The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-08-05
COL. POLK'S SPEECH.
He was Gained.

L v ' L In AAANN ULO Cl1C1 v
N notice and inclement weather,
quite a large crowd gathered in Mt
ropolitan Hall last Tuesday afternoon
to-hear the speech of our National
President AS the entire speech will
be published soon, it is not necessary
to refer to any part of it.
When he had finished speaking, the
audience was held for a few minutes
longer by the appearance OF the stage
OF Mr.. N. B. Broughton, who carried
in his hand a very handsome cane.
Facing Col. Polk, Mr.. Broughton
said:
Col POLK: In behalf of your friends
| present you with this ebony, gold.
headed cane It is given as a fresh
testimonial of confidence and es.
TEEN. 1t bears the inscrip ion: "To
L. l.. Polk, the Peoples Friend,
1890" The words are few but they
speak volumes. In this age of so
much selishness there are but few
leaders who resist the temptations
for sci t-exaltation at the expense of
others, and the man who has placed
his a ear enough to the cries of the
Cypress d and the groans of the bur
dened to be touched and influenced
thereby deserves more than passing
recognition.
As your friend and najghbor I have
watched your course, during the past
four years especially, with deep anx
iety. Coming forth with a .boldness
and determination scarcely equaled in
history, you espoused the cause of
your people at a time when hope had
almost fed and JOY was scarcely
known. In spite Of envyings and
~joa.ousies, false accusations and back
billings, you have gone steadily on,
carrying the banner upon whose folds
were inscribed, Equal rights to all
and special privileges to none," until
to day, not only throughout our own
oelove old North State, but all over
this Union this song of hope and
pace is being caught up and carried
to v ny heart and every h me.
To be the peoples friend, in my
humble judgment, is the highest of
earth's honors; and as [ have e
you in private life, and watched you
as the honors and responsibilities have
crowded thick upon you, l say, with
all my heart, that | believe l.. l. Polk,
in sincerity and in truth, is to day the
friend of the people.
Shafts of granite and marble may
crumble away, statues of bronze and
brass will corrode, but tablets upon
human he arts Will never perish.
Go on, my friend, in the glorious
task you have undertaken. Never
fear the SCOTS and scorns of those who
have only their own good in view and
with iron heel have been trampIing
upon the liberties of a free people.
| tell you sir, no new truth when I
say the people whose friend you are,
will stand with you in the contest.
The struggle may be a long one.
There will be hours of gloom in it, but
wherever you are and however dark,
the hour, We bid you God speed,
Look up to the true source of strength.
and on to victory.
COL. Folks REPLY.
Col. Polk accepted the cane with
the following words:
81 am painfully sensible of my ina
bility to command language in which
to express in fitting terms my most
grateful appreciation of the distin.
guished honor thus conferred through
the partiality and generous kindness
of my friends. l accept this beautiful
cane as a token of that confidence and
regard which l esteem as above all
price and all possession. And as l
lean on it on my way through life,
even so will l lean on that cheering
confidence, loyal friendship and loving
sympathy of my friends to encourage
and support me in the discharge of
duty. l beg that you will convey to
them t he earnest assurance of nv
warmest and most grateful thanks for
for this honor, and accept for yourself
my sincere acknowledgements for the
touching and eloquent terms in which
you have been pleased to make their
wishes known, I beg that you say to
them that as I have been to them in
the past, so I will strive to be to them
in the future"