The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-11-21
9. That we demand the gold and sill

| 10. We know not how to retreat
| from this position. We have supported
| it by our platforms and votes and ad-
vocacy too long to retreat. We hope
and believe that the friends of silver
will, in the next political campaign.
beat charge and make a charge that
that will cause every patriot West and
| South of the Delaware river to fall into
line
Mr.. w. W. PEBBLES then in a speech
of some Length. advocated the adoption
of the resolutions as reported, and re.
viewed the financial legislation of the
country and depicted in his eloquent
way the woes and misery sure to come
upon our people unless relief is afforded
by legislation When M. PEBBLES had
finished his speech, which was listened
to by a crowded house, the chairman
asked if anyone else had anything to
say on the resolutions Senator M. W.
Ransom, who was occupying a seat
within the bar, instantly arose, his tall,
erect, commanding figure attracting
the attention of the whole audience.
Gen. Ransom began his speech in a
very impressive manner, saying that
he was unable, physically, to make a
speech, but invoked the Almighty to
give him strength and inspiration to
speak to his people and show them
their errors 1t was evident from his
manner hat the General was deeply
mortified and chagrined at what he
considered an untimely and unjust
censure of the course he has recently
pursued in the Senate by the people of
his own county. He had not spoken
long before he unfortunately asked the
chairman of the meeting a question
and insisted upon an answer, and when
Mr.. Gay arose to answer there was
breathless silence in the crowded room
and when he had finished there was
| loud and continued applause which the
| General seemed to take as manifesto
tions of disapproval of his course, which
apparently irritated him, for he imme-
diately. arose, and waving his ann to
wards those who were before him, said
that he did not expect any better of
members of "Gideon's Band" which
he repeated with vehemence. He then
discussed the financial situation and
defended the financial policy of the
administration. We would be doing
him an injustice to attempt to describe
his speech in detail He appealed to
the Democrats present to stand by the
administration and give it fair trial
and not to aci hastily. He several
times reminded the chairman, Mr.. Gay
that he, Mr.. Gay, was chairman of the
Democratic Executive Committee Of
Northampton county, and that this
meeting and these resolutions had ten
dency to disrupt the Democratic party,
and that impliedly impeached him and
President Cleveland.
At the close of his speech there were
loud calls for B. S. Gay, the chairman
of the meeting. He arose and in an
able, eloquent, logical speech, advo-
Gated the adoption of the resolutions.
He admitted that he was Chairman of
the Executive Committee of the Demo
cratic party of Northampton county.
He said he was born and raised Demo
crat, and he wanted it to be distinctly
understood that h9 was as strong
Democ at now as he ever was. 1t was
because he was a Democrat that he
wanted these resolutions to be adopted; {;
that the only way we could prevent the
destruction of the Democratic party
was to be true to our principles, our
pledges and our party platforms, and
to sustain those public servants who
sustained the principles Of the party,
and not by lying to the people and be-
traying the party when in power. He
referred to the Senator's assertion
about those who favored the resolutions
being members of "GideOn's Band"
which brought him to his feet to dis
claim any intention Of meaning that
the advocates of the resolutions were
members of that Band"
Mr.. Gay made what his friends con
slider a great speech, in fact, his admir-
ers regard it as the event of the day.
When he took his seat it was nea 1y
night and there were calls for Mason"
and Question" and for time there
was confusion, many saying they
wanted to vote on the resolutions be
fore going home The chairman and
DR.. R. H. StanceH. Jr., urged those
present to hear Mr.. Mason, and quiet
was soon restored. Then Capt. T. w.
Mason spoke in opposition to the adop-
tion of the resolutions. He said he
favored bi metallism and was a strong
bi metallist, but that he feared the