The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-07-19

immed. 2fely settled back to the most
earnest work.
One most remarkable feature was
the entire harmony that prevailed i'm,
medlately upon the decision of anv
matter, however excited may have
been the contest while pending con-
slderation by the convention. Once
decided by a vote, it became a thing of
the past, and all seemed fully satisftd d.
1t has been the writer's fortune to
attend great many State and other
political conventions, but never before
has such unanimity of acQuiescence in
results growing out of so strenuously
contested differences of opinion in
similar convocations, passed under the
writer's observation. But the cIin1Qr
was reserved for the last, and right
royalty was it rendered; but to be fully
comprehended, it must have been seen.
No pen can give the inspiration of the
scene. At least mine cannot.
The convention really commenced
It's preliminary sessions on the night Of
the 18th, holding very late sessions that
night for speeches and a general ex-
change of ideas. Then each day and
night thereafter hard working sessions
were held, lasting to long after mid
night, finally closing at about o'clock
in the morning of the 14th.
Day and night, in the midst of sultry
heat, in a closely packed opera house,
those $50 delegates chung to their work,
not letting up for meals until late meal
hours, when any important matter
was before them.
1t seemed as if they would stay all
summer if the work could not be salts
factorily completed sooner Time to
e \
Results seemed to be everything. But
to the climax.
By the order of business the nomina-
tion of Congressman at large was left
to the last, and that order was reached
at about 1 o'clock on the morning of
the 18th.
The rule had been to call the Con
gressional districts in the order of their
numbers for the presentation of can
didates. But now Col. Fred Close, a
a one armed ex-Uni n soldier, and the
Peoples party candidate for Congress
in the First, arose and moved to sUs
pend the rules and nominate Col. w.
A. Harris, of Leavenworth county, an
eX Confederate officer, and at one time
a member of Gen. r. E. Lees staff, to
that office by acclamation. Col. Close
informally followed his motion with a
touchingly patriotic and heroic speech
as to the motives that inspired him to
that action, which electrified the vast
audience. Before closing he suggested
that every ex-Union soldier in the con
vention who conceded with him, should
second the nomination by arising and
remaining standing until they could
be counted, and that all others remain
seated Immediately two hundred and
| seventy old veterans arose and stood in
the dim light with right hands raised
(or in the absence of right hands the
left was drafted into service) standing
in silent tableaux, like living statuary,
eagerly leaning forward to be counted
IN testimony that with them the war
was ended That with them the stir
ers up" of sectional hate had no place.
That with them the bloody shirt had
been decently folded up and laid away:
That with them the fact that fellow
citizen with them now who had in the
past worn the gray, bravely battling
on one side Of a great constitutional
question, while they were on the other
side, until the stern arbitration of bat
tie had settled it, should no longer
count against him, since he has patri
otically accepted the result, and has
cast his lot in with all good citizens of
our State in giving his best efforts to
the up building of our country's pros
perity. aud the glory of our State,
! The effect of the scene was enchant
| ing beyond description. The electric
light coming from above and behind
| the stage scenery, mellowed by the
| cOlored paintings (the side gas lights
! having ceased to burn) gave a soft
golden tint to everything just strong
enough that vision could reach all parts
of the vast room, and yet so soft that
features were not discernable at any
great distance. And there in that soft
ened halo, stood those old veterans of
many battles, their silvered hair lighted
up softly, waiting in perfect silence
while the secretary of the convention
was standing out on the edge of the
stage as silently as possible, counting
them,
A more pathetic scene than that
taken in connection with the sentiment
that gave birth to it is rarely if ever
witnessed. On the very front of the
high stage stood Capt. Evans, from
one of the western counties, himself a
hero of many hard-fought field, wav-
ing a beautiful American flag gently to
and fro. His long white beard and
long white hair fairly glittering in the
halo about his head and face as he
stood directly under the electric light
which hung above him and behind the
fall curtain of the stage. On the stage
beside and behind him stood numerous
comrades awaiting the count.
AS the writer, from an elevated posi-
tion viewed the scene, he said: This
means peace"
Gazing in silent admiration on the
scene, the thought came into mlnd OF
/ %k4Nw NIrOTT1 FNt
Bethlehem light shone around, and
one invOI11ntari1v listened for a repeti