The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1891-1893, 1892-08-19
Maj. M. A. BledsOe Makes Capital



The democratic club of this city held
very enthusiastic meeting last evening.
1t having been previously announced
that Mai. Moses A. Bledsoe would ad-
dress the club, there was full attend
ance. Maj Bledsoe spoke for more than
an hour and his speech was received
with the closest attention and most ap-
preciative approval Among other good
things Maj. Bledsoe said that this was
the most important campaign in the
whole history of this country; that we
find greater unrest among the masses,
a greater division in the parties; people
actuated by more different sentiments
and advocating more different measures
than ever before in our history. He
said the issues before the people were
few but clearly defined, the tariff and
the force bill are paramount. The diff
ference between the republican and dem
ocratic parties he showed to be the differ
ence between tariff for protection and
tariff for revenue only; that the one was
necessary for defraying the expenses of
the government, while the other enriched
the manufacturer. Here Major Bledsoe
showed the fallacy in the argument that
a high tariff raised wages and referred
in eloquent but indignant terms to
the recent labor troubles in Tennessee,
New York, and Pennsylvania. But,
said Maj. Bledsoe, the tariff sinks into
utter insignifcance when we consider
the other issue-the force bill When we
consider its effect upon the Southern
people we are appalled,. Nothing is so
sacred that the republican party would
not sacrifice it rather than give up their
power. 1t is calculated to destroy
the peace of the country. 81 am
satisfied that if the people of North
Carolina understood the objects and eff
fects of the force bill, its effect On their
liberty, their wives and their children,
there is not man, white or black, who
would not defeat it." Maj. Bledsoe made
the assertion that he believed the
negroes to man would vote against this
bill. He here referred to the insane
asylum at Goldsboro, the deaf and dumt
asylum in this city, the graded and free
schools over the State. 1t was the white
man who was taxed to support these
schools. The prosperity and liberty Of
the white people meant the prosperity
and liberty of the blacks. The black
man could not afford to vote for Harri
son. The third party secession was her,
referred to by Maj. Bledsoe. He spok,
of their very extraordinary proceeding
here in the recent State convention, show
ing that when Col Skinner wa
kicked out because he refused t.
turn the State over to the republican
; the third partyites then and there de
parted from their platform, for th
Omaha platform declares against tn
, force bill. He said vote against tn,
democratic party was a vote for tn
force bill He hoped that his thir'
party friends would see their error befor
it was too late; would see to what poin
designing men were leading them, an,
; would come to realization that unde
| the present circumstances no third part
in the world would succeed or coul
3 give them any relief if it did; thei
f only salvation lay in the democratic part
t of North Carolina. Major Bledsoe
speech was an able one, and is calculate
: to do much good in this time of chang
, and unrest. At its conclusion Messrs
R. H. Battle and Erred. Merritt wei
r called upon, but owing to the latene
f of the hour excused themselves. Chai
8 man Stronach announced the next NEE
s ing to be very important one, as con
q mittees would then be appointed for tt
reception of Mr.. Stevenson. Not on
members, but every democrat in the ci
is invited to be present.