviting discussion,
but to elicit the opinion of others
better posted in our party politics
than myself.
am free to say, however, that I
have preference for Governor, and a
very decided preference too, and if he
will consent to run l will have no fears
whatever for the result. for he is, in
my Judgment, the man for the crisis,
and that man is Z. B. Vance. Every
body knows Vance, and to know him
is to like him, for there is a magnetism
about HIM which irresistibiy attracts.
He is beyond question the most popu-
lar man to-day in North Carolina. He
made one of the best Governors we
have ever had, and in every position
in which he has been placed has been
more than equal to all of its require
ments. Possessing a splendid physical
organization, he is capable of any
amount of labor that the duties of the
canvass may require, and though l
have no sympathy whatever for any
thing approximating to radicalism, yet
| am free to say that [ would almost
feel sorry for the man opposed to him
on the stump. l have heard OF but one
objection raised against the nomination
OF Governor Vance, and that is that
his devotion to the South during the
late unpleasantness" had affected his
popularity in certain portions of the
State. If this be SO, 1t surely ought
to endear him the more to every true
Southern heart He did but his duty,
but did it manfully and well, and it is
due not only to him but it is manifest
ly right and proper that the people of
the State should place him again in
that chair which he filed SO accep' a
bly, and from which he was removed
by the fiat of Andrew Johnson before
the expiration of his term of Office. to
make way for W. W, Holden. Give
US Vance. Mr.. Editor. Old Zab as he
Is Familiarity called, and radicalIsm in
the Old North State viii be eff ctually
squelched. New HANOVER.