The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1889-01-18
CANE PRESENTATION.
The Mechanics of Wilson Present Eena.
tor King With a Cane.

tor King With a Cane.
A pleasant incident occurred in Wilson
on the day before Dr. r. W. King, Senator
from the 7th District, left for Raleigh
The mechanics, through H. F. Murray,
Esq, presented Dr. King with gold head
cd cane. Judge Connor, Dr. C.J. O'Hagan
and Jno. F. Bruton, Esq, made speeches
appropriate to the occasion. The presenta-
ton took place in Mamona Opera House
where large crowd had gathered. DR..
King made the following response, which
we copy from the Wilson Advance:
l am not mechanic or the son of me-
chanlc | cannot even claim that l am
what every man is foolishly said to be
the architect of his own fortune. Consid-
erlng | have no fortune feel sorrier to-
night than | ever did before that | am
without one. But oh, if l were only rich
enough, what banquet | would offer to
the noble fellows, whose hospitality and
honors so fill my heart this evening with
unutterable emotions. But alas | am a
beggar, even in words-though were | as
rich as Pericles, in that golden coinage of
the brain, IN which the heart of the elO-
quent may happily pay tribute of graft
tude, yet in the glory of my present feel
lngS, should esteem myself without wit
or words, action or utterance | hope
testify my appreciation of your kindness in
something better than expressions, which
any man can make. Mr.. Murray has Justly
said that you are world builders" I
cannot detaln you to describe even an
outline of your Titanic exploits. The vast
and splendid pagodas and temples of Asia,
the glories of Babylonian workmanship,
the stupendous productions of your skill
and devotion scattered all over Europe,
from st. Peters to Westminster Abbey,
are undying witnesses of your antiquity
and power. Well may you point to these
eternal testimonials, and say with Just
pride, Isl monumentum sequirls circum-
! spice, If thou askest a monument to our
labors, look around ~ Since the days of
Solomon, King Of Israel, who organized
| and marshaed for effective work the
architects OF distinct and discOrdant ma
tionalities, who by their skill and fidelity
| brought into existence that model of hu-
man excellence (the temple of Solomon) to
surpass which has baffied the skill of gen
ius ever since, the workngman, from
the best skilled to the merest bearer of
| burdens, has been enabled to raise his head
and CLAIM for himself a distinction and
position equal in influence and importance
to that of the best of any land The
Savior of the world, the son of the Most
High God, the Prince of Peace, left the
courts of Heaven, where angels and princ-
palities worshipped Him, humbed himself
to be born of woman, not a princess or of
noble birth, but mechanics wife-He
enobled and dignified labor by working
himself at the bench, and being not aSham-
ed to be called the carpenters sonD He
was poor too; became so for our sakes,
thus consecrating poverty and exalting
men of low estates.
1t is to the workingmen in all ages men
look for those evidences of a peoples pro-
gress, which mark its distinction among
the nations of the earth, &c.
l thank you most sincerely for the mark
of distinction which your partiality has
accorded to NE this evening. Having al
ways claimed you as friends, find now
as ever before in the past, my claim has
been we'll founded.
If in the course of my legislative labors
to which your spokesman has referred,
any occasion should arise tor your ad
vancement or defence, be sure l shall be
there.
Gentlemen, I shall make an heirloom OF
this beautiful cane, and God grant | may
live to teach my children's children to b(
proud of it.
Again thanking you for your kindness
to me, | bid you good evening and with il
prosperous New Year.