Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1894-09-12
RANSOM AT THE GRAND
A GREAT SPEECH TO A GREAT
AUDIENCE.
Handsomely Introduced by Il d.
Carter-The Repeal OF the Fed
eral Election l.aws-Other IL.
sue Q Discussed.

On the stage were Maj. c. M. Stedmau
]. S. Adams, Judge II. B. Carter, Hon
w. T. Crawford, Col. J. D. Cameron
Auditor X. M. Furman, Judge Thos.
Jones, Locke Craig and others
Mr.. Harry Martin. stepson of the lat
Senator Vance, accompanied by his wife
occupied one of the private boxes.
The Introduction.
Senator Ransom was introduced b,
EuG. d. Carter, esq.,, in the followin,
words:
"Fellow citizens: The distinguishc,
citizen, patriot, orator, statesman, Dem
ocrat, North Carolinian, have th
honor to present to you on this occasion
needs no words OF introduction to {
Buncombe audience. For more than 4(
years he has been a leader OF thought II
our beloved State; an organizer, con
troller and director of her truest and
wiscst political forces; living potential
ity in the work of her highest upbuilding
For near hall century he has been in
the forefront OF all her struggles; gal
liant captain of the hosts OF Democracy
in every battle they have wagcd for tho
triumph and establishment of those ever
living principles upon which we have
planted ourselves: principles which haye
stood the test of all the mutations OF
time since the highest political wisdom
has come and dwclt among men, and
which have seen thrones crumblc and
dynastics fade away.
"ln times of war and in times of peace,
as leader he has never faltercd.
Through the red blaze Of battle the b e
and loyal sons of North Carolina have
followed him; yea. into the Jaws of
death they followed him; though can
non to right of them and cannon to left
OF them and cannon in front of + hem
volleyed and thuniered, yet when his
clarion voice ordered the charge and his
manly form led it on, scrricd ranks were
broken asundcr and bloody fields were
won.
To-day, fellow citizens. that clarion
voice will sound once more as "A bugle.
call to arms.
"Mcn OF Buncombe, f How Democrats,
patriots, soldiers who stood with him
where he thickest Of wars t,mpests
lowered, sons OF heroes who died obey
ing the voice that will command you
today, heed, | besecch you, the words OF
patriotic wis lon he will speak to you.
Once again our gallant commander
will order the charge; aye mere, he will
lead it, follow hin: and sweep the ii.id !
| present to you Senator Ransom
The sena or's speech.
Senator Ransom began his speech in a
most deliberate way amid shouts of ap.
plausc.
lie thanked Mr.. Carter for his kind
words, and the people for their greeting.
lie stood. he said, before the people
today in the shadow of great sorrow.
North Cardinals greatest son and ora
tor was not here. Mr.. Ransom paid
glowing tribute to Senator Vance. He
said he could not let the day and the
occasion pass without cutting flower
and shedding tear upon the grave of
Vance.
II wish, he said, II could make you
see and feel the issues today, as | see
and feel them" He regretted that there
vas not apparent proper appreciation
IN the par, of the people of the serious.
ness of the is,ue involved in this fight.
Dur ancestors had left England to make
.heir home on this continent. They had
accd the sea, he night, the wild Indian,
Ill for liberty, and to worship God as
hey pleased. If he could paint the pic
ure OF these few hundred people losing
al to gain victory, lie would have shown
he people of today how greet boon
~as liberty. 1t was impossible to fully
understand Just what these great people
lid in thus building up this great temple
If liberty. He had reminded the people
oday of these acts of our forefathers to
how them that it was important for
he people to remember the price of
ibcrty. .,
The Dead Force BilI.
In December last, the Democratic
'arty, the party the speakerrcprcscnted
lad passed as the first act of Mr.. Cleyc-
and's administration, the repeal OF the
Infamous federal election laws that had
lisgraced our statute books, and humil-
ated our Southern people. 1t would be